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3w ago

Trump Blames 'Vandals' for Dead Grass on National Mall

Photographs, turf experts, Interior records, prosecutor filings point to event infrastructure or faulty pool installation as the cause, prompting prosecutors to drop or pause related charges.

FILE - Workers dismantle structures from Salute to America, an Independence Day event honoring the nation's 250th anniversary, as seen from the Washington Monument, on July 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
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Crews deconstruct the staging area that had been used for Freedom 250's "Salute to America" event, which celebrated the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, in Washington, D.C. on July 8, 2026.

Overview

  • The brown, patchy turf Trump highlighted sits where a large stage and seating were installed for his July 4 Salute to America event, and photos and webcam footage show the structures covered the lawn before crews removed them.
  • Turf specialists say heavy summer crowds and stage infrastructure commonly cause the brown patterns seen in the images and that nothing in the photos clearly proves deliberate vandalism.
  • Prosecutors in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool case moved to dismiss charges after Department of the Interior and forensic reviews found installation flaws such as delaminating seams, altered or damaged liner material, and clogged circulation pipes.
  • Authorities announced a separate arrest in the World War II Memorial graffiti and soapy‑fountain incident, charging Melissa L. Farris with felonies, but charging papers do not mention the dead‑grass area Trump cited.
  • The dispute has escalated into a political fight over accountability for rushed, multimillion‑dollar contracts, preservation of national landmarks, and whether the Justice Department will refile pool vandalism charges after prosecutors paused them.