A massive “86 47” message has been carved into the grounds of Washington, D.C.’s National Mall, drawing the attention of federal authorities and reviving controversy surrounding the anti-Trump neologism that has already landed former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey in legal trouble.
Authorities responded on Thursday after a giant “86 47” marking was discovered etched into the grass near the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, Reuters reported. U.S. Park Police and National Guard personnel were present at the scene as officials investigated the incident. (RELATED: Pool Expert Admits Trump’s National Mall Paint Job Will Actually Look Really Cool)
A local photojournalist, Andrew Leyden, observed the message from an aerial perspective, where the numbers were clearly visible from above.
The phrase “86 47” has become a politically charged anti-Trump slogan. “86” is commonly understood as slang for getting rid of, removing something, or killing an item from the menu and originally used by restaurant industry staff. Meanwhile, “47” refers to President Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States, according to Reuters.
The slogan gained national attention after former FBI Director James Comey posted a photograph in 2025 showing seashells arranged to form the numbers “86 47.” Comey later deleted the post and denied it was intended as a threat, according to CNBC.
BREAKING: Federal prosecutor leading the James Comey indictment over his seashells post resigns from the case. https://t.co/WsRaD9OCqM
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) May 29, 2026
In late April, the Justice Department indicted Comey over that social media post. Reuters reported that federal prosecutors charged Comey with transmitting a threat and threatening a public official, alleging that the seashell image constituted a threat directed at President Trump.
Prosecutors argued that the “86 47” message could reasonably be interpreted as a threat against the president, according to NBC News. Comey has denied any violent intent and has vowed to fight the charges in court.
The appearance of the message comes as the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is being prepared for major America 250 celebrations, such as the Great American State Fair, marking the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Authorities had not publicly identified any suspects responsible for carving the message into the National Mall as of Thursday afternoon, according to Reuters.