June 12, 2026, 09:24June 12, 2026, 09:24
According to media reports, discolorations that form the number combination “86 47” have appeared on the lawn of the National Mall, the central green area in Washington between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
Four (some barely visible) numbers worry US authorities.Image: keystone
The sequence of numbers is often understood as an expression of resistance against US President Donald Trump. The police responsible for the park are investigating the incident, as several US media outlets have consistently reported. Celebrations for Trump’s 80th birthday are planned for Sunday on the National Mall.
In pictures, the numbers “8” and “7” can be seen relatively clearly, while “6” and “4” are less clearly visible. According to NBC, the US Department of the Interior described the discoloration as deranged vandalism that would not be tolerated.
Case against former FBI chief
Trump and his supporters interpret the combination of numbers as a call for an assassination attempt on the head of state: Trump is the 47th President of the USA and, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the number 86 could under certain circumstances be interpreted as a call to kill.
According to the US reference book, “86” is an outdated expression that was first recorded in the 1930s. Among other things, it means that something is sold out in a restaurant. Later the meanings “get rid of” or “reject” were added. “The most recently adopted meanings include a logical extension of the previous ones, namely the meaning ‘kill,'” says Merriam-Webster. However, this is rarely used.
The combination of numbers is already the basis for a trial against former FBI chief James Comey. In May 2025, Comey uploaded a picture of shells on the beach to Instagram that formed the numbers “86 47”. Comey denies that it was a call for violence. The indictment now accuses him of knowingly spreading a death threat against Trump. (sda/dpa)