{"id":43980,"date":"2026-08-14T08:54:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T03:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43980"},"modified":"2026-08-14T08:54:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T03:54:36","slug":"world-war-ii-memorial-vandalized-with-spray-paint-on-national-mall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43980","title":{"rendered":"World War II Memorial vandalized with spray paint on National Mall"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">WASHINGTON \u2014 The World War II Memorial on the National Mall was vandalized Thursday, and a fountain was found overflowing with bubbles, the latest incident in which prominent monuments have been targeted in the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368727\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/washington-dc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nation&#8217;s capital<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">U.S. Park Police were on site and blocked off the area.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Clean hands, dirty money,&#8221; letters in bright pink spray paint said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368728\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/sports\/david-hearn-us-olympian-denies-vandalizing-reflecting-pool-viral-arrest#&amp;_intcmp=fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>WHO IS DAVID HEARN? US OLYMPIAN WHO DENIES VANDALIZING REFLECTING POOL AFTER VIRAL ARREST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/memorialvandlismwithredcircle.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Vandalism at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., left parts of the historic monument covered in a white substance, prompting concern over damage to the national landmark.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Vandalism at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., left parts of the historic monument covered in a white substance, prompting concern over damage to the national landmark.<\/span> <span>(Brooke Curto\/Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;The <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368729\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/terror\/vandalism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vandalism<\/a> that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated,&#8221; a Department of the Interior spokesperson told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Our U.S. Park Police are on the scene, and the investigation is ongoing. The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The agency noted that the memorial honors the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368730\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/military\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">armed forces<\/a> and the more than 400,000 Americans who died fighting in World War II.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368731\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/watch-trump-reveals-flashy-new-color-national-malls-reflecting-pool-makeover#&amp;_intcmp=fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>WATCH: TRUMP REVEALS FLASHY NEW COLOR FOR NATIONAL MALL&#8217;S REFLECTING POOL MAKEOVER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/war-memorial-grafitti.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"August 13, 2026, Washington, District of Columbia, United States: Vandals poured bubble soap and painted graffiti on the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 13, 2026.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Vandals poured bubble soap and painted graffiti on the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., Thursday.<\/span> <span>(\u00a9 Andrew Leyden\/ZUMA Press Wire)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">An Army veteran who arrived at the memorial told Fox News Digital she was looking forward to seeing it and was &#8220;offended&#8221; by the act of vandalism.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It just makes me absolutely irate,&#8221; Debra Mortensen said. &#8220;I was offended because people fought and died for our country, and it\u2019s dishonoring our country and all we\u2019ve been through.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Park Police and the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368732\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/travel\/general\/national-parks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Park Service<\/a>. No information about a potential suspect was released.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In 2016, the memorial was vandalized by someone protesting the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. A vandal spray-painted the North Dakota section of the memorial with the phrase &#8220;#NoDAPL.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/343\/192\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/686\/384\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/672\/378\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1344\/756\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/931\/523\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1862\/1046\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/720\/405\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1440\/810\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/policeatww2monument.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Police respond to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., following an apparent act of vandalism at the national landmark.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Police respond to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., after an apparent act of vandalism at the national landmark.<\/span> <span>(Brooke Curto\/Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The memorial was closed for several months earlier this year for a $4 million renovation project upgrading the fountains and lighting, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368733\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox5dc.com\/news\/world-war-ii-memorial-bubbles-paint-dc-investigation-13-august-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FOX DC<\/a> reported. It reopened in May.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In addition to the war memorial, other monuments on the National Mall have been targeted recently.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In June, separate red markings of &#8220;8647,&#8221; a political slogan and protest symbol used against President Donald Trump, were found on the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_5368735\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/travel\/general\/historic-sites\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washington Monument<\/a>, and damage was reported at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! WASHINGTON \u2014 The World War II Memorial on the National Mall was vandalized Thursday, and a fountain was found overflowing with bubbles, the latest incident in which prominent monuments have been targeted in the nation&#8217;s capital. U.S. Park Police were on site and blocked off the area&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wwii-memorial-monument-vandalism-fox-news-digital.gif","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43980\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}