The Trump administration is closing off large sections of the National Mall lawn for restorations as the site was home to America’s 250th celebrations and vandalism that infuriated President Donald Trump. Much of the grass and surrounding tree areas of the lawn “require significant restoration,” the National Park Service said. Aerial images taken on September 1 showed how the grass has turned a shade of yellow after the summer’s festivities.
The site saw revelers descend for Trump’s Great American State Fair for two weeks in June, marred by cancelations from performers and weather-related closures. Trump claimed 45,000 people showed up for his opening-day speech, despite reports there were “nowhere near” that many attendees. Still, the fair, in addition to Trump’s Fourth of July speech and firework display that drew MAGA crowds to the lawn, appears to have done some damage.
Spectators also gathered to watch the Freedom 250 Grand Prix late last month. Visitors won’t be able to access sections of the parklands until January 24, 2027, the agency said, but “a portion” of the Mall will remain open to the public. The Independent has contacted the agency for further information.
Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for damage to his renovation projects in the nation's capital, often without evidence and sometimes despite opposing accounts from his officials. The president blamed “vandals” for the large swaths of dead grass on the Mall near the World War II Memorial last month, in the same spot where he hosted the July 4 celebrations. In June, the anti-Trump slogan “8647” appeared on the grass of the Mall, prompting an investigation by federal officials.
Since returning to office, Trump has embarked on giving the nation’s capital a major facelift largely at the taxpayer’s expense, amounting to over a billion dollars, according to analysis of public records. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
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