US President Donald Trump has condemned the vandalism of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., describing the incident as a grave insult to the American servicemen who fought and died during the war.
The memorial was vandalised on Thursday after soap was poured into a fountain, creating large amounts of foam, while red and green paint was used to write graffiti, including the words “Clean hands Dirty $.” Authorities cordoned off the area as investigators assessed the damage.
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Trump reacted angrily to the incident, saying there could be “no greater insult” to the American heroes who died in World War II. He also asked, “Where do these animals come from?” while saying authorities were pursuing those responsible.
The memorial honours the more than 400,000 Americans who died and the 16 million who served during World War II. The US Interior Department described the vandalism as an “utter disgrace” and pledged to identify those responsible.
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Authorities have since arrested Melissa L. Farris, who faces two federal felony charges: depredation against US government property and destruction of veterans’ memorials. The charges carry potential penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
The incident has also drawn renewed attention to security and preservation of Washington’s national monuments, following a separate controversy over damage to the nearby Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
