NEW: D.C. World War II Memorial Vandalized With Graffiti, Chemicals

The National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. was vandalized on Thursday night, officials have confirmed. The incident involved graffiti applied to portions of the structure and a substance identified as soap poured into one of the memorial’s fountains, which produced large volumes of suds and foams.

U.S. Park Police responded to the site, cordoned off the affected area with yellow crime scene tape, and restricted access to visitors while an investigation was launched, according to a report from Reuters. Investigators examined the scene, including measuring the graffiti with a tape measure.

No suspects have been publicly identified as of this report, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The graffiti, applied in red, pink, green, and neon orange paint, appeared primarily on the Atlantic Pavilion and the inner side of the associated fountain. Multiple accounts documented the text as “Clean hands Dirty $” or closely similar wording such as “Clean hands dirty $.” Paint also splattered onto surrounding granite surfaces and the floor of the pavilion.

In the fountain near the Atlantic Arch, the introduction of soap generated mountains of white suds that overflowed into the surrounding area.

“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. The vandalism that occurred is an utter disgrace and will not be tolerated. Our U.S. Park Police are on the scene and the investigation is ongoing,” the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service and the memorial, announced in a statement.

“The public should know we will find the person responsible for this disgusting act,” the department added.

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The World War II Memorial fountain in Washington, D.C. was filled with bubble soap on Thursday and graffitied with red paint that read, "Clean hands Dirty $."

The Interior Department denounced the vandalism, calling it "an utter disgrace" and vowing to find those responsible. pic.twitter.com/qr86EtZk8o

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 13, 2026

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial, a nonprofit organization focused on the site’s preservation, also released a statement. “We are deeply disturbed by the reported vandalism at the National World War II Memorial today. Whatever the intent, defacing a place dedicated to the service and sacrifice of the World War II generation is unacceptable,” the organization wrote.

“The National World War II Memorial is more than stone, bronze, and water. It is a sacred place of remembrance—a place where veterans, families, students, and visitors from across our nation and around the world come to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, unity, and service of a generation that helped preserve freedom. 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.”

Cleaning crews could be seen arriving at the memorial late Thursday afternoon, where they power-washed the paint from the granite surfaces and removed the suds from the fountain. The foam site largely appeared to have been cleaned in full by Thursday evening, according to a report from CNN.

The memorial, dedicated in 2004, consists of 56 granite pillars arranged around an elliptical plaza. It commemorates the approximately 16 million Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II and the more than 400,000 who died. It is situated on the National Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, along Independence Avenue. The site receives an estimated five million visitors annually.

A nearly $4 million renovation, which included updates to fountain systems, lighting, and related infrastructure, was completed this Padt May.

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