News24 | Woman charged over vandalism of Washington's World War Two memorial

A woman has been arrested and charged after the World War Two Memorial in Washington was vandalised with soap, paint and graffiti.

X/@USAttyPirro

• A woman has been arrested and charged with vandalising the World War Two Memorial in Washington, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.
• Melissa Farris faces two felony charges carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison after soap and graffiti were found at the memorial.
• President Donald Trump condemned the vandalism and said authorities were pursuing those responsible.

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said on Friday ‌that a woman had been taken into ⁠custody and charged with two felony counts in connection with the ⁠vandalism at the World War Two memorial in Washington.

Melissa Farris was charged with depredation against property of the United States and destruction of veterans' memorials, Pirro said on social media, adding ‌that the charges carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison. The World War Two memorial was vandalised with bubbly soap and graffiti on Thursday, prompting ‌vows from the US government to find the perpetrator. The fountain bubbled over with suds and the words “Clean hands Dirty $” were painted on one surface, splattering the area with red and green paint.

Along with her statement on X, Pirro ‌posted photos of ⁠a woman who appears to be holding a can close to the red paint on the memorial. Pirro did not provide more details of the woman in custody or provide the source of the images, which Reuters was not immediately able to verify.

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.

This morning, we are filing two felony charges, Depredation Against Property of the… pic.twitter.com/7EQxGWtdue

— US Attorney Pirro (@USAttyPirro) August 14, 2026

Pirro has recently drawn President Donald Trump’s anger for dropping charges against four people for allegedly vandalising the Reflecting Pool after Trump oversaw renovations of the pool. The pool’s condition soon deteriorated, with ⁠a peeling liner and algae blooms.

Pirro blamed that deterioration on faulty installation in dropping the vandalism charges. Trump said in response that Pirro had “folded like an umbrella.”

Algae is seen in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after it was painted blue in Washington, DC.

Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Trump appeared to link the Reflecting Pool ⁠damage to the World War Two memorial in a post on social media on Friday, calling it an insult to Americans who had died in the conflict.

“First the Reflecting Pool, now this,” he wrote. “We ⁠are on their trail! Where do these animals come from???”

President Trump just revealed that a vandal spray-painted the WW II Memorial. Trump called it a disgusting insult to the American heroes who died in that war. They could get up to 10 years in prison for vandalizing a national monument. pic.twitter.com/29d0NL5sxq

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) August 14, 2026

Pirro’s office ‌did not immediately respond ‌to a request for comment. Farris could not be immediately reached for comment.