Donald J.Trump warns of consequences for those who damage national monuments
shared a legal resource on penalties for destroying government property in a Truth Social post targeting monument desecration.
WHITE HOUSE — Donald J.Trump posted on Truth Social on June 28, 2026 at 12:44 PM EST, issued a warning against anyone who damages national monuments, statues, or fountains by mentioning the source (see egattorneys) on a Truth Social post on June 28, 2026. Here is the full post (see truthsocial): “This is what happens to people who desecrate, or even think about desecrating, our Great Monuments, Statues, or Fountains! https://www.egattorneys.com/destroy-govt-property” The post linked to a legal resource from the Erickson Gentry Attorneys website that outlines federal penalties for destroying government property. Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 1361 makes it a crime to willfully injure or destroy property belonging to the United States government. Penalties can include fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years depending on the extent of the damage. Trump has taken a firm stance on preserving public memorials throughout his time in office. The warning reflects ongoing national debates over historical symbols and protest actions that have at times led to the vandalism or removal of statues and monuments across the country. Several high-profile incidents of monument damage occurred during protests in recent years, prompting federal and state authorities to pursue criminal charges against those responsible. The Veterans’ Memorial Preservation Act also provides additional protections for monuments honoring military service members. Violators of that statute face penalties of up to 10 years in prison for destruction or attempted destruction of such memorials. In the last 30 days, 6 of 628 Trump posts addressed the topic of domestic security and crime, including 3 on the sub-topic of riots, protesters, and Minneapolis. Trump did not specify a particular incident that prompted the post. The message appeared to serve as a broad deterrent aimed at anyone contemplating acts of vandalism against federally protected sites and structures.
Source: Zenger analysis
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