Trump seeks help identifying suspects who vandalized Andrew Jackson statue

President Trump posted an image on Twitter on Friday showing the suspects U.S. Park Police believe vandalized an Andrew Jackson statue in Washington‘s Lafayette Square area. 

On Monday, protesters unsuccessfully tried to bring down a statue of Andrew Jackson outside the White House amid another day of protests in the U.S. capital.

Other monuments of Confederates across the country have been toppled in recent weeks as a result of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis police custody on May 25.  

Park Police and the FBI are searching for the suspects. According to Trump, “MANY people” are in custody and others are facing “10 year prison sentences!”

MANY people in custody, with many others being sought for Vandalization of Federal Property in Lafayette Park. 10 year prison sentences! @FBIWFO pic.twitter.com/mrLyxbWNvq

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2020

Park Police did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Hill about how many people are in custody. Vandalizing federal property is a felony that carries a maximum 10-year sentence. 

Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week strengthening laws to protect statues and monuments and reinforcing punishments for those who vandalize them. 

“Every night we’re going to get tougher and tougher, and at some point there is going to be retribution because there has to be,” Trump said during a Fox News town hall Thursday. “These people are vandals, but they’re agitators, but they’re really, they’re terrorists in a sense.”