Washington, Aug. 17 -- US President Donald Trump attributed large patches of dead grass on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial to targeted destruction, linking the damage to vandals rather than the massive crowds that gathered for his Independence Day celebrations in the same area.

Sharing a photograph on Sunday that displayed patchy brown grass across a wide stretch of lawn near the memorial, the American leader asserted on social media without detailing why he believed the turf was damaged by vandals rather than being trampled during the July 4 event.

His statements coincided with authorities announcing an arrest in an unrelated vandalism case at the World War II Memorial, though charging documents for that case made no r...