Trump's Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Smashed With a Pickaxe, Again

By Jayme Deerwester, USA Today

25 July 18

resident Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been destroyed, again.

It seems the pickaxe is the tool of choice for vandals in a hurry as that tool, used in a similar incident in October 2016, was left behind at the scene.

That's according to LAPD officer Ray Brown, who told USA TODAY that their Hollywood station received a vandalism call at 3:30 a.m. PDT on Wednesday. When officers reported to the Walk of Fame, they confirmed it was Trump's star that was damaged.

Brown added that a suspect, an unnamed white male whose age is estimated at 25, was taken into custody and is waiting to be booked at the LAPD's Hollywood station.

A representative for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. However, at the time of the 2016 incident, their president and CEO, Leron Gubler noted that Trump's star would be replaced immediately but would need to be covered for several days until the marble can be polished.

He went on to note that his group intends to prosecute the vandal to the full extent of the law, as they would for any Walk of Fame star recipient.

"When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California state landmark," he lamented in a statement to USA TODAY in 2016. "Our democracy is based on respect for the law. People can make a difference by voting and not destroying public property."

When the star, unveiled in 2007, was damaged nine years later, repair expenses were estimated at $2,500.