Trump Tower Black Lives Matter Mural Vandalized, Police Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A vandal defaced the new Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower, following a weekend that saw confrontations at the mural between the president's supporters and detractors, an NYPD spokesman confirmed.

A man approached the mural, on Fifth Avenue between West 56th and 57th streets, around 12:15 p.m. and splattered a container of red paint on the street, an NYPD spokesman said. The man, who was wearing all black, ran from the scene down West 56th Street and was able to avoid arrest, police said.

The mural was installed last week following a push by Mayor Bill de Blasio to paint the message on the block of Trump's Midtown skyscraper. The city has spent an estimated $6,000 from the Department of Transportation's budget to install six Black Lives Matter murals at locations throughout the city's five boroughs.

Dozens of Trump supporters flocked to the mural over the weekend to show their support for the president, the New York Post first reported. The supporters engaged in multiple confrontations with people who oppose Trump's policies, according to the report. A man lunged at Trump supporters in an attempt to steal a "thin blue line" flag, which almost started a fight, the Post reported.

President Donald Trump lashed out on Twitter after de Blasio targeted the stretch of Fifth Avenue for a Black Lives Matter mural, calling the artwork a "symbol of hate."

"NYC is cutting Police $'s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the [mayor] is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue. This will further antagonize New York's Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, 'Pigs In A Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon,'" Trump tweeted when the city announced plans for the mural.