Pro-Trump Vandals Strike Again: HarborFest Whale Defaced

For the second time in three years, vandals defaced the Sag Harbor HarborFest whale with black spray-painted lettering supporting former President Donald Trump.

Sometime overnight Sunday, the whale was painted with “Trump MAGA” while it was anchored off Windmill Beach following the weekend’s HarborFest activities.

Ellen Dioguardi, the president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said she learned of the vandalism Monday morning when she received a text directing her to a Facebook post.

“After a weekend that highlighted the best of our community, to have vandalism that is absolutely the opposite of what this weekend is all about is very disheartening and disturbing,” she said.

Dioguardi said a complaint was filed with the Sag Harbor Village Police Department, which is investigating the incident.

Police Chief Rob Drake said on Tuesday that the department is working with the village’s Harbormaster Office and that the investigation was continuing.

Jeff Peters, a former Sag Harbor resident, said he stopped at Long Wharf on Monday morning before 6 a.m. and noticed something on the whale. He said he returned shortly afterward when the light was better and he could read the graffiti. He took a photo of it and posted it on his Facebook page.

Dioguardi said the whale was retrieved by Rick Pickering of Ship Ashore Marina earlier than planned on Monday morning and the graffiti was washed off.

“We intend to do our best to find out who is responsible and hold them accountable to the extent of the law as best we can,” Dioguardi said.

The whale was also defaced with “Trump” following HarborFest in 2022.