08/20/2026
A bizarre Hollywood Walk of Fame story involved Donald Trump’s star being damaged by a man who was subsequently arrested. The star has been targeted by vandals multiple times over the years, making it one of the most frequently damaged stars on the famous Los Angeles sidewalk. In this particular incident, the man reportedly smashed the star, causing significant damage before police arrested him.
What made the situation especially unusual was what happened afterward. The man reportedly needed someone to post bail following his arrest, and the person who stepped forward to pay it was Austin Clay—the same man who had destroyed Trump’s star with a pickaxe in 2018. Clay had previously been arrested and charged after attacking the star, making the later bail payment an extraordinary coincidence.
Trump’s star has been a particularly controversial landmark because of the political divisions surrounding the former president. It has been vandalized with paint, damaged physically, and repeatedly targeted by protesters and opponents. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has repaired the star after previous incidents, while debates have periodically emerged over whether it should be removed because of Trump’s political conduct.
The story stands out because of the unlikely connection between two separate acts of vandalism. A man who had once been arrested for destroying the same star ended up helping another person facing arrest for allegedly doing essentially the same thing. Whatever one’s political views, the episode is a striking example of how one unusual incident can become connected to another years later.