President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that work will begin immediately to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which he described as "seriously vandalized." This statement followed his accusation that vandals had damaged the monument. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "I just inspected it" and expressed disbelief at the vandalism.
The Reflecting Pool has been a focus for the Trump administration, which initiated a renovation project as part of broader efforts to restore national symbols in Washington, D.C. The pool was vandalized with graffiti in late April, and after the administration painted its bottom "American Flag Blue," reports emerged of sections of the coating peeling off, with the water turning green due to algal blooms.
Trump attributed the damage to local vandals and mentioned that several arrests had been made, including that of David Hearn, a former Olympian, who was charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly damaging the pool. Hearn contended that he did not vandalize the pool and was unaware of the situation until he was detained by U.S. Park Police.
District Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized that anyone involved in vandalizing the pool would face legal consequences, indicating that more serious charges could be considered if harmful substances were found in the water. Trump also noted that much of the pool's water may need to be drained for repairs. Other beautification projects in the area have reportedly been more successful.