This past Wednesday, President Trump provided more details from the White House regarding the damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the surrounding grass, reiterating his claim that it is a result of intentional vandalism. Per The Hill, during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump claimed that individuals used sharp tools to damage the pool. He has also attributed the Algae growth to vandals.
“They went down with probably a box cutter or a very sharp razor of some kind or a knife, and they cut, and then they started ripping it up,” Trump said. “You know why? Because they’re sick people.” He stated, “These people should go to jail for a long time,” while describing the situation as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” The president also noted that some water will be drained to address the repairs, potentially occurring either before or after July 4.
According to The Hill, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) offered Meidas Touch a different approach, specifically about the algae growth on Tuesday. “Honestly, I think it’d be cool if they just let it go and create an ecosystem, have fish in there and everything. … I think that’d be a really … cool way to go,” he told reporters. He further emphasized the natural aspects of the environment, noting, “It’s algae and science. It’s just going to happen.”
Both issues plaguing the pool have received a lot of attention
Per The Hill, the renovation of the reflecting pool cost roughly $14 million and was completed earlier this month. The work included fixing leaks and painting the bottom of the pool “American flag blue.” However, the project has faced significant challenges since its completion, one of which is peeling paint.
The water quickly developed an algal bloom, prompting the National Park Service to utilize hydrogen peroxide and a nanobubbler system to manage the growth. The outlet noted that Trump has maintained that the damage isn’t an environmental or maintenance issue, but part of the vandalism afflicting the entire area.
The Hill reported that Trump has previously speculated that chemicals were used to harm the grass, specifically pointing to a large marking that appeared on the National Mall. “Around the Reflecting Pool, we have a huge field of grass,” he said. “They poured acid on the grass, the same people, I guess. It killed, you know, acid kills grass quickly, so that’s being fixed.”
On Monday, he reportedly claimed that vandals “illegally placed in the water, and the beautiful new grass field has been destroyed with a gigantic ’86 47′ chemically carved into it.” The outlet explained that the number “86” is slang for removing something, and because the president is the 47th president, some have interpreted this as a threat.
On Tuesday, the president further claimed that six people have been arrested and seven have received citations related to the damage. Although The Hill also noted that the Interior Department provided slightly different figures on Monday, stating that five people had been arrested and five others had been cited, with a spokesperson noting that 14 police reports had been filed for vandalism.
One of the individuals arrested is former three-time U.S. Olympic canoe racer, David Hearn. He reportedly told The Associated Press that he was held by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after he had only touched a piece of paint that was already peeling off the side of the pool.
The Hill also noted that there have been concerns regarding wildlife in the area. Over the weekend, a dead duck was found in the pool, and two more were discovered in nearby Constitution Gardens. City Wildlife, an animal rescue organization, has taken samples for necropsy but stated it cannot comment on the cause of death until results are available.
Regarding the physical damage to the pool, the president also clarified his earlier statements about the size of the gashes. It was reported that he previously estimated that the gash in the pool was 200ft before saying it was 300ft. Speaking from the Oval Office, he stated that it was not a single 350-foot gash but rather “numerous slashes over a very long 350-foot length.”
Per The Hill, the president has mentioned that images would be released to verify these claims of vandalism, but noted that such evidence has not yet been provided to the public. In another part of Capitol Hill, Rep. Burchett acknowledged that there are “other ways” to manage the algae bloom, such as using bleach or chlorine, but he continued to stress that the administration should consider simply allowing the ecosystem to develop on its own.
Published: Jun 25, 2026 04:03 pm