Trump doubles down on Reflecting Pool vandalism claims

Administration Trump doubles down on Reflecting Pool vandalism claims Comments: by Sarah Davis - 06/23/26 11:45 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 06/23/26 11:45 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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President Trump is sticking by his claims of vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, following reports that the pool’s new base covering is peeling off.

The Trump administration’s multimillion-dollar renovation project of this iconic water feature was only recently completed. The water has since turned green from an algae bloom outbreak and the pool’s new “American flag blue” paint has been photographed peeling off and rising to the surface.

The president suggested to reporters on Monday that the loose paint is the result of someone cutting through the new lining. Trump said there is around a 300-foot slit in the pool’s base that was created with “probably a box cutter or knife of some kind.”

He previously speculated that vandals could have poured chemicals into the pool.

When asked for evidence supporting this act of vandalism, the president referred reporters to the National Park Service.

The Interior Department announced on Monday that it had arrested five people and issued federal citations for five others for allegedly vandalizing the pool.

One of the people arrested, former U.S. Olympic canoe racer David Hearn, told The Associated Press that he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after he touched a piece of the peeling paint.

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) expressed confidence on Tuesday morning that the president and law enforcement have evidence of this vandalism.

“I assume this is against the law, and I assume somebody will follow up from the park service,” Sessions told CNN’s John Berman. “The park police, I assume, have some responsibility in this, so I would ask the park police what they have and go that direction.”

Democrats have been more critical of the vandalism speculation. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) cast doubt on the president’s claim in an interview with CNN later on Tuesday.

“There’s a 24/7 camera on this Reflecting Pool, I’m told, that would easily disclose anyone who made a 250-foot slash in the liner of the reflecting pool,” Durbin said. “The president can back up his position on this by showing this film to the American people. Let them see it with their own eyes if it exists.”