The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained on Monday for repairs to alleged vandalism, a move confirmed by Donald Trump, who vowed that "country hating sleazebags" would pay for the damage. The pool's bottom had reportedly been slashed, with Trump claiming the damage extended 300 yards and that the floor was "cut and then pulled upward" by "thugs."
Trump stated he waited until after the Fourth of July weekend to undertake the repairs, noting that the Parks Department had emptied the water and intended to refill it soon. He also specifically criticized ABC News anchor David Muir for suggesting the issues were due to "peeling paint" and "algae blooms," asserting that the damage was a result of "vandalism" to the pool's waterproofing liner.
The pool's recent issues began after initial repair work was completed last month, which was subsequently affected by an algae bloom and peeling coating. Court documents later indicated that the National Park Service reported a June 9 incident to the US Park Police involving a sharp knife or razor cutting the pool's new liner. At least three individuals have pleaded not guilty in DC Superior Court to misdemeanors related to allegedly removing pieces of the pool's coating, with one former Olympic canoe racer, David Hearn, also pleading not guilty to deliberately damaging the pool. Hearn's attorneys and other critics of the Trump administration have characterized the legal actions as an abuse of power, arguing he is being scapegoated for poor repair work.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who has overseen several beautification projects in Washington under the Trump administration, suggested that the vandalism began as early as June 9, prior to Hearn's alleged involvement. Burgum cited a lack of surveillance cameras at the pool as a contributing factor to the vandalism, stating that the pool had not historically been a target for such acts until beautification efforts began. He also indicated that the administration would not seek new bids for the ongoing repairs, opting to use the same companies previously contracted: Ohio-based Green Water Solutions for a water-purification system and Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings for waterproofing.
Democratic senators and House members are reportedly investigating the Reflecting Pool project, seeking to ascertain the extent of taxpayer funding involved. The pool project was initially intended to be completed before the nation's 250th birthday celebrations, with Trump having directed that the bottom be painted "American flag blue."