Topline
President Donald Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained Monday, as he doubled down on his administration’s claims that the floor of the pool had been slashed by “vandals.”
A person stops to look at the partially-drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday.
Associated Press
Key Facts
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the pool was drained, claiming it had to be done to “fix the scars and damage” caused by alleged “vandals,” although no such evidence has been made public.
The president wanted the repair work to wait until after the July 4th weekend.
Trump said the pool had to be drained out to fix the “water tight basin” and it will be “refilled and put back into service soon.”
The president claimed the purported “vandals” made “300 yards long” slashes and then pulled the pool floor upward with “great force.”
Trump doubled down on calling for people to be punished for the damage to the pool.
What Did Trump Say About ABC’s Reporting On The Pool?
In a follow-up post an hour later, the president lashed out at ABC News and anchor David Muir’s coverage of the pool being drained for repairs. The president insisted that there was no “peeling paint” but rather “high-grade colored waterproofing liner” that was slashed by either a “knife, or box cutter.” The president’s post again didn’t include any evidence to back his claims of vandalism. The president also blamed the recurrence of algae blooms in the pool on purported “vandals,” although it’s unclear how people could be responsible for a recurring issue that has plagued the pool for years. Trump has feuded with ABC and its news division for several years now and has repeatedly touted his $16 million 2024 settlement in a defamation case he filed against the network.
tangent
The reflecting pool received only a brief mention from Muir on Monday’s broadcast of “ABC World News Tonight.” He said the pool was drained again on Monday, and this was the second time this has happened in recent months.
A fence has been set up in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images
The partially drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is pictured from the Washington Monument.
Associated Press
People stop to take pictures next to the partially drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Associated Press
further reading
Reflecting Pool—Still Green—Drained For A Third Time As Renovation Drags On (Forbes)
Former Olympian Accused Of Vandalizing Reflecting Pool Pleads Not Guilty (Forbes)