WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has insisted that vandals are responsible for problems with the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including peeling sealant and algae growth, rather than issues with the renovation itself.
Trump made the remarks on Monday during an exchange with reporters, claiming a roughly 350-foot slit had been cut into the pool's lining with a knife or similar tool. He said proof of the vandalism would be presented in court and referenced arrests related to the site.
The pool, between the World War II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial, underwent a roughly $14 million to $16 million renovation that included a new blue sealant intended to give it an "American flag blue" appearance. It was refilled around June 6 but soon developed visible algae blooms and peeling material.
U.S. Park Police have arrested at least five or six people for alleged vandalism at the site and issued citations to others, according to administration officials and reports. Trump has also claimed vandals poured corrosive chemicals into the pool.
The U.S. Park Service and the contractor involved have not attributed the peeling to a large cut, and reporters at the scene have not observed evidence of such a slit. The contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, has acknowledged that some areas require repairs.
"I can't help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up," Trump said, according to accounts of his comments. He added that the pool would likely need to be drained again for fixes.
The issues have drawn attention ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. Experts and critics have pointed to potential factors including the sealant application, warm weather promoting algae, and the challenges of maintaining such a large water feature.
As of Tuesday, work to address the problems was expected to proceed, with the pool potentially being drained. The Department of the Interior and Park Service had no immediate additional comment on the specific vandalism claims beyond existing statements. The investigation into reported incidents continues.
