Trump doubles down on Reflecting Pool vandalism claim, says proof will emerge 'in court'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump doubled down on his disputed claim that vandals cut a massive slit in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's facade and said evidence would eventually be shown in court.

Questions intensified after reporters said they found no sign of the damage Trump described. The dispute now centers on his promise of proof that has not yet been publicly shared.

Trump rejects idea Reflecting Pool troubles stem from poor workmanship

In an exchange with CBS News senior White House correspondent Ed O'Keefe, Trump rejected suggestions that problems with the recently renovated Reflecting Pool stemmed from poor workmanship.

Asked whether he had proof, including photos or video, that vandals used a knife to cut the pool, the Republican leader replied, "Well, let's put it this way, when you have a 350, I think it's 350, not 250, when you have a 350-foot slit, from one end to the other, you think that's proof? You think that's proof?"

The president has argued that vandalism, not construction issues, caused paint to peel after the $14.7 million revamp.

According to the Park Police, five people have been arrested in connection with vandalism at the Reflecting Pool and five others received federal citations.

Neither the National Park Service nor the company that performed the work has said a slit caused the peeling.

O'Keefe noted that reporters who visited the site found no evidence of such damage.

Trump responded, "Well, you'd have to go see the Parks Department. They'll show it to you, or see, see the secretary, but I saw it."

"They cut it, they cut it very violently. The same thing with the floor, they cut it, and then they lifted it. They pulled it, and that's what it is," he added. 

Trump promises evidence in court

After defending the project, Trump said, "We also have pictures."

When O'Keefe pressed him again for evidence, the president answered, "Yeah, at the right time you'll see it."

Workers from Pearl Purity Water Solutions LLC work to clean up algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following the completion of recent renovations on June 14, 2026, in Washington, DC (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

He then added, "You'll see it in court. You'll see it in court, but all you have to do is call the Parks Department, call the Department of Interior."

Trump also suggested that someone may have deliberately caused the algae problem that has plagued cleanup efforts. 

"If you put fertilizer in the water, you get algae, but somebody said they might have put fertilizer, they did something to create the algae," he claimed.

Contractor acknowledges repairs are needed 

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which received a no-bid contract to install the sealant, acknowledged that portions of the seven-acre project need work.

The company said it has "identified some areas in the Reflecting Pool that require repairs" but maintained the issues affect only "a very small part of the massive 7-acre project, and do not indicate a failure of the liner," as per CBS News.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings added that repairs cannot begin until the pool is drained and said it will return to complete the work under warranty.