Trump orders 'immediate' repairs to troubled Reflecting Pool after personal inspection

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said that repair work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will begin "immediately" after he personally inspected the site and renewed claims that vandals had damaged the landmark.

The problems have put fresh attention on the costly renovation tied to America's 250th anniversary celebrations. 

Trump announces Reflecting Pool repair work to begin immediately

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, June 21, Trump said, "Work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool."

"I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing?" he added, without providing additional details.

The Reflecting Pool has faced algae blooms and peeling paint after a recent $14.2 million makeover. Trump had previously acknowledged there were "real problems" with the project and said contractors might have to drain much of the water to complete repairs.  

After meeting with contractors, he said they would "probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible."

Trump also wrote that the renovated pool had been performing well before the recent issues emerged.

"It hasn't looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn't work," he wrote. "Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments."

Trump blames vandalism for Reflecting Pool problems

On Saturday, Trump announced that federal authorities had arrested "multiple individuals" for alleged vandalism of the Reflecting Pool. He claimed the vandals had used a knife or blade to "put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade" as well as "poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool." He also referenced earlier damage to nearby grass and said that was "by far, the least of it."

CBS News reporter Emma Nicholson posted on X (formerly Twitter) that an administration official told her five people had been arrested for vandalizing the pool and another five had received federal citations, bringing the number of police reports to 14. One report involved an alleged 250-foot gash in the pool.

Jeanine Pirro warns vandals will 'face the criminal justice system in DC'

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said that people caught damaging the 2,000-foot-long pool would face prosecution.

"Anyone who is in a position of vandalizing or attempting to vandalize will face the criminal justice system in DC," Pirro told Fox News' 'The Sunday Briefing'.

Pirro also said anyone adding products to the pool that could generate algae could face more serious charges, though she did not provide arrest figures or further details.

Trump had posted on Friday that 75% of the algae had been removed and accused ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl of "trying to rip the rubber off of the surface" of the pool.