Trump says vandals damaged Reflecting Pool, may need to drain it again

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that several people, including an Olympic canoeist, had been arrested in connection with alleged vandalism of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. He suggested the incidents could lead to lengthy prison sentences.

Trump posted on his social-media platform that the damage was caused by vandals who had cut a 250-foot gash in the pool’s surface and poured corrosive chemicals into the water. He added that the pool might need to be drained to fix the floor after contractors applied a new sealant that has begun to peel, exposing algae.

The 2,030-foot pool, located at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, is part of a $14 million renovation effort tied to a broader beautification program for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Workers have struggled with an algae bloom and the deteriorating sealant, which has drawn attention from visitors.

Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, 67, told reporters he was detained for five hours after touching a piece of the detached coating. He said he did not remove or damage any material and that the guard who arrested him could not specify the law he had violated.

U.S. Park Police and the National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the arrests. Earlier, Trump had shared an article about Hearn’s detention and previously mocked prior administrations’ handling of the pool’s condition.

"Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments," Trump wrote. "What these terrible vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly," he added.

The renovation continues amid ongoing challenges with algae and the sealant, and officials have not confirmed any criminal charges related to the alleged vandalism.