Trump Blames 'Vandalism' for Reflecting Pool Issues as Repair Costs Soar Under His Watch
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President Donald Trump announced July 13 that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be refilled after a second costly drainage, blaming supposed 'vandalism' for the damage, while repair expenses ballooned under his administration.
On July 13, President Donald Trump took to his personal social media platform to declare that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool would be refilled and reopened after yet another round of repairs, following a second drainage necessitated by damage at the basin’s bottom. The pool, which holds about 6.5 million gallons, was first emptied in April to fix a leaking basin and to apply a new 'American Flag Blue' coating—a symbolic gesture that did little to address the real issues. Despite the initial work being completed in mid-June, the lining began to peel and algae proliferated, exposing the inadequacy of the rushed repairs and prompting another round of fixes starting July 10.
Trump was quick to blame 'vandalism' for the long slashes found in the pool floor, deflecting attention from the administration’s mismanagement. He claimed the repairs would make the pool 'better than ever' and promised swift completion. Authorities have charged at least three individuals, including former Olympian David Hearn, with property damage for allegedly removing pieces of the lining, though all have pleaded not guilty—raising questions about the fairness of the accusations.
The lucrative renovation contract went to Atlantic Industrial Coatings LLC, which applied a polyurea coating meant to stop leaks. Under Trump’s watch, the project’s cost skyrocketed from an initial $1.5 million estimate to over $16 million by June, according to his own statements, with little transparency or oversight. The National Park Service and the Interior Department have remained silent, refusing to comment further.
'We wanted to wait until after the July 4th weekend,' Trump wrote in his post, prioritizing optics over substance. The Reflecting Pool, a historic feature since 1923, has faced maintenance issues before, but the current administration’s handling has only added to its legacy of mismanagement.