Trump acknowledges contractor mistake in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation
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President Donald Trump said a contractor error contributed to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is undergoing further repairs, and noted the pool will reopen soon.
President Donald Trump said a contractor error contributed to damage at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is undergoing another round of renovations. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that the pool "will be open shortly" after the work is completed and described the error as a "small area of this massive pool, and was relatively inconsequential."
The reflecting pool, originally built at a cost of more than $16 million, was drained after the July 4 holiday when its blue liner began to peel. Earlier, Trump had attributed the damage to "vandals," but the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia later dropped all related charges.
A July 31 court filing obtained by USA TODAY indicated that prosecutors found the damage resulted from a "flawed installation by the contractor" and the rush to finish the project before events tied to the America 250 celebration. The filing said the Department of the Interior’s documents showed a "rushed and flawed installation process, with repeated failures of the lining during the installation process, and extensive peeling of the lining throughout the Reflecting Pool."
Trump also mentioned that former Olympian David Hearn was observed by a National Park Service worker "violently" handling the pool's coating, though another park employee said the damage predated Hearn’s involvement. The president said additional security cameras will be installed after the renovations are finished.