Trump Acknowledges Contractor Mistake in Reflecting Pool Renovation
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President Trump said a contractor error contributed to the problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after previously attributing the issues to vandalism.
President Donald Trump posted on social media on Sunday that the recent problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were partly due to "some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening." The comment marks a shift from earlier statements that had blamed vandals for the pool’s deteriorating condition.
The renovation, intended to be completed before Independence Day, involved installing a new blue liner and upgraded water-purification equipment. Shortly after completion, the liner began to peel and the purification system failed to control an algae bloom that turned the water green.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro in Washington initially charged several individuals, including former Olympian David Hearn, with vandalism related to the pool. She later dismissed some of the charges after concluding that the repair work itself was responsible for the damage.
"There is no video or proof to support the claim that vandalism damaged the pool," Trump wrote, while still referencing the case against Hearn.
The admission comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the high-profile restoration project.