Trump says 300-foot gash in Reflecting Pool is being ‘taken care of’
President Donald Trump said Monday that repairs are underway at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, blaming the damage on a 300-foot gash and chemicals dumped into the water, as the administration continues to defend a costly restoration project that turned into a series of problems.
“Of the MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, the only one that was Vandalized was the Reflecting Pool, which is being taken care of, ASAP!” Trump wrote.
The president claimed that there is a “300 foot long gash” in the pool, that “chemicals have been illegally placed in the water,” and that a newly installed grass field had been damaged with a large “86 47” carved into it. Trump also warned that those responsible could face prison time and pledged the law would be enforced.
Trump previously said the gash in the pool’s liner was 250 feet long and speculated that vandals “took some form of knife or blade” to the surface. The administration has not provided proof of this claim.
Monday’s comments mark the latest chapter in a controversy surrounding the National Mall landmark after a multimillion-dollar renovation championed by Trump ahead of next month’s events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The project included painting the reflecting pool basin “American Flag Blue” and installing new systems intended to improve water quality. But shortly after work was completed, visitors reported portions of the water turning green from algae growth. Work crews were then seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to kill the algal blooms. Shortly after, sections of the new coating appeared to peel away.
Trump has argued the problems stem from intentional acts rather than flaws in the renovation itself. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, was less accusatory than the president, rather floating serious charges if people pour chemicals in the pool that promote algal blooms.
A former Olympian was arrested by Park Police over the weekend for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. David Hearn, 67, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property, but he claimed he only reached into the pool to touch a detached piece of the pool’s liner to see what it felt like.
PIRROS FLOATS ‘SERIOUS CHARGES’ FOR VANDALS FOSTERING ALGAL BLOOMS IN REFLECTING POOL
Trump said he met with contractors to curate a plan to address the problems with the pool, saying it will likely need to be drained for repairs.
“What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly,” Trump posted over the weekend.
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