Trump Says U.S. Park Police Arrest Multiple Vandals for Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Damage

President Donald Trump said the United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., and he wrote that the crimes are “very serious” and should bring “Years in jail.”

Trump also said he met with contractors and that “We will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs,” as the pool’s newly renovated lining has shown peeling paint and algae issues.

ABC News

The NPR report says Trump provided no evidence for his claims about the nature of the damage, and it adds that neither the Park Police nor any other law enforcement agency had publicly confirmed any arrests as of the time of publication.

NPR reported that on Friday, Maryland resident and former Olympian David Hearn was arrested and charged with destroying government property, and Hearn said he merely reached into the pool to touch one of the already dislodged blue pieces while denying the charge.

The Guardian reported that Trump told reporters he “can’t help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up,” and it said he claimed “Five people are arrested and five people are under investigation right now.”

When pressed by Ed O’Keefe of CBS News for evidence, the Guardian said Trump suggested the parks department could show reporters what he called the long gash in the sealant, and it reported that he said “we also have pictures of it” but would reveal them in court later.

ABC News

NBC News said at least five people have been arrested in connection with alleged vandalism, and it identified one as former U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn, who told NBC News he was detained for five hours Friday after touching a piece of detached coating.

ABC News quoted Hearn saying, “I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” and it reported he is set to appear in court on July 9.

The CBC reported that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Washington’s National Mall is set to be drained again for repairs after algae and peeling paint appeared just weeks after a $14.7-million U.S. renovation, and it said the DC Water authority issued a permit to drain the 609-metre-long rectangular pool.

“The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC has turned green with algae just weeks after it underwent a major multimillion-dollar renovation to make it shine an “American flag blue” colour”

Al Jazeera

CBC said workers from the National Park Service poured hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat algae growth, while Trump—without evidence—blamed vandals for the state of the landmark and told reporters Monday that the pool “looks very good.”

The Hill reported that the Department of the Interior said five individuals were arrested for vandalism and five additional individuals were issued federal citations, and it said a total of 14 police reports have been filed for vandalism in connection with Trump’s recent Truth Social posts.

NBC News added that Trump said the Reflecting Pool has “been given a 300-foot-long gash” and that he threatened a “10-year prison sentence” for destruction or attempted destruction, while the National Park Service, U.S. Park Police and Interior Department did not immediately respond to requests from NBC News.