Reflecting Pool Vandalised Claim Confirmed

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is seen June 26, 2026 on the National Mall in Washington ahead of Independence Day festivities (AFP / Manon JACOB) US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed "vandals" sliced "a 300-foot slit" in the bottom of the pool.

A senior National Park Service (NPS) official has said a liner along the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was “cut with a sharp knife or razor” earlier this month, repeating Donald Trump’s claims of vandalism.

But just days after the pool was largely refilled with water on June 5, problems appeared. The water turned bright green. The new blue coating peeled and floated to the surface. In recent days, Mr. Trump has repeatedly blamed these problems on vandals and said six people had been arrested.

But after being refilled with water, the pool was plagued by an algae bloom and developed issues with the deep blue paint that was added to its bottom. Five people have been arrested for vandalism in connection with the Reflecting Pool, and five ...

Several people have been arrested and cited after President Donald Trump, without evidence, blamed vandals for destroying the pool. Listen to this article with a free profile · 00:0000:00 · Add NBC News to Google · Olympian charged with damaging ...

(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) ... A grand jury in D.C. indicted a former Olympic canoeist on Thursday for allegedly vandalizing the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

"The indictment is in response to an incident that occurred on June 19 of 2026 in which the defendant Hearn ripped a piece of recently installed sealant on the bottom of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial," she said.

Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum speaks with 'Fox & Friends Weekend' about the vandalism targeting the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

The White House press release linked to a court filing from Frank Lands, deputy director of operations for the National Park Service, stating that police on June 9 responded to an “NPS report of damage to the reflecting pool, including a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material.” Lands also said that “approximately 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool.” It is unclear who is alleged to have made these cuts or thrown the fence post tops. The Department of the Interior sent us a link to one of its X posts, which said, “Six individuals have been arrested for vandalism at the Reflecting Pool.” The post added that seven others were given federal citations and that 17 police reports for vandalism had been filed.

“Hace apenas tres días destrozaron ... “magnífica obra”. “La Policía de Parques de los Estados Unidos ha detenido a varias personas por vandalizar el magnífico Estanque Reflectante de nuestra nación....

«Hace apenas tres días destrozaron ... «magnífica obra». «La Policía de Parques de los Estados Unidos ha detenido a varias personas por vandalizar el magnífico Estanque Reflectante de nuestra nación....

En esas circunstancias, la fiscal del distrito de Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, una estrecha aliada del presidente, ha encontrado ya a un responsable de todo el desaguisado. Se trata de David Hearn, un antiguo piragüista olímpico de 67 años detenido en junio supuestamente por vandalizar la piscina.