Trump doubles down on Reflecting Pool vandalism claims without providing evidence
President Donald Trump continued on Monday to blame alleged “vandalism” for the problems plaguing the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, telling reporters that a “350-foot slit” was cut through the pool's lining with a “box-cutter or a knife of some kind.”
“I saw it. They cut it. They cut it very violently," Trump said. "The same thing with the floor. They cut it and then they lifted it. They pulled it. And that's what it is.”
The Reflecting Pool has been plagued with algae and peeling paint in the days since the Trump administration completed the renovation, which cost more than $16 million, and was $4 million more than the estimated cost. A Interior Department spokesperson told CNN in a statement that the algae was "residual" and came from reactivated supply lines.
The president directed reporters to the Interior Department and the National Park Service for information on ongoing investigations into alleged damages, but provided no evidence of vandalism himself.
In a statement, an Interior Department spokesperson said five people have been arrested and five others were issued federal citations.
"14 police reports have been filed for vandalism, including the crime described in the President's Truth Social post," the statement said. "The U.S. Park Police will continue to carry out their number one duty of upholding law and order in our nation’s capital."
Trump first made the claim the lining had been cut in a post on his social media platform on Saturday, saying then that vandals had put a 250-foot-long "gash" in the lining.
Neither the Interior Department nor the White House has provided evidence that the pool lining had been cut.
Public records of such incidents are controlled by the U.S. Park Police, and the D.C. court system is only searchable by specific name or case number. Court records are also usually unavailable until an appearance is made, and making a traditional Freedom of Information request is typically a lengthy process.
But asked for proof of the slit, Trump demurred, saying, “Well, you'd have to do is see the Parks Department. They'll show it to you or see, see, the secretary. But I saw it. They cut it. They cut it very violently,” he said.
Trump also asserted that images of the alleged cut would be released at the “right time” in court, but again said to contact the Department of the Interior or the National Parks Service for the evidence.
Trump said it was likely the pool would have to be drained to repair the damage, though he later maintained that it “looked very good.”
Trump also mused about the possibility that someone put fertilizer in the pool to cause algae growth that has turned the water a murky green in recent weeks. An Interior Department spokesperson had previously told CNN after the growth was first detected that it was residual algae from the pool’s reactivated supply lines.
The president went on to lament the giant “86 47” that was burned into grass on the National Mall last week and has become increasingly visible despite efforts by the Park Service to cover up the area, photos from Reuters show.
“They put these massive letters on the grass. You probably know about that, right,” Trump said.
“They destroyed the grass. So, that's a big thing, but we're going to get it back very soon,” he added.
ABC News' Jack Date and Luke Barr contributed to this report.
