Key facts
- President Donald Trump admitted the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool renovation was rushed and contained contractor errors.
- Trump renewed his claim that vandals were responsible for significant damage to the pool.
- He cited an unnamed witness who allegedly saw David Hearn damaging the pool's lining.
- US Attorney Jeanine Pirro moved to drop charges against Hearn and other defendants, citing a botched installation.
- Trump publicly disagreed with Pirro's decision, questioning her handling of the case.
- The reflecting pool has been closed since damage was discovered and will not reopen before September 10.
President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool was rushed and contained contractor errors, but he renewed his assertion that vandals were responsible for significant damage to the landmark. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that the contractor for the $14 million repainting project cut corners to meet a July 4 deadline, admitting to "some contractor error done by rushing the job." He described this damage as confined to a small area and "relatively inconsequential."
However, Trump insisted that other, more substantial damage to the pool's blue coating was the work of vandals. He cited an unnamed, "highly credible witness" from the US National Park Service who allegedly saw former Olympic canoeist David Hearn tearing at the pool's lining. Trump noted the absence of video proof for this alleged vandalism, stating that security cameras are being installed.
The controversy intensified when US Attorney Jeanine Pirro moved to drop criminal charges against Hearn and other defendants accused of vandalizing the site. Pirro's office informed the court that they now believe the damage stemmed largely from a hurried and botched installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings, rather than deliberate sabotage. Trump reacted angrily to Pirro's decision, stating he disagreed "100%" and suggested she had "folded like a cheap umbrella."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supported the prosecution's case, claiming his department provided expert and eyewitness testimony documenting vandalism. Pirro's office disputed this, asserting that prosecutors had limited information initially and later obtained records detailing installation problems that weakened the government's vandalism case. Hearn's lawyers have rejected the vandalism narrative entirely, stating the case against their client collapsed due to its lack of merit and are considering legal action.
The reflecting pool, repainted "American flag blue" as part of a beautification effort for America's 250th anniversary, has remained closed since the damage was discovered. Officials indicate it will not reopen before September 10. Trump had previously suggested other causes for the pool's issues, including algae blooms and a large slit attributed to vandals with a box cutter. The renovation project, awarded without competitive bidding due to urgency, has seen its cost escalate from an initial estimate of under $2 million to over $16 million.