Trump Still Claims Vandals Destroyed Reflecting Pool Despite Court Account
Trump repeats vandalism claim
At a midterm rally in Georgia on Saturday, Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had never worked properly. He described it as a long pool stretching from the Lincoln Memorial to George Washington and said it had always leaked.
Trump also blamed what he called extensive vandalism, while saying the water level had reached about 90 percent. He said it would take several more days to refill the pool.
Court account points elsewhere
The account given to a court by federal prosecutors appointed by Trump attributed the damaged lining to a botched installation. The work involved a new lining installed by a contractor Trump had selected the previous spring.
That explanation differs from Trump’s continued claim that politically motivated vandals caused the damage. The pool’s condition and the responsibility for the harm remain at the center of the dispute.
Pool remains a concern
Trump has repeatedly spoken about the Reflecting Pool. On Monday, he wrote on Truth Social that it was 70 percent full and looking good, then warned that anyone who damaged it would go to jail.
At the Saturday rally, he also referred to getting work done temporarily for July 4 and mentioned the pipes. His remarks included both the vandalism claim and an update on the water level.
Key points
- Trump blamed vandals for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- Federal prosecutors told a court a botched installation ruined the pool’s lining.
- Trump said the pool was about 90 percent full and needed several more days to refill.
- On Monday, Trump said on Truth Social that the pool was 70 percent full.