Trump Insists Vandals Caused Reflecting Pool Damage, Cites Arrests
WHO:
CBS News - President Trump
CBS News - Ed O'Keefe, CBS News senior White House correspondent
CBS News - U.S. Park Police
CBS News - Atlantic Industrial Coatings, the company behind the Reflecting Pool project
The Guardian - Five individuals arrested for vandalism
The Guardian - Five additional individuals issued federal citations
WHAT:
CBS News - Trump stated that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may need to be drained to repair the alleged slit in the liner.
CBS News - Atlantic Industrial Coatings indicated that repairs to the Reflecting Pool cannot be made until the pool is drained.
CBS News - Trump claimed that the algae growth in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that "we also have pictures" of the alleged vandalism, which he said would be revealed in court at a later date.
CNBC - Trump stated that the cost to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has exceeded $14.65 million, which is more than $4 million over the original estimated cost of the no-bid contract.
CBS News - Trump claimed that a "350-foot slit" was cut with a "box-cutter or a knife of some kind" in the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump stated that the damage is causing paint to peel on the recently renovated Reflecting Pool, which cost $14.7 million.
CBS News - Trump insisted that the problems are due to vandalism rather than craftsmanship issues.
CBS News - Trump claimed that five people have been arrested for vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that evidence of the vandalism will be provided in court.
The Guardian - Trump stated, "I can’t help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up."
The Guardian - Trump claimed that the growth of algae in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
CBS News - Trump stated that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may need to be drained to repair the alleged slit in the liner.
CBS News - Atlantic Industrial Coatings indicated that repairs to the Reflecting Pool cannot be made until the pool is drained.
CBS News - Trump claimed that the algae growth in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that "we also have pictures" of the alleged vandalism, which he said would be revealed in court at a later date.
CNBC - Trump threatened to sue ABC for reporting on the costs of repairing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, claiming they did not report that previous administrations spent over $100 million on the Reflecting Pool.
CNBC - Trump stated that the cost to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has exceeded $14.65 million, which is more than $4 million over the original estimated cost of the no-bid contract.
CNBC - Trump claimed that a "350-foot slit" was cut with a "box-cutter or a knife of some kind" in the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - President Trump claimed that vandals "cut" a 350-foot slit in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump stated that the damage is causing paint to peel on the recently renovated Reflecting Pool, which cost $14.7 million.
CBS News - Trump insisted that the problems are due to vandalism rather than craftsmanship issues.
CBS News - Trump claimed that five people have been arrested for vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that evidence of the vandalism will be provided in court.
The Guardian - Trump stated, "I can’t help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up."
The Guardian - Trump claimed that the growth of algae in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
CBS News - Trump stated that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may need to be drained to repair the alleged slit in the liner.
CBS News - Atlantic Industrial Coatings indicated that repairs to the Reflecting Pool cannot be made until the pool is drained.
CBS News - Trump claimed that the algae growth in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that "we also have pictures" of the alleged vandalism, which he said would be revealed in court at a later date.
CNBC - Trump threatened to sue ABC for reporting on the costs of repairing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, claiming they did not report that previous administrations spent over $100 million on the Reflecting Pool.
CNBC - Trump stated that the cost to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has exceeded $14.65 million, which is more than $4 million over the original estimated cost of the no-bid contract.
CNBC - Trump claimed that a "350-foot slit" was cut with a "box-cutter or a knife of some kind" in the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - President Trump claimed that vandals "cut" a 350-foot slit in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump stated that the damage is causing paint to peel on the recently renovated Reflecting Pool, which cost $14.7 million.
CBS News - Trump insisted that the problems are due to vandalism rather than craftsmanship issues.
CBS News - Trump claimed that five people have been arrested for vandalism related to the Reflecting Pool.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that evidence of the vandalism will be provided in court.
The Guardian - Trump stated, "I can’t help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up."
The Guardian - Trump claimed that the growth of algae in the pool was caused by someone putting fertilizer in the water.
WHERE:
CBS News - Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.
CBS News - Between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial
CBS News - Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.
CBS News - Between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial
CBS News - Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington, D.C.
CBS News - Between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial
WHEN:
CBS News - Trump made his claims during an exchange with reporters on a Monday.
WHY:
CBS News - Trump attributed the damage to vandalism rather than the quality of the renovation work.
HOW:
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism could be obtained from the Parks Department or the Department of the Interior.
CNBC - Trump mentioned that he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, referencing a previous settlement of $16 million that ABC paid in a defamation case he filed in 2024.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism, including pictures, would be revealed in court at a later date.
CBS News - Trump indicated that the Parks Department could provide evidence of the alleged slit in the pool.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism could be obtained from the Parks Department or the Department of the Interior.
CNBC - Trump mentioned that he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, referencing a previous settlement of $16 million that ABC paid in a defamation case he filed in 2024.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism, including pictures, would be revealed in court at a later date.
CBS News - Trump indicated that the Parks Department could provide evidence of the alleged slit in the pool.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism could be obtained from the Parks Department or the Department of the Interior.
CNBC - Trump mentioned that he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, referencing a previous settlement of $16 million that ABC paid in a defamation case he filed in 2024.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism, including pictures, would be revealed in court at a later date.
CBS News - Trump indicated that the Parks Department could provide evidence of the alleged slit in the pool.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism could be obtained from the Parks Department or the Department of the Interior.
CNBC - Trump mentioned that he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, referencing a previous settlement of $16 million that ABC paid in a defamation case he filed in 2024.
CBS News - Trump suggested that evidence of the vandalism, including pictures, would be revealed in court at a later date.
CBS News - Trump indicated that the Parks Department could provide evidence of the alleged slit in the pool.
(UPDATED June 23, 2026 15:52 UTC)
Trump has raised concerns about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., claiming it may need to be drained to repair a "350-foot slit" allegedly caused by vandalism, which he insists is responsible for the recent algae growth and paint peeling. He stated that the cost to repaint the pool has now exceeded $14.65 million, significantly over the original estimate, and mentioned that five people have been arrested in connection with the vandalism. Trump also indicated that evidence, including photographs, will be presented in court at a later date, and he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting related to this issue.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 11:55 UTC)
President Trump has raised concerns about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, claiming that it may need to be drained to repair a "350-foot slit" allegedly caused by vandalism. He stated that the cost of repainting the pool has surpassed $14.65 million, which is over $4 million more than the original estimate, and he has threatened to sue ABC for not reporting on the extensive costs incurred by previous administrations. Trump also mentioned that five individuals have been arrested in connection with the vandalism and promised that evidence, including pictures, would be presented in court at a later date.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 08:08 UTC)
Trump announced that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool may need to be drained to repair a slit in its liner, as repairs cannot proceed until that happens. He claimed that the algae growth in the pool was due to someone adding fertilizer to the water and mentioned that "we also have pictures" of the alleged vandalism, which he plans to reveal in court at a later date. Trump suggested that evidence of this vandalism could be obtained from the Parks Department or the Department of the Interior.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 06:21 UTC)
Trump has threatened to sue ABC for their reporting on the costs of repairing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, asserting they failed to mention that previous administrations spent over $100 million on it. He revealed that the current cost to repaint the Reflecting Pool has surpassed $14.65 million, which is more than $4 million over the original estimate for the no-bid contract, and he alleged that a "350-foot slit" was cut in the pool with a "box-cutter or a knife of some kind." Additionally, Trump noted that he is preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, recalling a previous settlement of $16 million that ABC paid in a defamation case he filed in 2024.
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(UPDATED June 23, 2026 01:39 UTC)
President Trump has claimed that vandals cut a 350-foot slit in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which recently underwent a $14.7 million renovation. He stated that five individuals have been arrested for vandalism related to the incident and insisted that the damage is not due to craftsmanship issues, but rather intentional acts, including someone allegedly putting fertilizer in the water to promote algae growth. Trump mentioned that evidence of the vandalism, including photographs, will be presented in court at a later date, and he suggested that the Parks Department could also provide proof of the alleged damage.