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President Donald Trump said Saturday that multiple people have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, escalating controversy surrounding a costly renovation project that has already faced criticism over algae outbreaks and peeling blue coating.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the U.S. Park Police had detained several individuals accused of damaging the newly renovated pool, which recently underwent a multimillion-dollar overhaul ordered by the president as part of his broader effort to beautify the nation’s capital ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
“The United States Park Police have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll,” Trump wrote. “Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair.”
According to an administration official, five people had been arrested by Saturday evening, while another five individuals received citations. Authorities reportedly filed 14 police reports related to incidents at the site.
Trump also claimed that one suspect used a blade to create what he described as a 250-foot-long gash in the pool’s newly installed surface.
Renovation Faces Growing Scrutiny
The arrests come amid mounting questions about the condition of the Reflecting Pool following its recent renovation.
The project included resurfacing the pool with a vivid blue coating personally selected by Trump and described by the president as “American Flag Blue.” The renovation was intended to address longstanding issues involving algae growth, leaks and plumbing failures that have plagued the iconic National Mall landmark for years.
However, problems emerged shortly after the pool was refilled.
Large sections of water turned fluorescent green because of algae blooms, and visitors observed peeling sections of blue coating separating from the pool floor and walls. Earlier this week, workers were seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water as part of ongoing remediation efforts.
Trump has repeatedly argued that vandalism contributed to the damage.
“No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work,” the president wrote Friday.
One Arrest Draws Questions
Among those detained was 67-year-old Bethesda, Maryland resident David Hearn, who told reporters he was arrested Friday after reaching into the water to inspect the peeling coating.
Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer and marine materials specialist, said his actions were motivated by curiosity rather than vandalism.
“I’m a curious citizen,” Hearn told The Associated Press. “I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.”
According to Hearn, he briefly touched a loose section of coating before a park employee instructed him to stop. He said National Guard personnel and Park Police subsequently detained him for approximately five hours.
Hearn stated that he has been ordered to appear in court next month and is seeking legal representation.
Experts Question Vandalism Explanation
While the administration has emphasized alleged vandalism, experts have noted that external damage alone may not fully explain the widespread issues observed throughout the pool.
Even if portions of the coating were intentionally pulled away, questions remain about recurring algae growth and reports of larger sections of detached material visible beneath the water’s surface.
The Reflecting Pool has a long history of maintenance challenges. A previous $34 million renovation completed during the Obama administration was intended to address algae and water-quality problems, but similar issues returned shortly afterward.
Trump launched the latest renovation effort in April as part of a broader campaign to restore and upgrade several landmarks across Washington, D.C.
Repairs Expected to Continue
Trump said the Reflecting Pool may need to be drained again to complete repairs and remove damaged sections of the coating.
“The algae is 75% gone,” the president wrote Friday. “The condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage.”
Federal officials have not provided a timeline for when repairs will be completed or whether additional closures will be necessary.
