Trump Again Decries ‘Deranged’ Reflecting Pool Vandals—With Scant Evidence

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President Donald Trump decried the “Deranged Vandals” whom he alleges made a 300-yard gash in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Friday morning, vowing the accused will be “prosecuted to the MAX”—but photos of the now-drained pool do not appear to show such a cut.

Trump has claimed vandals made a 300-yard gash in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Trump, in a Truth Social post on Friday morning, again claimed the pool was “so badly damaged by Deranged Vandals” and was “emptied as the massive slash gets repaired.”

The pool began draining earlier this week and appeared to be mostly empty by Wednesday, though photos of the drained pool and reporters on the ground dispute Trumps claim there is a massive gash in the liner.

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Trump said workers repairing the pool are “looking for a Vandal Proof material, but such a thing should not have been necessary,” adding, “What kind of animals would do such a thing？”

Trump has gradually increased the severity of the alleged gash in recent weeks, first saying it was 250 feet long, then 300 feet long, until he said earlier this week the gash is 300 yards long—which would be equal to 900 feet.

Is There Really A Gash In The Reflecting Pool？

Photos of the drained pool do not appear to show a gash in the reflecting pool, let alone one that is 300 yards long. CNN reporters who visited the Reflecting Pool after it was drained said there were no obvious signs of vandalism leaving a massive gash, but noted some of the view is obstructed by fencing that surrounds the site. A Washington Post analysis, based on satellite imagery and conversations with experts, found the lining of the pool appears to be peeling in about seven places, likely indicating problems in how it was installed. The administration has not provided specific evidence to support the idea that the pool was slashed by vandals.

surprising fact

Trump has previously bragged about the strength of the Reflecting Pool liner, saying in May it is “very strong . . . if you had a knife, you can‘t even cut it, it’s so strong, so powerful, its like powerful rubber. It is beautiful. Sealed.”

what do we know about vandalism charges？

At least four people have been charged in connection with the alleged vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, including Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty last week. Hearn‘s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5. Hearn’s lawyer Norm Eisen has said every American “should be alarmed by this prosecution.” Hearn has claimed he biked in the area on June 19 and reached down to grab a flap of the pool‘s liner that was already coming apart, though he said he “didn’t destroy or break or peel anything.”

key background

Trump‘s $14 million renovation of the Reflecting Pool is one of many concurrent construction projects in Washington, D.C. that have garnered much scrutiny. At the White House, construction is under way on a helipad, ballroom, fortification of the front door and columns are under repair. The Kennedy Center is still controversially covered by tarps as the center says the marble facade is under repair, though the tarps have stood for more than a month—covering where Trump’s name was removed—with little update on when they will come down. The New York Times estimated the cost of 18 construction projects across Washington at about $1.2 billion.