Trump Blames Vandals for Damage as Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Drained for Repairs

President Donald Trump announced that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been drained for repairs and will soon be refilled, repeating his claim that vandals are responsible for damage to the pool's lining. According to CNN, Trump said the pool "will be refilled and put back into service soon," though he did not specify when the work would be completed.

CNN observed that much of the water had already been drained, revealing dried sediment at the bottom of the famous Washington landmark. The report did not include independent confirmation of Trump's assertion that vandals gashed the pool's lining, which the president has previously cited as the reason for the repair work.

The reflecting pool, a centerpiece of the National Mall stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has faced recurring maintenance issues over the years. Political Wire noted that USA Today has chronicled the pool's history of problems under the headline "From blue to green to empty, a look at the DC Reflecting Pool saga," highlighting the structure's periodic struggles with algae and structural repairs.

Political WireTrump Says Reflecting Pool Will Reopen Soon

The pool was last fully renovated in a $34 million project completed in 2012, which converted it from a concrete basin with standing water to a recirculating system. It remains unclear how long the current repairs will take or what the total cost will be, as CNN reported that Trump's announcement provided no further details on the timeline or scope of the work.