After Trump inspects Reflecting Pool, he says repair work will begin 'immediately'

President Trump announced that repair work on the Reflecting Pool will begin "immediately" after he inspected the landmark from his helicopter on Sunday. The pool, which underwent a $13 million refurbishment, continues to suffer from algae growth and peeling paint. Trump attributed some of the damage to vandals, calling them "sick, deranged people" on Truth Social. The Reflecting Pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has historically faced issues with leaks, structural deterioration, and faulty pipes. The US Park Police did not confirm arrest figures related to the vandalism.

Former US Olympian Davey Hearn, 67, has denied vandalizing the Washington Reflecting Pool after his arrest. He was detained by the pool's edge on Friday by US Park Police and National Guard troops. Hearn stated he was merely touching a strip of material that appeared to have detached from the pool's bottom, not altering or removing paint. This incident occurs amidst recent refurbishment of the pool, which has experienced peeling paint and algae growth despite a multi-million dollar resealing and painting project. President Donald Trump has claimed the pool has been defaced and may require draining and refilling.

President Donald Trump has claimed that vandalism has damaged the recently renovated reflecting pool in Washington. He posted on his social media site on Friday night that the pool's interior surface and surrounding grass have been intentionally harmed. Trump stated that the damage occurred recently, specifically mentioning an incident three days prior where the grass was destroyed. He offered no specific details or evidence to support his allegations of vandalism. The article notes that the paint is peeling from the reflecting pool following the renovation that Trump ordered.