Efforts to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have exposed significant flaws in a recent renovation project, contradicting claims by President Donald Trump that vandals were responsible for the damage. A video shared on X by photographer Joe Flood captured workers pulling up "chunks" of loose blue sealant as they power washed the basin last week. The footage shows laborers lifting flaps of an "American Flag Blue" liner with their bare hands, while scraps of damaged sealant are jostled loose by high-pressure water.
Video Evidence Contradicts Vandalism Claims
The visual evidence from the repair site stands in stark contrast to President Trump's assertions that a gash hundreds of feet long was caused by malicious actors. Jeanine Pirro, the president’s top federal prosecutor for Washington, D.C., dropped charges against former Olympian David Hearn after determining that the damage was likely due to a "botched installation" by contractors. The Department of Justice also dismissed misdemeanor charges against three other individuals accused of vandalizing the pool.
Despite these legal determinations, Trump expressed disappointment with Pirro's decision on Truth Social, stating she had "folded like an umbrella." He maintained that while there may have been some contractor difficulties, the major damage was caused by vandals. The White House deferred questions regarding the repairs to the Interior Department, which did not immediately return a request for comment from the Daily Beast.
Ongoing Repairs and New Signage
The basin of the reflecting pool was drained once again as crews began these repair efforts last week. Work on the historic attraction has continued intermittently since June, following an initial renovation attempt that failed to hold up. The project involved painting the area "American Flag Blue," a decision that reportedly spurred the pool's largest algal bloom in years, as we reported in Trump Blames Others for Reflecting Pool Safety Warnings Before Collapse.
New signs placed around the fences surrounding the pool state that crews are "repairing areas damaged by vandals." These signs also blame past administrations for neglect, citing clogged pipes and dirty sidewalks. The text on the signage reads: "Since 1922, prior administrations have neglected this iconic landmark... The Reflecting Pool will remain drained while this work proceeds so that it can truly reflect the beauty, dignity, and grandeur of our nation’s capital."
Contractor Retention Despite Failures
The same contractor responsible for the initial renovation, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, has been hired again to perform these repairs. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told CNN that "they did a fantastic job" during the first phase of work. Trump had previously claimed his renovations would last for 100 years, a prediction quickly disproven by the need for immediate and extensive fixes.
