How Trump’s Claims Of Vandalism At Reflecting Pool Crumbled

"Trump has lashed out at U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after she dropped vandalism cases and blamed damage at the pool on rushed and flawed work by a contractor."

"Standing on the basin of the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool in early May, President Donald Trump promised to fix the leaks and other problems that had long plagued one of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks.

“It’s going to last, I would say 50 years,” he said. “It’ll last, it’s going to last a long time.”

Trump vowed to finish the job in time for July Fourth celebrations on the National Mall. He and his aides cast the project, launched with a multimillion-dollar no-bid contract and without the normal review process, as a demonstration of how quickly the longtime real estate magnate could transform Washington."

Dan Diamond, Liam Bowman, Salvador Rizzo, and Jake Spring report for the Washington Post August 3, 2026.

SEE ALSO:

"Trump: Jeanine Pirro ‘Choked’ By Dropping Reflecting Pool Charges" (Politico)

"No Evidence? No Problem. Trump Pushes Ahead On False Claims That Reflecting Pool Was Vandalized" (AP)

"Lawmakers Demand Answers As Turmoil Over Reflecting Pool Repair Continues" (AP)

Source: Washington Post, 08/06/2026