Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
President Donald Trump continued to blame vandalism Monday for the problems that have plagued his costly renovation of Washington's Reflecting Pool -- suggesting that someone cut a slit measuring up to 300-feet in the body of water near the Lincoln Memorial.
The president said whoever did it used a perhaps box cutter or knife to carve a long slit in the newly renovated pool.
"We have vandalism. Vandals," Trump said. "We have a, I think, 290, 300 foot slit right through it. Probably a box cutter or a knife of some kind."
“It’s not a lot of damage," Trump said before adding "We’ll probably have to let the water out and fix it."
When reporters wondered how such extensive damage was possible given the heavy police presence by the Reflecting Pool, Trump said authorities were dispatched after vandalism began.
He also claimed he had seen the damage first hand.
"I saw it. They cut it. They cut very violently," he said.
Asked if he could release photographs of such damage since visitors to the area have had trouble finding it, Trump suggested they’d be released in future court cases.
"Yeah, at the right time you'll see it. You'll see in court," Trump said.
President Donald Trump continued to blame vandalism Monday for the problems that have plagued his costly renovation of Washington's Reflecting Pool -- suggesting that someone cut a slit measuring up to 300-feet in the body of water near the Lincoln Memorial.
The president said whoever did it used a perhaps box cutter or knife to carve a long slit in the newly renovated pool.
"We have vandalism. Vandals," Trump said. "We have a, I think, 290, 300 foot slit right through it. Probably a box cutter or a knife of some kind."
“It’s not a lot of damage," Trump said before adding "We’ll probably have to let the water out and fix it."
When reporters wondered how such extensive damage was possible given the heavy police presence by the Reflecting Pool, Trump said authorities were dispatched after vandalism began.
He also claimed he had seen the damage first hand.
"I saw it. They cut it. They cut very violently," he said.
Asked if he could release photographs of such damage since visitors to the area have had trouble finding it, Trump suggested they’d be released in future court cases.
"Yeah, at the right time you'll see it. You'll see in court," Trump said.
