President Donald Trump says work to repair the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool will begin “immediately” after he inspects the site following recent troubles, according to multiple outlets. Trump again attributes the damage and other problems to “vandals,” including claims that someone cut a long slit in the pool and may have dumped fertiliser into the water, contributing to the pool turning green or otherwise behaving improperly after renovations. He also says multiple people have been arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism, with reporting citing law-enforcement involvement and identifying an arrested cyclist as a former Olympian who denies the vandalism allegations. Some coverage also notes disputes over what caused the damage, including criticism that the issues could relate to the renovation process itself rather than sabotage, and speculation about whether visible markings could be linked to Trump’s motorcade. NBC and BBC report that the pool may be drained again, and the BBC adds that Trump threatens legal action over media reporting. Separately, outlets describe the Reflecting Pool renovation as a roughly $14 million project and report ongoing inspections and updates.
Trump says repairs to National Mall Reflecting Pool will begin immediately amid vandalism claims
President Donald Trump says work to repair the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool will begin “immediately” after he inspects the site following recent troubles, according to multiple outlets. Trump again...
- Trump inspects the National Mall Reflecting Pool and says repair work will start immediately.
- Trump attributes recent problems to alleged vandalism, including a reported cut or slit and claims about possible contamination of the water.
- Multiple arrests are reported in connection with the vandalism claims; a former Olympian cyclist is reported arrested and denies the claims.
- The renovation project is described as costing about $14 million, and the pool may be drained again.
- Some outlets and critics dispute Trump’s vandalism explanations and raise questions about whether renovation or other factors caused the damage.
The Trump administration originally sought to finish repairs in time for the Fourth of July
1 week agoTrump has blamed the state of the pool on ‘deranged vandals,’ but critics allege the damage is from botched repair work
2 weeks agoWhen announcing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had been drained again, Donald Trump doubled down on his vandalism claims, but his latest account raises fresh questions. Online, Trump said the alleged "slashes" stretched for 300 yards, after previously describing them as 250, 300 and 350 feet. This comes as photos and video of the empty pool don't appear to show any obvious signs of the massive gash he described in the pool's liner.
2 weeks agoSome social media users have speculated whether markings visible on the bottom of the pool were caused by Trump’s motorcade, which drove the length of the pool on May 7.
3 weeks agoThe president has insisted vandals are responsible for slashing a ‘300 yards long’ hole into the new liner of the Reflecting Pool – though visitors were unable to spot it
3 weeks agoPresident Donald Trump offers latest update on beleaguered landmark, saying repairs ongoing ‘to fix the scars and damage that was done’ by saboteurs he blames for disaster
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