President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that several individuals have been arrested in connection with alleged vandalism of the Reflecting Pool located on the National Mall. Among those arrested is an Olympic canoeist. The site is undergoing renovation as part of a $14 million project, which has encountered multiple setbacks.
In his posts on Truth Social, Trump accused vandals of damaging the pool without presenting evidence. He suggested such actions could lead to long jail sentences, labeling them as significant crimes against National Monuments. The Reflecting Pool, measuring 2,030 feet and located at the Lincoln Memorial, is facing issues due to an algae bloom after workers applied a new ‘American flag blue’ sealant to its floor.
The sealant has started peeling, with visible chunks emerging above the water’s surface. Trump mentioned he had met with contractors and stated a portion of the water might need draining to repair the floor. He cited the vandalism as disrespect towards Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, noting that a 250-foot gash was made in the pool’s facade using a blade. Furthermore, corrosive chemicals were allegedly poured into the pool.
A photograph taken by Chip Somodevilla and distributed by Getty Images shows damage to the recently applied sealant on the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. The renovation is part of Trump’s broader plan to enhance Washington’s beauty in anticipation of the country’s 250th anniversary.
Despite efforts to address the algae issue, the bloom and peeling coating draw public attention. Among the spectators was David ‘Davey’ Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist. Hearn stated to NBC News that he was detained for five hours after touching a detached piece of the coating during a bike ride.
‘It was kind of stiff, stiff, but flexible, pretty rubbery. Didn’t feel brittle in any way,’ Hearn explained. ‘I didn’t remove, tear, rip, break or destroy any of it. The condition of the reflecting pool was the same after I stepped away from the water as it was before I got there.’
Hearn remarked that the national guardsman who arrested him was unable to specify the federal law he had violated. The National Guard has not commented on the arrest request. Hearn recounted that he was handcuffed without explicit details of the charges. Trump had shared an article regarding Hearn’s arrest earlier Saturday.
The U.S. Park Police did not immediately provide information on possible arrests. During initial renovations, Trump criticized previous administrations for the pool’s condition. Last month, he visited the site to highlight improvements, expressing satisfaction with the new color of the pool.
On Friday, workers were observed cleaning the pool as the algae turned the water green again.
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