Trump says suspects arrested over ‘disgraceful vandalism’ of reflecting pool
Trump said much of the algae-tinted water for the US$14 million renovation project will ‘probably’ be drained for repairs
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that much of the water at the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington “probably” has to be drained for repairs following what he called “vandalism” of the site.
“We met with contractors today, will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible,” Trump wrote in a post on social media.
Several alleged vandals have been arrested, according to Trump.
“Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool,” he said.
One man arrested was David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, who owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft. He said he stopped by the pool during his 102km (64 miles) bike ride on Friday to see what was going on.
Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, said that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new coating. He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to.