Trump orders urgent Reflecting Pool repairs as vandalism arrests rise

President Trump said repairs on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will begin immediately after algae blooms and peeling paint returned post-renovation, and he again blamed vandals for damage. Over the weekend, multiple law‑enforcement agencies patrolled the site, issuing several federal citations and detaining individuals accused of vandalism; one former U.S. Olympian, David Hearn, was among the arrestees for destruction of property. Officials cautioned that charges require proof of willful damage, and The Washington Post noted it could not independently verify all of Trump’s claims. Experts suggested causes for peeling could include improper surface prep or groundwater intrusion, while crowds and security presence continued around the reflecting pool.