Trump says much of water in Reflecting Pool likely to be drained: ‘Necessary repairs’

Published June 21, 2026 12:57am ET | Updated June 21, 2026 4:49pm ET



President Donald Trump provided an update to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s status Saturday night, saying “many additional people have been arrested” for vandalism hours after it was reported U.S. Park Police arrested a former Olympian and cyclist for allegedly vandalizing the monument.

The pool has drawn national attention due to its high-profile role in the Trump administration’s efforts to restore national symbols in Washington, D.C. The multimillion-dollar project involved repainting the bottom of the pool “American flag blue,” but it has since turned green from algae, and pictures have appeared showing the paint peeling.

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