Vandalism Incident at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Sparks Arrests

On Saturday, President Trump announced that several individuals were arrested by the United States Park Police for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Days before, an algae outbreak turned the water fluorescent green, and damage was noted on the surface, which President Trump had selected as ‘American Flag Blue.’ In a Truth Social post, Trump expressed dismay, stating that these acts qualify as serious crimes against national monuments, suggesting severe penalties including imprisonment.

Despite a request from CBS News for comment, the National Park Service has yet to respond. One of the arrested, David Hearn, a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, shared his experience after being detained for five hours on Friday. While on a 64-mile bike ride, Hearn stopped at the pool and interacted with the deteriorating new coating. Being a former Olympic canoe racer and a business owner in watercraft materials, he was interested in the scientific aspect of the coating ordered by Trump. He claimed he merely touched the coating briefly before a park worker intervened, which led to his arrest by National Guard troops and Park Police.

Hearn described his actions as driven by curiosity in a phone interview, mentioning the coating felt ‘very rubbery.’ He now faces a court appearance next month and is seeking legal assistance. The Washington Post was the first to report Hearn’s arrest. Concurrently, President Trump alleged vandalism had occurred three days prior, affecting the grass outside the pool and damaging the newly installed surface. No evidence was provided to support these claims.

The Reflecting Pool has suffered from leaks, algae issues, and faulty plumbing historically. In April, Trump initiated a renovation project addressing the pool’s condition as part of broader cleanup efforts in Washington, D.C., leading up to the nation’s 250th birthday. Post resurfacing efforts and water refilling, problems recurred last week. Workers have been managing algae removal, including the use of hydrogen peroxide treatments.

Trump stated the algae is largely resolved, predicting complete remediation soon, including repairing the vandalized areas by early next week. He emphasized the potential misconduct at the site, comparing it to previous issues on the National Mall where discolored grass displayed numbers ’86 47,’ interpreted possibly as a threat against him, ‘the 47th president,’ implicating the use of chemicals for sabotage. Investigations are ongoing to clarify these incidents.