Trump Opposes Attorney’s Decision in Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case

President Donald Trump expressed strong disagreement with U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro regarding her evaluation of the Reflecting Pool vandalism case. This marks an uncommon public split between Trump and one of his own appointees. On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing Pirro’s conclusion that the damage resulted from flawed installation, rather than vandalism, as felony charges against Olympian David Hearn were dismissed.

Trump stated, “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, on the Reflecting Pool. I don’t know what she was thinking?” He insisted, “To me, it was a pure case of VANDALISM, that included the grass, which had a big 86 47 emblazoned in giant letters on it, and other elements of the surrounding area. There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!”

Trump’s claims directly oppose the stance of Pirro’s office, which moved to dismiss charges against Hearn upon finding evidence indicating contractors, not Hearn, were mainly responsible for the damage. Court documents noted that although Hearn took part in a demonstration near the pool, investigators could not prove beyond reasonable doubt that he caused the reported property damage.

The incident originated from a protest in May where demonstrators entered the Reflecting Pool and displayed political messages, including “86 47” on the lawn. The phrase has sparked political debate, with some Trump supporters interpreting it as a threat, while others see it as rightful political expression.

Arrests Made Over Reflecting Pool Incidents

Federal authorities have arrested or cited at least 10 individuals for alleged vandalism of the Reflecting Pool. In June, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum reported seven arrests, including Hearn. Further, on July 2, Pirro remarked that “these deliberate acts of destruction set back real progress and violate the law.” She emphasized, “Vandalism at treasured places like the Reflecting Pool is an affront to our shared history and the dignity of our national heritage. These monuments belong to all of us, and we will protect them—and hold accountable those who seek to deface or diminish them.”

Additional charges were filed on July 8 against three more individuals, namely Cameron Thiers, Sophie Dennison-Gibby, and Justin Carreno, who were accused of peeling and removing blue paint from the pool. This is ongoing news; updates will follow.