Trump, without substantiation, blames Reflecting Pool renovation woes on vandalism

https://i.cbc.ca/ais/6a7dbebb-74ba-4c73-b3a8-54e0a9eb04fa,1781996128042/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C288%2C8256%2C4644%29%3BResize%3D%28620%29" title="U.S. National Park Service employee works to remove algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 20, 2026.

REUTERS/Daniel Heuer" width="620" />

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that federal authorities had made "multiple arrests" of people he said were vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as he struggled to explain why the $14-million-plus US rehabilitation project he launched for the nation's 250th anniversary seemingly backfired.