The Impressive TimesWashington, August 10, 2026; US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool while acknowledging that mistakes during the project’s installation also contributed to problems at the site.
Trump said a National Park Service (NPS) employee had provided a statement to federal prosecutors describing an alleged confrontation involving former Olympic athlete David Hearn. According to the account cited by Trump, Hearn was seen examining damage inside the pool before allegedly pulling at a section of its newly applied blue coating.
The witness, identified in court records as W-1, reportedly told investigators that Hearn placed both hands beneath the water and pulled at a large portion of the coating. The employee allegedly asked him to stop, but the court document states that Hearn continued until National Guard personnel arrived.
Trump used the statement to reinforce his claim that the damage was deliberate. However, he also acknowledged that there was no direct video recording of the alleged act.
In a significant shift in his remarks, Trump conceded that problems with the Reflecting Pool were not solely linked to the alleged vandalism. He said portions of the work had been affected by contractor mistakes as crews rushed to finish the project ahead of July 4 celebrations.
Trump described the installation-related damage as limited compared with the size of the pool and said additional security cameras had since been installed. He also indicated that the landmark was expected to reopen soon.
The dispute follows the dismissal of a federal case against Hearn. He had been charged with felony destruction of property after US Park Police accused him of damaging a loose section of the pool’s coating on June 19.
The case took a new turn after prosecutors received additional records concerning the condition of the pool. Those documents reportedly showed that some of the damage cited in the indictment was connected to problems with the coating’s installation by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings.
Prosecutors said the initial information supplied by the Department of the Interior had been limited and did not include documentation detailing broader installation problems. After reviewing the additional material, the government concluded that establishing Hearn’s responsibility for the specific damage beyond a reasonable doubt could be difficult.
The prosecution subsequently sought dismissal of the case without prejudice, meaning the matter could potentially be reopened if sufficient evidence becomes available.
Trump has nevertheless continued to argue that Hearn should face scrutiny over the incident and recently called on US Attorney Jeanine Pirro to reconsider the case.
The controversy has also included allegations of markings made on newly laid grass near the pool. Trump referenced claims that an acid-like substance was used to create the numbers “86 47”, though those allegations remain part of the wider dispute surrounding the landmark.
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