Trump blames vandals for Reflecting Pool failure as Olympian arrested over peeling paint

A $14 million makeover turns green

The Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial was emptied earlier this year for a high-profile renovation pushed by President Trump. The project, costing about $14 million and awarded without a public tender to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, involved repainting the floor in 'American flag blue', intended to give the 610-metre-long pool a brilliant patriotic hue. Water was refilled on 4 June, with the White House declaring Washington 'looks better than ever'.

Within less than two weeks, patches of blue paint began peeling and floating to the surface. The water soon took on a swampy green tint as an algae bloom returned with vigour. Workers were seen on Friday using nets and vacuums to remove paint debris and algae.

Trump claims sabotage

On Saturday, President Trump posted on Truth Social that the renovation had 'worked perfectly' before 'disgraceful vandalism' struck. He alleged that unknown individuals used 'some type of knife or blade' to make a roughly 75-metre cut and poured 'caustic and destructive chemicals' into the basin. Trump said 'many additional people' had been arrested and called for prison terms of several years.

“We met with contractors today, will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible.”

He offered no evidence for the vandalism claims. The pool, in operation since 1922, has long struggled with algae in Washington's humid summer heat.

An Olympian touches peeling paint

One of those arrested was David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time US Olympian and two-time world champion in canoe slalom. Hearn told the Washington Post he cycled to the memorial to examine the renovation and leaned down to touch a piece of already-detached blue paint.

“I didn't destroy anything, break anything or peel anything. I reached in and could grasp the end of this protruding, already peeling piece. It was still attached at the bottom. I didn't remove anything.”

Two National Guard members surrounded him, and US Park Police officers arrested him on a charge of destruction of government property. His court date is set for 9 July.

Contractor and expert weigh in

Eddie Wood, owner of Atlantic Industrial Coatings, told CNN that 'from the images it is not possible to understand what caused the detachment of the floor.' Pool infrastructure expert Tim Auerhahn, president of the Aquatic Council, listed a range of possible causes.

“A coating can deteriorate for several reasons, including substrate preparation, surface contamination, application conditions, adhesion problems, product choice, mechanical damage, environmental exposure or a combination of factors.”

The Trump administration has not provided a timeline for the draining and repairs, but Trump promised the work would be done 'as quickly as possible.'