Trump says Pirro 'choked' and 'folded like an umbrella' after dropping Reflecting Pool case

Trump's public rebuke

President Trump on Monday sharply criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for dropping the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, saying she "choked" under pressure from a judge and "folded like an umbrella." Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he was "really disappointed" and called the decision a "disgrace." He claimed surveillance footage showed people cutting the pool's newly installed waterproofing material, though FactCheck.org noted in June that the White House had not provided evidence of long gashes. Trump ignored a question about whether he was considering firing Pirro, a former Fox News host and longtime ally he appointed as the top federal prosecutor in Washington.

I guess she choked. I don't know what the hell happened.

She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things. It's a disgrace.

The dropped case

On Friday, Pirro's office filed a motion to dismiss the felony charge against David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist accused of pulling up a piece of the pool's blue lining. The filing stated that after Hearn's July 2 indictment, the Interior Department provided additional information showing the damage was "the result of a botched installation and not vandalism." It blamed the department for failing to share documentation earlier, saying the government would not have sought an indictment had it known. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum disputed that account, insisting his department provided all requested evidence and that vandals were responsible.

The evidence is clear, vandals have repeatedly caused damage to the Reflecting Pool. Some of these acts were even caught on camera.

The pool renovation fiasco

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool underwent a $14.7 million renovation that was rushed to completion for the July 4 America 250 celebration. The project, awarded through a no-bid contract to a company with no prior federal experience, ran millions over budget. Shortly after opening, algae bloomed and pieces of the blue liner began peeling off. A National Park Services engineer noticed peeling in mid-June, attributing it to overspraying of liner material along the perimeter. A July inspection found damage throughout the pool, not just where people could reach, according to the filing. Trump acknowledged "we weren't necessarily thrilled with the contractor" but maintained that vandals caused the major damage. The reflecting pool renovation is among several Trump projects in Washington, including a $400 million White House ballroom and a proposed arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Political fallout

Trump's public rebuke of a loyal appointee has fueled speculation about Pirro's future. CNN reported Monday that Trump was considering removing her. The president had already criticized her in a Saturday Truth Social post. Trump did not say whether he had spoken directly with Pirro before publicly rebuking her. Burgum's rebuttal of Pirro's filing deepened the rift, with the Interior secretary posting on X that his department had provided "expert and eyewitness testimony" and "every piece of evidence they asked for." Trump also claimed the D.C. Superior Court judge was "extremely unfriendly" and "vicious," suggesting Pirro was intimidated. Attorney Norm Eisen, representing Hearn, said on X that they were "considering all options to deal with this miscarriage of justice."