Now and Then: Trump contradicts himself on Reflecting Pool 'sabotage' - The Independent

[Rhiannon12866]

Donald Trump on Monday furiously blamed “vandals” with sharp objects for the growing mess that has overtaken his project to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — which has become a major preoccupation of the commander-in-chief. - 06/23/2026.

[pat_k]

1. The only "cuts" are in the foam between the pool's expansion joints.

The bullshit accusation that someone sliced the coating is absurd.

Records show that U.S. Park Police noted that workers previously discovered cuts in the foam expansion joints, and many observers—along with online speculation—have suggested the damage is from the project contractors rather than malicious third parties.

I have a feeling that it will shortly become crystal clear that the "cuts" in the foam expansion joints happened as part of the "repair" and had absolutely no effect on the foam doing it's job.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/23/us/trump-reflecting-pool-green-peeling.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sVA.IMbF.jtaXAsv6vc0K&smid=url-share

But government documents obtained by The New York Times show that while National Park Service workers found two cuts in sections of foam between the pool’s expansion joints, those were not directly related to the “American flag blue” coating that is now peeling, or to the algae that has turned the pool a bright shade of green.

Even as the documents show workers were attempting to address deteriorating conditions, Trump administration officials were insisting publicly that the pool was pristine.

The pool had been drained, resealed and then refilled by June 5. Four days later, Park Service workers discovered holes, cracks and peeling caulking in parts of the pool, along with cuts in sections of the foam, according to the documents.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. Thanks for all the details!

And what are the chances that the felon-in-chief will take responsibility for hiring, in a no-bid contract, an unqualified swimming pool company who was a donor and neighbor?? Instead, he's blaming and arresting "vandals??"