Donald Trump blames vandals for Lincoln Memorial lake condition, announces arrests

President Donald Trump said vandals had polluted the newly renovated water mirror at the Lincoln Memorial, turning it green and algae‑filled despite a $14 million upgrade. He announced that U.S. National Park Service police had arrested several people, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, for damaging the monument. Trump called the act “a terrible affront to Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln,” claiming a knife was used to cut a 76‑metre slit and corrosive chemicals were poured into the water. He pledged rapid repairs to restore the 610‑metre‑long lake to its “beautiful” state.

Trump posted on Truth Social, stating, “A Polícia do Parque Nacional dos Estados Unidos deteve vários indivíduos por vandalizarem o magnífico espelho de água da nossa nação,” and reaffirmed that “many other people were arrested in connection with the shameful vandalism.” The administration said the work to fix the lake would begin immediately.