Trump Asserts Forthcoming Evidence Will Prove Vandalism at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool After Recent Arrests

Overview

President Donald Trump stated that the Interior Department would soon release visual proof of vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, reiterating his earlier claim that “somebody went in with a knife and cut it,” shortly after announcing arrests and citations related to the damage.

Key Details

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted on Truth Social that six individuals were arrested and seven received citations for vandalism, describing the damage as a “350‑foot gash.”

Trump asserted, without presenting visual evidence, that the recently renovated pool had been sliced with “a very sharp knife or razors,” maintaining that “somebody must have worked very hard, likely under cover of darkness, to produce such a condition.”

Later, speaking with reporters, the president said evidence would be released in due course, claiming the gash resulted from “numerous small slits.”

The president provided no additional information regarding the identities of those arrested.

He reiterated that the pool would need to be partially drained for repairs, scheduled to occur either immediately before or after the Fourth of July.

When contacted for comment, the Department of the Interior pointed to a post on X that repeated the arrest and citation figures and noted that the U.S. Park Police are “conducting an ongoing investigation” into the damage.

Additional Arrests Since Monday

Trump had earlier told reporters on Monday that five individuals were arrested and another five were “under investigation,” describing the situation as a “sad thing.” He suggested the perpetrators likely used “a box cutter or some kind of knife.” When questioned how vandals could have sliced such a large gash despite police and National Guard presence on the National Mall, he offered no clear answer, remarking, “We didn’t have many officers then; who would expect someone to go into a pool and start cutting it?” Asked about visual evidence, Trump said photographs exist but added, “You’ll see them in court,” and referred reporters to the Interior Department for more details. The U.S. Park Police did not reply to Forbes’ request for comment. The Interior Department later posted a statement accusing the media of “trying to cover up for criminals who desecrated a great American monument,” while still failing to release any visual proof of the alleged vandalism.

Related Commentary

Trump also noted that a section of grass would be replaced, where vandals had previously sprayed the numbers “86 47” in large numerals two weeks prior. He pointed out that the same phrase appeared in an Instagram post that led to federal prosecutors indicting former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly threatening the president. “They wrote 86 47; they likely got that idea from the dirty cop, Comey,” Trump remarked on Monday. “You know he’s a dirty cop, don’t you?”

Details on the Arrests

At least one of those arrested is former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn. The 67‑year‑old told the Washington Post he was detained after stopping at the pool during a bike ride, saying he reached into the water to touch a flaking piece of paint. Hearn denied having vandalized or removed any portion of the pool. Speaking again to MS NOW on Monday, he said he was held for five hours following his arrest. “I was in the lockup at Hains Point Park Police jail, uncertain how long I would remain,” Hearn explained. “After an hour I was informed it would be a cite‑and‑release, leading me to expect a brief stay, but the process dragged on.” His attorney added that Hearn received two misdemeanor citations, which they intend to challenge “vigorously.”

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