Vandalism at Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that vandals had damaged the recently renovated reflecting pool located near the Lincoln Memorial. He mentioned that authorities are looking into the situation.

This revelation comes at a time when the pool is under scrutiny for issues like peeling paint and algae, just weeks after a $14.8 million restoration project was completed.

On Truth Social, Trump stated, “Conditions in our nation’s capital are very good. Plus, when I became president, crime was rampant, and now Washington, D.C., is one of the safest cities in America.” However, he acknowledged specific vandalism problems at the reflecting pool, describing damage to the area between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.

“Just as they destroyed the lawn outside the pool three days ago, they did everything possible to damage the inside surface that had just been installed,” he explained.

Trump pointed fingers at the culprits, accusing them of using chemicals to harm the newly installed surface around the reflecting pool. “It’s no different than the chemicals used on the National Mall,” he asserted, adding that similar tactics were employed to ruin the restoration work.

His remarks came shortly after a threatening message, “86 47,” was found carved into the grass near the National Mall, between the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial. Officials have noted that “86” can signify the exclusion of something, while “47” relates to Trump as the 47th president.

On June 6th, President Trump had announced the completion of the $14.8 million restoration for the historic reflecting pool, yet within days, algae covered parts of the newly restored “Stars and Stripes Blue” bottom.

This week, the National Park Service and contractors initiated measures to curb algae growth, introducing chemicals and ozone nanobubbles. They also employed a pool-style vacuum system to clean the algae off the bottom.

According to the park service, these measures are safe for marine life and the environment.

Trump stated that most of the algae has now been cleared and that repairs for the damaged areas are expected to take place by next week. “The algae is 75 percent gone, and conditions will soon fully recover,” he noted, emphasizing that the areas affected were minor and will be addressed quickly.

Law enforcement is currently investigating the alleged vandalism, and social media has showcased National Guard members and U.S. Park Police officers patrolling the vicinity.

Additionally, videos circulating online displayed groups gathering near the reflecting pool, some criticizing the renovation while others seemed to celebrate the algae bloom.

FOX News Digital has reached out to the White House for further comments on the matter.