Trump Criticizes ABC News Over Reflecting Pool Reporting

President Donald Trump recently called out ABC News regarding their coverage of alleged vandalism at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

The Reflecting Pool, part of an initiative by the Trump administration aimed at enhancing the aesthetics of the U.S. capital, underwent renovations that included a sealant painted “American Flag Blue.” However, shortly after these improvements, Trump claimed that significant damage had occurred due to vandalism.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to ABC as “fake news” and accused them of spreading misinformation about the incident. He also reminded readers of a previous lawsuit in which ABC paid $15 million to his presidential library and $1 million in legal fees after an anchor falsely claimed Trump was liable for rape.

“In describing the vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, ABC FAKE NEWS—one of the most unreliable sources—failed to report that their friends, Democrats Obama and Biden, spent over 100 million dollars on it, and it often didn’t work,” Trump stated. “They wanted to throw 300 to 400 million dollars at it but instead just let it rot.”

Trump noted the differences between past renovation efforts and his administration’s project, promising that any additional funds from a potential lawsuit against ABC would be directed to the U.S. Treasury.

“I spent about 16 million dollars, and it turned out great—except for the vandalism we’re fixing now. It was a much larger job than planned, involving outer areas and sidewalks,” he continued. “We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting, and I’m happy to see their money go to the Treasury!”

In a Monday report, ABC mentioned that since the renovations, issues such as algae and peeling paint have plagued the pool, stating the project actually exceeded its original budget by four million dollars. The report also noted that neither the Department of the Interior nor the White House had provided evidence supporting Trump’s claims of vandalism.

Media reports suggest that the administration of former President Barack Obama had spent around $35 million on prior renovation efforts for the Reflecting Pool.