Several individuals were arrested over the weekend for allegedly vandalizing the reflecting pool at the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial, which drew a strong response from President Trump and led to heightened security measures at the location.
In a brief two-minute video shared by journalist Emily Miller, a man dressed in bright lime green racing attire was seen being questioned by National Guardsmen before being taken into custody by U.S. Park Police.
This individual was later identified as David Hahn, 67, a former Olympian, who was charged with a misdemeanor for damaging government property.
Hahn explained to a media outlet that after finishing a 52-mile bike ride, he spotted the new pool liner appearing “partially peeling off” and touched the water to inspect it. In Miller’s account, she alleged that Hahn “grabbed” a hose that employees of the National Park Service were using to combat an algae issue. However, Hahn contended that the hose was merely “touched” by his bicycle tire.
“I didn’t destroy anything,” he insisted, emphasizing that he didn’t cause any damage.
Notably, Hahn recalled a prior arrest back in 1996 for canoeing on the Potomac River but insisted he didn’t harm anything at the memorial. By the time he realized what was happening, he had already been handcuffed.
On Saturday, Miller reported that in separate incidents, seven other individuals were also detained for entering the pool, which led to even greater security increases.
President Trump took to Truth Social, confirming that multiple arrests were made for damaging “pools that reflect the greatness of our country.” He questioned, “Who would do that?” and stated these acts are serious crimes associated with the destruction of national monuments, warning of potential prison time and announcing that restoration efforts would commence immediately.
He noted that park police are facing a “real problem” with vandalism at the reflecting pool, especially concerning issues of peeling paint and algae growth, just weeks after completing a $14.8 million restoration. The White House, U.S. Park Police, and Miller did not quickly respond to requests for comments.
