White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt returned from maternity leave on June 22 and immediately rushed to defend the Trump administration’s handling of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation controversy. In a Fox News interview, she accused critics of fueling unrest around the site and cited arrests and police reports as evidence of the “vandalism” allegedly responsible for the Reflecting Pool’s current condition.
White House blames ‘vandalism’ for current state of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Leavitt said the Trump administration has documented “17 police reports” and “six arrests” connected to incidents at the Reflecting Pool in recent days. She added that the claims of vandalism are “very real.”
She pushed back on criticism from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, saying, “The vandalism is very real, despite what Tim Walz wants to say: ‘It’s an imaginary problem.’ No, it is not. It’s a very real problem.” Walz had earlier claimed the renovation “failed miserably” and suggested the Trump administration overstated its success, escalating the public dispute over the project’s condition.
Among those arrested was David Hearn, a three-time Olympian who told The Washington Post he was simply reaching into the pool to grab a piece of paint that was already peeling — he “didn’t remove anything,” he clarified — when he landed in cuffs.
Specialists have said algae growth in the Reflecting Pool is not unusual, as the pool’s shallow depth, exposure to sunlight and slow-moving water have long created conditions favorable to algae blooms. Scientists note that sunlight, warm temperatures, nutrients and standing water can rapidly accelerate algae growth. Experts also say the renovation timeline might have contributed to the algae growth. Restarting water systems after being drained can release residual biological material from pipes and equipment. Some specialists have further suggested that the darker coating on the pool floor might absorb additional heat, raising water temperatures and encouraging algae reproduction.
Karoline Leavitt targets ‘deranged leftist’ critics and ‘pro-algae’ protesters
Leavitt broadened her criticism to protesters and opponents of the renovation project, saying, “These deranged leftist in algae costumes with ‘Team Algae’ on their backs — what does that even mean? … Only the Democrats could hate beautifying our nation’s capital and making it a symbol of pride again.”
She also alleged political motivations behind the unrest, stating, “There’s actually been six arrests at the Reflecting Pool where, again, these deranged individuals — many of them longtime donors to the Democrat Party, to Barack Obama, to Act Blue — have been vandalizing and desecrating our federal monument.”
Donald Trump claims ‘multiple individuals’ arrested for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool
President Donald Trump has also publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the project, claiming that “multiple individuals” have been arrested for vandalizing the landmark and warning that there will be severe penalties for those responsible for damaging federal property.
He took to social media to share an image of a protester holding a sign reading, “First they came for the algae…” Added Trump, “Here is another example of a crazy pro-algae (likely paid) protestor.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly framed criticism of the Reflecting Pool’s condition as politically motivated, with both Trump and Leavitt linking it to broader opposition to the renovation project.
Reflecting Pool renovation project under significant scrutiny
The Reflecting Pool project, a $14 million renovation initiative launched by Trump, has faced criticism since algae appeared soon after the pool was refilled and sections of the blue coating on the pool floor reportedly began flaking. However, Leavitt said that “President Trump is not going to stop with this effort.”
“We’re going to not only hold those people accountable, but we’re going to fix the pool, make it, continue to make it beautiful from this despicable vandalism just in time to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday next week,” she added.
Critics, including the president’s estranged niece, Mary Trump, have argued that the project is mismanaged and wasteful. “No other president would … spend $14 million of taxpayer dollars to fix something that wasn’t broken just to enrich one of his cronies,” Mary has said.
