Trump offers latest update on Reflecting Pool: ‘It will reopen shortly’

President Donald Trump offered the latest update on the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool on Sunday afternoon, saying “it will reopen shortly” and that security cameras have been installed.The announcement comes after Trump’s insistence last week that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro “choked” for dismissing the indictment of former Olympian David Hearn, who was accused of vandalizing the landmark. Last Thursday, a Washington judge dismissed the felony vandalism charges against Hearn after Pirro moved to dismiss them and said the damage was the “result of flawed installation by the contractor.” Recommended Stories Trump said in the Truth Social announcement that a long-serving National Park Service employee had seen Hearn “‘violently’ ripping and tugging at the Pool’s somewhat delicate coating,” but also admitted that “as with many jobs, there was also some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening.” The employee provided “witness testimony to the U.S. attorney’s office in early July,” Trump said, with an accompanying screenshot of the document attached to the post. Pirro’s office faulted the contractor for “rushing” the project and also said the Department of Interior did not initially provide sufficient information. “A recent visual inspection showed damage throughout the Reflecting Pool, even in the middle of the pool, where a vandal would not likely attempt to peel the lining,” the motion to dismiss said. “Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism.”The Reflecting Pool emerged as a source of national tension this spring when Trump ordered the pool’s floor to be painted “American flag blue” as part of the administration’s broader beautification efforts in Washington. The goal was to complete the project ahead of the America 250 celebration in Washington.TRUMP CALLS FOR PIRRO TO REOPEN REFLECTING POOL PROSECUTIONS WITH NEW ALLEGATIONSJust days after the new lining was installed, however, the pool turned shades of green due to algal blooms, and eventually the lining began to peel. Trump consistently claimed the damage was caused by the public.Rumors briefly emerged early last week that Trump may fire Pirro, but GOP operatives told the Washington Examiner later in the week her job is likely safe.