President Donald Trump acknowledged on Sunday that there was “no video or proof” of alleged vandalism to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after weeks of claiming that harm to the pool’s floor was the deliberate work of saboteurs.
Even after acknowledging contractor error and a scarcity of proof of vandalism on Sunday, the president nonetheless went again to the case towards former Olympian David Hearn, whose expenses prosecutors moved to drop after new proof revealed that the part Hearn was alleged to have broken was already in disrepair when he arrived.
Trump nonetheless once more accused Hearn — who pleaded not responsible to a felony destruction of property cost in July and has maintained he did not harm the pool — of intentional vandalism.
“There was substantial different harm to the Reflecting Pool, additionally however, sadly, there isn’t a video or proof, aside from the harm, itself,” Trump wrote on social media on Sunday.
A customer images an indication describing ongoing work hooked up to fencing surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 8, 2026.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Trump additionally stated that there was “some contractor error executed by speeding the job for a July 4th opening.”
The president stated that contractors had been “engaged on the Pool, and it’ll reopen shortly,” however stated that “it was a really small space of this huge Pool” which was broken, calling it “comparatively inconsequential.”
“Safety cameras have been, and are being, put in,” he added.
On Monday, Hearn’s legal professionals stated they had been “reviewing all authorized treatments” for what they described as “continued harassment.”
Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Fund, Mary Dohrmann of Washington Litigation Group, and Steve Levin of Steptoe LLP stated in a press release, “The federal government is continuous to assault an harmless man. Our first submitting within the case on July 10 included photographic proof from earlier than Mr. Hearn touched the Reflecting Pool proving that he prompted no harm. Our different filings offered much more proof.”
“Lastly, the U.S. Legal professional’s personal movement on July 31 admitted the harm was brought on by ‘a botched set up and never vandalism,'” the assertion added, describing the continued allegations as “outrageous.”
Going again as early as June, the president has insisted that the harm to the Reflecting Pool — which he ordered resurfaced so the underside could be “American flag blue” — was purposely destroyed by felony vandals.
“I can not assist it if anyone goes in with a knife and begins hacking it up. And we even have footage of it,” Trump instructed reporters within the Oval Workplace on June 22. However requested if the president might share the pictures, he demurred.
“No, on the proper time you will see it. You will see it in courtroom. You will see it in courtroom. However all it’s a must to do is name the Parks Division, name the Division of Inside,” Trump stated on the time. However that proof has not been launched publicly.
The Justice Division moved to dismiss the case towards Hearn in July, acknowledging the harm to the pool “was the results of flawed set up by the contractor.” U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro’s movement sought to dismiss the case with out prejudice, which might nonetheless go away Hearn uncovered to a future indictment.
Final week, Affiliate Choose Todd Edelman issued an order granting partially the Division of Justice’s request to dismiss the case. Edelman stated he would wait to find out whether or not to grant the dismissal with prejudice after listening to extra arguments from the federal government and Hearn’s attorneys.
Trump criticized Pirro after her workplace moved to dismiss the case, writing in a submit to social media on Aug. 1 that whereas there “might have been some contractor issue” within the set up of a brand new pool liner, “the most important harm was brought on by VANDALS!”
“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro,” Trump stated in his submit.
ABC Information’ Alexander Mallin and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report.
