Trump denounces "vandalism" and announces further repairs to the famous reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial

Le président américain Donald Trump He stated that the reflecting pool at the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial in Washington may need to be largely drained to allow for further repairs. He attributed the problems to suspected acts of vandalism targeting this iconic monument in the nation's capital.

In a message posted on his Truth Social network, Donald Trump indicated that he had met with the companies in charge of the work and estimated that it would "probably" be necessary to drain a large portion of the water from the basin to carry out the repairs. He assured them that the work would be done as quickly as possible.

The president also stated that several people suspected of involvement in the damage had been arrested. He referred to acts of "shameful vandalism" targeting the site, without, however, providing any evidence to support his accusations, particularly regarding a possible spill of corrosive chemicals into the water.

The relevant authorities did not immediately confirm these statements. The National Park Police, the Department of the Interior, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

The reflecting pool had been presented as completely renovated at the beginning of June. Donald Trump had announced the completion of the work on June 6, at a cost of $14,7 million. Shortly afterward, technical teams began using hydrogen peroxide to combat an algae bloom that had given the water a green tint instead of the desired dark blue color.

More recently, additional problems arose when the paint applied to the bottom of the pool began to peel and disperse in the water. These difficulties fueled criticism of this high-profile renovation project.

The restoration of the basin is part of a vast program to transform Washington, D.C., initiated by Donald Trump. Among the announced projects are the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to build a new ballroom and the construction of a large arch near Arlington National Cemetery, a memorial site dedicated to American soldiers and other prominent figures in the country's history.