Trump Administration Installs Fences Around Reflecting Pool After Series of Mishaps Following His Renovation

The Department of the Interior told PEOPLE that fencing is typically posted around July 4 to "ensure public safety"

NEED TO KNOW

• President Donald Trump’s administration has started putting fencing around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
• The Department of the Interior said the fencing is being installed earlier than planned due to “the increase in vandalism by leftist activists”
• Trump has previously blamed vandals for the mishaps after the reflecting pool’s $14 million renovations were completed

President Donald Trump’s administration began installing fencing around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, amid mishaps with the pool’s $14 million renovations.

TMZ published footage of people putting up the fence on a rainy day in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 23. The Department of the Interior, which oversees the reflecting pool, confirmed the fencing is going up earlier than usual ahead of July 4 celebrations.

“The Reflecting Pool was always set to be fenced off ahead of the 4th of July,” an Interior spokesperson told PEOPLE. “As in years prior, one of the launch pads for the fireworks is around the pool so fencing is put up to ensure public safety. With the increase in vandalism by leftist activists, the fencing is going up earlier than originally planned to ensure no more damage is done to this historic site."

The renovations included an “American Flag Blue” paint job and took about six weeks to complete. However, after the pool was refilled with water, it quickly turned green due to algae. The president later claimed vandals were responsible in a June 19 Truth Social post.

In a June 20 Truth Social post, Trump, 80, said the pool would have to be drained again and claimed, without evidence, that vandals carved a “300 foot long gash” and poured illegal chemicals into the water. The president promised a “10 year prison sentence” that “will be fully enforced” for supposed vandals. 

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“What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly, Trump wrote on June 20. “We met with contractors today, will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible.”

Over the weekend, former Olympic canoeist David Carter “Davey” Hearn was arrested for destruction of government property at the Reflecting Pool. He told The Washington Post that he noticed a piece of liner detached from the pool and reached into the water to see what it felt like. As he was about to resume his bike ride, U.S. Park Police officers arrested him. He told The Post he was detained at a Park Police facility for nearly five hours. 

After landing in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that six people were arrested for alleged vandalism. Press photographers took pictures of multiple people being detained by U.S. Park Police officers at the Reflecting Pool on Monday, June 22. National Guard troops were also seen patrolling the area on Tuesday.

In a June 15 Truth Social post, Trump teased the “most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all” for July 4 with the “beautifully new” Reflecting Pool as the backdrop. 

“To conclude the program, and commemorate this Historic Occasion, I will be launching, what will be, the LARGEST FIREWORKS SHOW IN HISTORY, right here in our Nation's Capital,” the president wrote. “Do not miss it. See you on JULY 4th in Washington.”

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