A duckling swims as cleanup continues on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 22, 2026. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper
President Donald Trump faced scrutiny Tuesday when a reporter pressed him for evidence after he claimed someone used a knife to damage the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
While visiting a Mack Truck facility in Pennsylvania, Trump was asked to respond to his claims on the Reflecting Pool's alleged vandalization.
A reporter told the President, "You mentioned yesterday that the Interior Department has video and photos. We reached out to them, and they haven't shared it with us."
Trump responded, "They will share it."
"They've arrested I think six people on the reflecting pool. So, the reflecting pool looks fantastic. I've just got pictures of it, it's beautiful."
And then alleged, "But somebody went in with a knife and cut it, they cut it up good. They made a 200-350 foot slit, in the form of lots of little slips, real, horrible stuff. And they destroyed the grass."
Online observers questioned Trump's claims.
"350 feet is longer than a football field. Someone cutting that long of a gash in the bottom of a concrete pool would need sophisticated equipment and have to do it in SCUBA gear. It's completely insane," journalist and conspiracy theory expert, Mike Rothschild, wrote on X.
"How is this incompetent fool expected to win and end a war and strengthen the economy when he can’t even handle the Reflecting Pool rehab?" Director and writer Andy Ostroy wrote on X.
Others commented on Trump's inconsistency when talking about the Reflecting Pool.
Watch the video below.