President Donald Trump claimed on Monday that he is going to sue ABC News over a report by the network about the renovation to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl reported on the souring conditions at the Reflecting Pool last week, including a shot of him lifting the peeling bottom of the pool. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the network "failed to report" on times when the Democrats renovated the pool, and he decided to sue them because of it.
"In describing the Vandalism that took place at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., ABC FAKE NEWS, one of the worst in the business, even paying me $16,000,000 for past bad and inaccurate reporting, failed to report that their close 'friends,' Dumocrats Obama and Biden, spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool, and it never worked," Trump wrote in the post.
"In fact, it was rarely open due to leaks and 'stench,'" he added. "They wanted to spend 300 to 400 Million Dollars, but just let it ROT. I spent approximately 16 Million Dollars, and it came out great, except for the Vandalism, which we are now fixing. It was also a much bigger job than originally envisioned, including the outer areas and sidewalks. We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting. I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury!"
Trump's claims came at a time when the Reflecting Pool renovation project was under significant scrutiny. The project was initially estimated to cost roughly $2 million, but the cost ballooned to around $16 million. Trump also promised to get rid of the algae-infested water in the pool, but the algae have returned in full force.