Visitors observe the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool through a fence as its draining continues, following renovations and Independence Day celebrations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Leah Millis TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
President Donald Trump launched into a fresh Truth Social tirade overnight, this time aiming at ABC News and anchor David Muir over the network's coverage of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool being drained yet again.
On Monday's World News Tonight, Muir noted the pool had been emptied again.
"Tonight, the reflecting pool in the nation's capital being drained again. The second time in recent months the pool needed to be emptied. Crews addressing several issues, including peeling paint and algae blooms," Muir said in a brief report.
Trump fumed over the report.
"ABC Fake News and its shaky anchor, David Muir, said that the Reflecting Pool was drained to address Peeling Paint (there is no paint, it was slashed with a knife, or box cutter, high grade colored waterproofing liner - it was VANDALISM!) and Algae Blooms (also caused by Vandals, but removed long ago!). In other words, the story was FAKE NEWS, but heavily slanted away from the real cause of the problem, Vandalism. It will be fixed soon, and better than ever. 60 monuments and fountains have been cleaned and fully renovated in D.C., and crime is at record lows! Washington has never looked better, or been safer!"
Evidence of Trump's claims has been scant.
As crews finished draining the basin on Monday, witnesses standing at the pool reported no sign of the "350-foot gash" Trump keeps describing. Government documents reviewed by The New York Times found cuts unrelated to the peeling coating or the green water. And skeptics note the administration may have caused the mess itself, pouring hydrogen peroxide to kill the algae — which stripped the fresh paint.
The $14 million-plus job was hurried to hit a Fourth of July deadline and turned green within days. At least five people have been arrested, including former Olympian David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty and says he's being scapegoated.
Trump has long been at war with ABC, which paid him a $16 million defamation settlement in 2024.