Former Olympian among those charged with vandalizing Reflecting Pool
Multiple people have been arrested this weekend after allegedly vandalizing the newly refurbished Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, prompting a strong response from President Donald Trump and an increase in security at the site.
In a statement on Truth Social Saturday night, Trump announced "many additional people" have been arrested after suspects "took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete."
The president also alleged suspects "poured corrosive and destructive chemicals" into the basin.
"It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work," Trump wrote in the post. "Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before! What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly."
"What they have damaged does not even include the earlier killing of a large amount of grass which was, by far, the least of it.
"… The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened. We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure, and we will get it repaired, quickly, to an equal level of Beauty."
Seven people were detained Friday and five people were detained Saturday in separate incidents, which has led to a major security surge.
In an earlier Truth Social post Saturday, Trump questioned, "Who would do such a thing?"
"These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments," the president wrote. "Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair."
In a statement on Truth Social Saturday night, Trump announced "many additional people" have been arrested after suspects "took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250-foot-long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete."
The president also alleged suspects "poured corrosive and destructive chemicals" into the basin.
"It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work," Trump wrote in the post. "Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before! What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly."
"What they have damaged does not even include the earlier killing of a large amount of grass which was, by far, the least of it.
"… The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened. We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure, and we will get it repaired, quickly, to an equal level of Beauty."
Seven people were detained Friday and five people were detained Saturday in separate incidents, which has led to a major security surge.
In an earlier Truth Social post Saturday, Trump questioned, "Who would do such a thing?"
"These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments," the president wrote. "Years in jail! Work will begin immediately on its repair."
70-79, M
