President Donald Trump is charging that vandalism is responsible for at least some of the issues that have developed at the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, which was recently drained, repainted and refilled.
The results of Trump’s repair order had even Democrats confirming it was good after completion but now there have developed issues including damage to the new liner, algae and others.
Reporter Nick Sortor confirmed that park police are investigation a carving of the “86 47” message promoted by ex-FBI chief James Comey in the lining. Comey is under indictment for posting online an image of seashells arranged with that message.
“This BS needs to end,” Sortor wrote.
The explanation of the meaning is that “86” means to get rid of while Trump is the 47th president.
“It’s insane to see that TDS is this bad that death threats are being written into the Reflecting Pool of the Lincoln Memorial,” he wrote.
🚨 JUST IN — EXCLUSIVE: United States Park Police are investigating an “86 47” inscription on the sealant of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool
We discovered writing just now while walking the edge of the pool.
This BS needs to end.
This comes as mobile SURVEILLANCE TOWERS… pic.twitter.com/z9aB9xf4wT
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 19, 2026
The same message similarly was crushed in the grass on a nearby area of the Mall.
Newsweek reported that Trump was blaming the vandalism for the developing issues, including an algae bloom and reports of peeling sealer.
In fact, ABC reporter Jonathan Karl was cited by the president for interfering with the pool as he has posted online a video in which he grabs what apparently is part of the sealer surface and pulls at it.
The initial results of the Trump-ordered repairs at the pool were good enough to surprise Democrats, several of whom admitted the look was good.
But Trump said developing issues are from “vandalism,” by those who used chemicals and other methods in cause damage.
Trump cited Karl for “sticking his hand into the Pool” and “trying to rip the rubber off of the surface.”
Algae is a common problem for bodies of water, and work on that was continuing, the report said.
Newsweek said Scott Jennings, former adviser to President George W. Bush, reacted to Trump’s claims while speaking with CNN‘s Kaitlan Collins on Friday night, saying it is “absolutely true” that someone vandalized the nearby grass.
“You have people that hate Donald Trump so much that they would go out and destroy our national monuments. Vandalize the Lincoln Memorial, vandalize the grass. That’s how broken brained they are,” he said.
The project launched by Trump has been to restore the basin, which was built in the 1920s but has had issues including sinking and leaking.
Barack Obama launched a failed effort, at a cost of $34 million, to fix the issues in 2012. Trump’s work so far has included about $14 million in spending.
The Gateway Pundit said independent journalist Emily Miller confirmed a man was arrested after jumping into the pool and cutting out a “huge piece” of the sealant.
Reflecting Pool Looks Magnificent Under Trump — Media Fixates on Temporary Algae
Check out this stunning AI flyover based on the condition of the pool on Friday. Even as crews actively treat some algae, it looks absolutely magnificent thanks to President Trump’s upgrades making… pic.twitter.com/Cn3y75zQmv
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 20, 2026
🚨 NOW: National Guard troops are monitoring the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool like HAWKS after a man was arrested for jumping into the pool RIPPING SEALANT off the bottom
Deranged lefts are literally VANDALIZING the pool just to “get Trump”
INSANE to think this is where we… pic.twitter.com/f1ORXJ8bzV
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 19, 2026
🚨 LAST NIGHT: US Park Police detained a suspicious man carrying a pitchfork and bucket around the Lincoln Memorial reflection pool
It’s unclear what the man was planning on doing with the pitchfork and bucket, but it’s certainly not a regular sight at the pool.
This came… https://t.co/yLGvmc2k3X pic.twitter.com/BN3epjPjOV
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 19, 2026
WorldNetDaily reported when the repairs initially were done, a Democrat admitted on video: “I thought it was a stupid idea to paint the Reflecting Pool, but it looks really good. It makes the reflection look extraordinarily prominent in a way it did not before, and I hate that.”
A Democrat in DC says she hates she’s forced to admit the Reflecting Pool now looks good.
“I thought it was a stupid idea to paint the Reflecting Pool, but it looks really good. It makes the reflection look extraordinarily prominent in a way it did not before, and I hate that.” pic.twitter.com/yVTHm4rHUh
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) June 5, 2026
Can someone please explain to me why Democrats are mad about this pic.twitter.com/cZqdZiPKOW
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 5, 2026
🚨 The Reflecting Pool is filling up — and it DOES reflect.
Homa Bash reports: Filling began Thursday and will take a few days to complete.
Visitors from out of state say they’re already excited about the final results.
And yes, it does indeed reflect.Is America getting its… pic.twitter.com/U9k1L86IGW
— Lexie🌹👉🏻🇺🇸 (@its_Lexieroy) June 5, 2026
“We are so back,” the White House said on X as it shared images of water re-entering the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/c3DsDcUklR
— CBS News (@CBSNews) June 5, 2026
