Kathrine Frich
When asked to reveal the images, he told journalists they would have to wait.
Grand public works projects rarely go exactly to plan.
When delays and damages pile up, politicians often scramble to find someone else to blame for the mess. But sometimes, the boldest excuses eventually collide with reality.
Missing the proof
President Donald Trump abruptly changed his story regarding botched repairs at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. On Sunday, he took to Truth Social to make a surprising admission about his sabotage claims.
According to HuffPost, the president confessed that his promised evidence does not actually exist.
“There was substantial other damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or proof, other than the damage, itself,” Trump wrote.
This marks a sharp turnaround. Just days before, he insisted the destruction was caught on camera.
Shifting the story
Reporters previously pressed Trump about the supposed vandals in June. He assured them the footage was real.
“We also have pictures,” the president told the press at the time.
When asked to reveal the images, he told journalists they would have to wait. CBS News reported that Trump promised the evidence would surface during a trial, saying, “At the right time you’ll see it,” and adding, “You’ll see it in court.”
That trial will not happen now. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro recently dropped all criminal charges against David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete accused of the crime.
Changing the narrative
Pirro released a statement clarifying that a flawed installation caused the damage, rather than intentional vandalism.
Despite this, Trump refuses to clear Hearn completely. The president claimed on Sunday that a National Park Service employee witnessed the former athlete “violently” tear the fresh material, describing the protective layer as a “somewhat delicate coating.”
That description contradicts Trump’s own past boasts. Back in May, he praised the pool lining as being “so strong, so powerful” that a knife could not cut it.
He even rolled his presidential motorcade directly over the newly installed surface to inspect the craftsmanship.
A messy reopening
The ambitious spring renovation aimed to beautify the iconic site ahead of the summer holidays. Instead, the project became a prolonged headache.
Shortly after opening, the pool water turned green with thick algae. Trump initially blamed vandals for that issue as well.
Now, he accepts a tiny bit of blame for the peeled lining. The president admitted that “there was also some contractor error done,” but insisted it “was relatively inconsequential.” He also noted the site will reopen soon.
Sources: HuffPost, CBS News
