Trump prepares – President Donald Trump says his administration is preparing lawsuits against ABC, after the network’s reporting about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s renovation problems—including algae and peeling paint—clashed with Trump’s own claims about why the poo
By Monday night, President Donald Trump wasn’t just reacting to what visitors can see at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—he was preparing to take on the media over it.
The dispute is now centered on a pool that, for weeks, Trump said would be improved by ongoing renovations. Since those renovations were completed, the pool has been plagued by algae blooms. Visitors have reported noticing paint peeling away from the bottom. and the algae has left the water with a distinct green hue instead of the intended American flag blue. Some tourists have even been ripping off pieces of loose paint to take as souvenirs.
Trump has insisted the Reflecting Pool is in bad shape because vandals dumped fertilizer into it—but he has provided no evidence for that claim.
On Truth Social on Monday night, Trump said a lawsuit is headed ABC’s way. He accused ABC News of not reporting that his two predecessors spent $100 million to renovate the pool. a figure he appears to have made up. while noting that President Joe Biden oversaw no major work on it. Trump also pointed to an earlier figure tied to the Obama administration, saying it spent $35 million on the pool.
In his post. Trump claimed ABC News described “Vandalism” at the Reflecting Pool without reporting that “Dumocrats Obama and Biden” spent over $100 million. that it “never worked. ” and that the pool was rarely open due to leaks and what he described as a “stench.” He said the predecessors wanted to spend $300 to 400 million. but that they “just let it ROT.” He then wrote that he spent approximately $16 million and that it “came out great. ” except for the vandalism. which he said his administration is now fixing.
He concluded by writing, “We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting,” adding, “I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury!”
ABC’s reporting is directly tied to the same visible problems Trump blames on vandals. ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl reported from the Reflecting Pool last week. Standing next to the pool. Karl said. “Fourteen million dollars was spent to drain this whole thing and to paint the bottom American flag blue.” He told viewers that “as you can see. it’s all green now. ” and said workers were trying to kill the algae. but “as they’re doing that. something else has happened.”.
In the video, Karl reached down and held up a piece of peeling paint still connected to the bottom so viewers could see what was occurring. Trump angrily responded by falsely claiming that Karl was “trying to rip the rubber off of the surface.”
The back-and-forth also reaches into who did the work. The Reflecting Pool was renovated by Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based company awarded a $13.1 billion no-bid contract.
Then. on Thursday. The New York Times reported that the pool’s new water purification system was installed through another no-bid contract. by Greenwater Services. The company is owned by J.J. Cafaro Trust, headed by John J. Cafaro. The reporting also included a legal detail: in 2001, Cafaro pleaded guilty to bribing a congressman, whom he later testified against.
For now, Trump’s focus has shifted from the visible algae and peeling paint to the question of who told the story about how the pool ended up this way—and whether ABC’s coverage will face consequences in court.
Donald Trump ABC News Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Truth Social algae blooms peeling paint lawsuits Jonathan Karl Atlantic Industrial Coatings Greenwater Services John J. Cafaro
Wow he’s suing because the pool is green? That’s kind of wild.
I skimmed it but sounds like ABC said algae and peeling paint, and Trump said vandals fertilizer?? Like okay but why would the paint peel in the first place. Feels like nobody really knows and everyone’s just yelling.
So he’s mad ABC didn’t mention his predecessors spend money?? But if the pool was rarely open due to leaks… isn’t that still a renovation problem regardless of who paid. Also “made up” figure? Sounds like typical politics math.
This is what happens when you let the media control the narrative. If Trump says it’s vandals with fertilizer then probably that’s true, and ABC just ignores the facts. I mean the pool is literally turning green like that one meme, so who else would do that? Also I heard somewhere it was Obama, not sure though, but either way $100 million sounds about right to me, and ABC should be held accountable.