Trump threatens – President Donald Trump threatened to sue ABC News over its coverage of alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, calling the network “fake news” on Truth Social and pointing to renovation spending he says proves the story is wrong. ABC News re
Donald Trump didn’t just double down on blaming peeling paint and algae at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on vandalism—he went after ABC News directly, threatening legal action after the network covered the allegations.
On Monday evening. Trump posted on Truth Social that ABC News “FAKE NEWS” failed to report what he said was key context about the reflecting pool’s renovation and why it “never worked.” He wrote that “their close ‘friends. ’ Dumocrats Obama and Biden. spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool. and it never worked. ” and added that the pool was “rarely open due to leaks and ‘stench.’”.
Trump also took aim at ABC News for what he described as an earlier monetary settlement. “In fact. it was rarely open due to leaks and ‘stench.’ They wanted to spend 300 to 400 Million Dollars. but just let it ROT. ” he wrote. before continuing: “I spent approximately 16 Million Dollars. and it came out great. except for the Vandalism. which we are now fixing.”.
He said the job expanded beyond the initial scope—“including the outer areas and sidewalks”—and then pivoted to the threat that will keep ABC News in the crosshairs. “We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting,” Trump wrote. He added, “I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury!”.
ABC News, for its part, reported on Monday that the president pressed his blame of the reflecting pool’s cosmetic problems on vandals. The coverage also included a point Trump’s post seemed to contradict: ABC News reported that it provided “no evidence of vandalism himself.”
The network also shared information tied to the alleged misconduct. An Interior Department spokesperson told ABC News that five people were arrested and five others were issued federal citations. The spokesperson said “14 police reports have been filed for vandalism. including the crime described in the President’s Truth Social post. ” adding that “The U.S. Park Police will continue to carry out their number one duty of upholding law and order in our nation’s capital.”.
The fight plays out against a backdrop of broader media scrutiny of the administration’s renovation efforts. Multiple outlets have criticized the updates to the landmark, which have reportedly been plagued with algae and peeling paint following cosmetic changes.
There’s also a longer thread to Trump’s friction with ABC News. The network paid the president $15 million. along with an additional $1 million in legal fees. to settle the defamation suit he brought over George Stephanopoulos’ comments about E. Jean Carroll. Trump has also called out ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl over his April book. “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America. ” again using “fake news” language and referencing what he described as a “Slopadopolus error.”.
Trump’s willingness to take legal steps against major outlets is not limited to ABC News. In the last year alone, he has sued the Wall Street Journal, BBC, and The New York Times.
An ABC News representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Donald Trump ABC News Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism Truth Social lawsuit threat Jonathan Karl George Stephanopoulos E. Jean Carroll Interior Department U.S. Park Police George Stephanopoulos defamation settlement
ABC should just stop reporting it, problem solved.
I don’t even know what’s true at the Lincoln Memorial pool anymore. Like was it vandalism or just algae and leaks? Also $100 million vs $16 million sounds like a huge difference, so of course everybody’s gonna argue.
Wait so he’s suing because ABC said vandals did it, but he also says the renovation “never worked” because of Democrats Obama/Biden? That doesn’t sound like the same thing. Sounds like he wants to sue for both the facts and the vibe.
Lmao “FAKE NEWS” but then he’s talking about stench and leaks like that’s evidence. If the pool was rarely open because it rotted, wouldn’t that mean the city/contractors messed up, not some random vandal? Also the part about liking their money and it going to the Treasury is weird, like he’s basically ordering ABC to pay up.