President Donald Trump gave a contradictory explanation on Monday for why the paint on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is peeling. Trump claimed, without evidence, that vandals used a knife to slash the paint. However, his previous comments about the project directly contradict that explanation.
Trump's Claim of Vandalism
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump said: “We have 100, and we have a, I think, 290, 300-foot slit right through it, probably a box cutter or a knife of some kind. We had people lifting up the basic, some of the [base]. It’s not a lot of damage, but we’ll probably have to let the water out and re-fix it.” He added that the National Park Service told him five people have been arrested and five are under investigation.
Contradictory Prior Statement
On May 4, Trump boasted about the renovations, saying: “This will last for at least 50 years, you’ll never have a leak. It’s very strong. You couldn’t, if you had a knife. I don’t want to give anybody ideas. If you had a knife, you can’t even cut it. So strong, so powerful. It’s like powerful rubber.”
The Bulwark posted a side-by-side video comparison on Monday highlighting the contradiction. The video juxtaposes Trump’s May 4 statement with his Monday remarks, showing the inconsistency.
Impact and Context
The reflecting pool, a historic landmark on the National Mall, underwent renovations overseen by the Trump administration. The peeling paint has raised questions about the quality of the work. The National Park Service has not confirmed the arrests or investigations mentioned by Trump.
