Trump Criticizes ABC News Over Lincoln Memorial Pool Coverage, Claims "FAKE NEWS"

President Donald Trump recently voiced strong opposition to ABC News' reporting concerning the condition of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In a public statement, the former president alleged that the network was disseminating "FAKE NEWS" and propagating unsubstantiated claims regarding vandalism as the cause of the pool's disrepair.

Accusations of Biased Reporting

Trump directed criticism towards ABC News via his social media platform, asserting that the network failed to adequately cover the state of the Reflecting Pool during previous administrations. He specifically mentioned the Obama and Biden administrations, suggesting their attempts at repair were unsuccessful. The former president indicated his administration was "preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting," though he did not specify the exact inaccuracies he perceived. Trump also referenced a previous $16 million defamation settlement he received from ABC News, stating he intended for such funds to be directed to the U.S. Treasury.

Historical Context and Cost of Repairs

Reiterating earlier remarks, Trump characterized the pool's condition under prior leadership as akin to a sewer, citing frequent closures due to "leaks and 'stench.'" He contrasted his administration's approach with what he described as the prior administrations' intention to spend "300 to 400 Million Dollars" on repairs, while his own efforts reportedly cost "approximately 16 Million Dollars." Trump maintained that his administration's intervention resulted in a successful outcome, with the exception of what he termed "Vandalism." He further suggested that ongoing restoration work represented a significantly larger undertaking than initially anticipated, encompassing the surrounding areas and sidewalks.


ABC News' Reporting on the Reflecting Pool

Recent reports by ABC News highlighted visible issues at the Reflecting Pool, noting its "dirty and green" appearance and the detachment of its newly applied blue coating. Correspondents observed and documented sections of the blue paint peeling from the pool's bottom and floating on the surface. This observation occurred shortly after the pool experienced an algae bloom, a recurring problem that Trump had previously attributed to the failures of preceding administrations.

The Algae Bloom and Renovation Efforts

Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial observed dark blue paint fragments on the water's surface, days after the pool had turned green due to an algae bloom. In response, officials from the Department of the Interior acknowledged the recurrence of algae and echoed Trump's sentiment regarding previous administrations' struggles with the issue. However, the department did not offer a definitive explanation for why the recent renovation failed to prevent its return. National Park Service personnel were observed treating the pool with hydrogen peroxide in an attempt to eliminate the algae, though the chemical's role in the paint's peeling remains unclear.

Aerial footage shared in news segments illustrated the extent of the algae bloom, with the pool's perimeter appearing dark blue while its center was predominantly green.

Financial Aspects of the Restoration Project

Publicly available records indicate that the Trump administration allocated $14.7 million to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based firm that secured a no-bid contract for the renovation and repair work. Additionally, Green Water Solutions of Ohio received $1.7 million for the installation of a water-purification system within the pool. Reports from the time indicated that Green Water Solutions was reportedly owned by a trust associated with a Trump donor, who was also involved in a past legal matter.

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