Donald Trump boasted about the durability of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool weeks before announcing the site would need to be drained again.
Speaking on 4 May 2026, the US president said the pool’s surface is “very, very strong”, claiming that even a knife couldn’t cut through it.
The structure has undergone weeks of renovation after Trump decided to drain the pool and have its surface spray-painted with what he called an “American flag-blue” coating similar to those used in chlorinated swimming pools.
“This will last for at least 50 years, and you'll never have a leak,” he added
On Tuesday (23 June), Mr Trump announced that the pool will need to be drained again due to alleged vandalism.
“We have a 290,300-foot slit right through it.”
Read MoreReflecting Pool chaos: The Independent reports from the iconic site
Watch: Trump struggles to fasten Medal of Honor during White House ceremony
‘I’m almost embarrassed’: JD Vance confronted over past criticism of Trump
