Tangent
Trump said in May, before the reflecting pool reopened last month, that the liner is “very strong . . . if you had a knife, you can’t even cut it, it’s so strong, so powerful, it’s like powerful rubber. It is beautiful. Sealed.” Trump also disputed claims on Monday that the reflecting pool had been painted, claiming “there is no paint” and instead was covered with “high grade colored waterproofing liner.”
Key Background
The Trump administration has not produced any evidence to support Trump’s claims that vandals damaged the pool and caused the liner to peel in some places. Trump has also alleged that people dumped fertilizer into the water to produce algae—which has been a persistent issue in the pool for years. At least seven people have been arrested or charged in connection with the alleged vandalism, including former U.S. Olympic canoeist David Hearn, who pleaded not guilty to the charges last week. Prosecutors allege Hearn was seen “forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner” of the reflecting pool last month. Hearn told NBC News previously he stopped at the pool on a bike ride out of “curiosity” over what was happening with the controversial project and touched a piece of the detached liner, but did not remove or damage it. Trump initially estimated the reflecting pool renovations, which began in April, would cost $1.8 million, but the costs have skyrocketed to more than $15 million.
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further reading
Trump Repeats Claim ‘Vandals’ Damaged Reflecting Pool—As It Gets Drained Again (Forbes)
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