(AURN News) — The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was supposed to be a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s America 250 celebration on July 4. Instead, it has become a $16 million embarrassment.
The Trump administration hired Rose Group, a Florida firm whose owner is a Trump donor, on a no-bid contract to drain the pool, repaint the bottom “American flag blue” and reseal it.
Within days of the pool being refilled, the paint began peeling and algae returned.
Trump offered a different explanation on Tuesday.
A reporter asked, “Are the contractors who did the initial work on the Reflecting Pool to blame for its current condition, or is it the vandals?”
“No, vandalism. You know, 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’ll probably have to let the water out and re-fix it,” Trump said.
Trump also said people were pouring fertilizer into the Reflecting Pool and that the administration is investigating the matter.
Just last week, Trump blamed the problems with the pool on former President Barack Obama.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
