Former Olympian seen in handcuffs as Trump threatens 'years in jail' and many arrests after vandals SABOTAGE Reflecting Pool with 'corrosive and destructive chemicals'

By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER Published: 01:56, 21 June 2026 | Updated: 02:25, 21 June 2026 Donald Trump claimed protesters at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could face 'years in jail' after being arrested this weekend.  Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to blame liberal vandals for the damage at the recently renovated pool, as its 'American flag blue' has already begun to peel away from the bottom. The President on Saturday followed up by posting that Park Police 'have arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Poll,' correcting his spelling to 'Pool' later.  He went on: 'Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments. Years in jail!'  Former Olympian David Hearn was seen in a video posted on X being handcuffed by officers who approached him next to the pool.  Trump went on a longer screed against the vandals later Saturday, accusing them of using 'corrosive and destructive' chemicals to ruin the pool. 'Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool,' he said, claiming they were ruining a monument that 'hasn't looked or worked like this since 1922.'  Trump added that he needed to speak to contractors, who promised to fix the problem but said they will 'probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs.' He accuses the vandals of using knives to stab a '250 foot long gash' into the pool, while also pouring 'corrosive and destructive chemicals' into it.  Donald Trump claimed protesters at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could face 'years in jail' after being arrested this weekend Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to blame liberal vandals for the damage at the recently renovated pool, as its 'American flag blue' has already begun to peel away from the bottom 'We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure, and we will get it repaired, quickly, to an equal level of Beauty.' One man arrested was David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, who owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft.  He said he stopped by the pool during his 64-mile bike ride Friday to see what was going on. Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, told The Associated Press that he reached into the pool because he wanted to examine the peeling new coating.  He said he briefly touched a chunk that was still attached to the side of the pool, then let go shortly after a park worker told him to. But, Hearn said, he was then detained by National Guard troops and Park Police for five hours before being released Friday night. 'I'm a curious citizen,' Hearn said in a telephone interview. 'I reached down to see what it felt like. It was very rubbery.' The Washington Post first reported Hearn's arrest, and he said he has a date to appear in court next month and is looking for legal help. One man arrested was David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland , who owned a company that made composite used to build watercraft and is also a former Olympian in canoe racing The Daily Mail has reached out to the United States Park Police for comment. The bottom of the monument was repainted in a dark blue as part of the $14.2 million renovations which Trump announced had been completed on June 6. However, just a few weeks later images show the paint is already chipped and peeling.  Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to blame liberal vandals for the damage. 'Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed,' he wrote. Trump said that those who oppose him are trying to 'destroy and demean our beautiful work.' It comes after workers were forced to pour hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat an algae  bloom that had turned it green, instead of the expected dark blue. Trump said Friday that 75 percent of the algae has been destroyed 'and the condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage, and will be fixed early next week.'  He added that law enforcement is investigating the problems 'and will hopefully have it resolved soon' as he called out ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for sticking his hand into the pool, 'trying to rip the rubber off the surface.' The Daily Mail reached out to Karl for comment. 'It’s a shame that the Radical Left Lunatics, most likely Dumocats, who have spent their lives trying to ruin our Country, are free to do so,' Trump added.  The President later posted a photo of what was ostensibly a protester wearing a t-shirt that read 'TEAM ALGAE.'  The National Park Service, which operates the National Mall where ​the pool is located, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Atlantic Industrial ​Coatings, the Virginia-based company that carried out the renovations, also did not immediately respond. The Daily Mail reached out to local police for comment. Earlier this month the president announced on Truth Social that the project was complete, bragging that the renovation was 'very complex, but powerful,' adding that clean water had been added to the pool.  'It was originally opened in 1922, but never functioned properly — now it does!' Trump said. 'Thank you President Trump, thank you Department of the Interior — AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME with The Trump Promenade at The Lincoln Memorial, and The Triumphal Arch, which will be, along with the White House Ballroom, when completed, the Greatest Structure in Washington.'  However, just weeks after the triumphant announcement, the water in the Reflecting Pool turned a stomach-churning lime green.  On Tuesday, crews were seen dumping hydrogen peroxide into the water to curb algal growth.  The Department of the Interior, which is overseeing the project, said in a statement to media outlets that 'nanobubbler technology' had been installed to address the buildup of algae.  'Unlike under Obama and Biden, the National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool,' a spokesperson for the department said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'To keep the water in the Reflecting Pool not only crystal clear but also clean, we are deploying high-tech nanobubble ozone technology.' The department added that the technology kills algae, pathogens and contaminants that have long plagued the pool.  The Trump administration then blamed former President Barack Obama for failing to keep up with renovations.  The DOI confirmed that hydrogen peroxide was being used to treat the pool, but claimed there were no harmful side effects to the environment or marine life.  The administration paid over $1.7 million to Green Water Solutions LLC last April for a 'nano bubble,' according to government spending files.  Nanobubblers are microscopic gas bubbles. They suspend in water, increasing dissolved oxygen levels and altering the water chemistry.  The gas bubbles damage algae cells and break them apart, preventing the water from turning green. Nanobubbler technology has been tested and validated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio State University and University of Florida, the DOI said.  The Reflecting Pool has plagued previous administrations, as algae buildup has frequently prevented the water from properly reflecting the memorial as designed.  The Obama administration poured over $35 million into a repair job, only for the green hue to return within a month.  Trump has taken a stab at the project, initially projecting that renovations would cost $2 million and take a week to complete. The project ended up costing $14 million and took two months to complete. Atlantic Industrial Coating received a no-bid contract after the administration bypassed bureaucratic procedures, the New York Times reported. Trump said he personally picked the company after they worked on a pool at his Virginia golf club, however, he later said he did not know the contractor.  When asked about the Times reporting, a spokesperson for the DOI told the Daily Mail: 'The company selected was the only company that had the expertise, staff, and materials necessary to complete the project in time for major celebrations ahead of our 250th.' Atlantic clarified in a statement to the Daily Mail that they were awarded the contract after they were recommended by the selected product supplier.   'We have never done work for President Trump, his companies, or anyone affiliated with him,' a spokesperson for the company stated.  'We did line the pool with polyurea, not paint. We have nothing to do with the water, we were solely contracted to line the pool, thus making it water tight, to stop the leaks.'  The spokesperson added that the initial price for lining the pool was $13.1 million and two other product suppliers presented proposals.   The White House directed all inquiries to the DOI when asked about the contract with the company.   Earlier this month, the White House shared photos of the Reflecting Pool looking clear and blue. 'The water is ON, the Reflecting Pool is reflecting, and DC is looking better than ever,' the administration said. However, just a few days later, the algae already started popping up again. A spokesperson for the DOI told CNN at the time that the algae was 'residual.'  'It’s part of the normal startup process. We are removing the algae, and the nanobubblers will maintain the pool and keep it algae free,' they added.  Individuals familiar with the project told the Times that they worried the renovation did not address buried pipes that often leaked.  Trump has faced criticism ​for speeding past planning ​processes meant to preserve ⁠Washington's carefully designed appearances in his renovation program, criticism that his administration has dismissed as partisan sniping while praising the real estate developer's ​design acumen. Lawmakers have also raised questions about his decision to accept a $400 ​million airplane from ⁠Qatar to be put into service as Air Force One, which ferries the president, his staff and security detail and journalists on his travels around the nation and the world.  Security experts ⁠have ​warned that retrofitting the plane would require extensive security upgrades, ​communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping and missile-defense capabilities, all of which would take time and money to install. Trump's other plans for beautifying Washington include tearing down the ​East Wing of the White House to make space for a new ballroom ⁠and building a massive arch near Arlington National Cemetery, which honors the nation's war ​dead and other prominent Americans. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.