Trump Warns Monument Vandals Face 10 Years In Jail After Pool Row

Trump Warns Monument Vandals Face 10 Years In Jail After Pool Row

President Donald Trump has warned that anyone caught vandalising America's national monuments could face up to 10 years behind bars, as he vowed to protect nearly 70 newly restored landmarks across Washington, D.C.

The warning comes amid continuing controversy over the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which has become the latest flashpoint in the political battle over the capital's restoration projects.

Trump Issues Tough Warning

Posting on Truth Social, Trump declared that the Reflecting Pool was once again "in full operation" after what he described as deliberate acts of vandalism carried out by "Radical Left SCUM."

The president said the site is now protected by fencing and an increased security presence, adding that the same tough approach will apply to dozens of other monuments, statues and fountains restored during his administration.

"If anyone attacks any of them, they get as much as 10 years in jail," Trump wrote, insisting that security officers are monitoring the sites around the clock.

Trump also promised that repairs to the Reflecting Pool would continue immediately after Independence Day celebrations.

Reflecting Pool Remains Under Scrutiny

Despite Trump's confidence, the renovation has attracted widespread criticism after the $14 million to $16 million project ran into a series of problems.

Soon after the pool's base was painted what Trump described as "American Flag Blue," the water turned green as algae spread throughout the pool. Photographs also showed the new coating peeling away in several places.

Maintenance crews have since attempted to treat the water using hydrogen peroxide, although visible improvements have so far been limited.

Wildlife groups also raised concerns after several dead ducks were discovered in the pool and a nearby fountain, prompting questions over whether algae or water quality may have played a role.

Trump has also claimed vandals caused extensive damage to the pool's waterproof lining, including a 350-foot tear that he said was deliberately inflicted. However, no evidence has yet been publicly released to support those allegations.

Political Battle Intensifies

The restoration project has quickly become another political battleground.

Former President Joe Biden used a Democratic Party fundraising event over the weekend to ridicule the Reflecting Pool project, accusing Trump of focusing on vanity projects instead of governing.

Biden also mocked other planned changes in Washington, including alterations to the White House and Trump's growing influence over the Kennedy Center.

"It's not just his vanity projects," Biden told supporters. "Even hiring his own pool guy to fix his Reflecting Pool... what a loser."

Trump, however, remains unapologetic, insisting the work has transformed the iconic landmark and promising it will soon be restored to what he called its "absolutely PERFECT" condition.

With tighter security now surrounding some of the nation's most recognisable landmarks, the Reflecting Pool has become far more than a restoration project. It now stands as another symbol of the fierce political divide that continues to shape Washington.

SOURCE