President Donald Trump has announced that federal authorities have made multiple arrests of individuals he claims were vandalizing the Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C.

Reflecting Pool Rehabilitation Project

The Reflecting Pool, which underwent a $14-million-plus rehabilitation project, has been experiencing issues with algae growth and peeling paint. Trump stated that his predecessors had allowed the pool to become algae-stained and that he had planned to line it with ‘American flag blue’ to better reflect the Washington Monument.

However, after the new pool was unveiled, its blue tinge quickly turned green. Workers treated the pool with chemicals to kill the algae, but the painted blue lining on the bottom began to peel. Trump posted on his social media site that ‘We’ve had some real problems with vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool’ and that ‘they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed.’

Despite Trump’s claims, agencies responsible for law enforcement and upkeep on the National Mall, including the U.S. Park Police, National Park Service, and Interior Department, did not respond to requests for comment. One man, David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was arrested and detained for five hours after touching a chunk of peeling paint on the side of the pool.

Investigation and Repairs

Trump later acknowledged that the Reflecting Pool will need to be repaired again to restore it to its original state. He stated that contractors met with him to discuss the necessary repairs, which may involve releasing and draining much of the water in the pool.

The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the rehabilitation project and the role of vandalism in the pool’s current state. While Trump has insisted that something nefarious has been going on at the scene, others have pointed out that the issues with the pool may be the result of other factors, such as the use of chemicals or the design of the rehabilitation project.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.