Trump's claim fizzles as Park Service won't back Reflecting Pool 'gash' in court

[LetMyPeopleVote]

The lining failed because it was not correct lining for use in sunlight and trump had a ton of cars including the "Beast" drive over the covering. There was no sabotage or vandalism

President Trump's description of the alleged damage keeps shifting, from a 250, to 300 to 350-foot gash to the Reflecting Pool. When asked whether he has visual evidence of the damage, Trump told reporters, "You'll see it in court."

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-06-26T14:32:31Z

👉️ bit.ly/4g41cjH

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-06-26T14:32:34.867Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-reflecting-pool-gash-court/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a3e8d7e90eb590001ecef4e

The National Park Service refused to corroborate President Donald Trump's claim of a 350-foot Reflecting Pool "gash" in a sworn court declaration filed this week.

Frank Lands, the NPS's deputy director for operations, submitted the two-page declaration in an ongoing federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia over the pool's renovation.

Lands described cut caulk, peeling liner material, and roughly 70 fence post tops thrown into the water. He never used the word "gash." He never cited a 350-foot figure.

[Blues Heron]

1. 70 fence post tops?

thats a new one

[ToxMarz]

7. Communist fence post tops

[yardwork]

9. One would think there would be photos.

That's a lot of fence post tops. I'm not sure where the fence post tops came from. Are they missing from some fence tops on the Mall?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Reflecting Pool Coating Supplier's Statement Conflicts With Trump's Sabotage Claim

Manufacturer cites “finish-coat separation” issue, no mention of box cutters

Reflecting Pool Coating Supplier’s Statement Conflicts With Trump’s Sabotage Claim

Manufacturer cites “finish-coat separation” issue, no mention of box cutters

meidasnews.com/news/reflect...

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T14:01:47.537Z

https://meidasnews.com/news/reflecting-pool-coating-suppliers-statement-conflicts-with-trumps-sabotage-claim

President Donald Trump’s claim that the recently rehabilitated Washington Reflecting Pool was damaged by a saboteur wielding a box cutter appears to conflict with a statement issued by the coating manufacturer involved in the project. Trump alleged that someone entered the pool and intentionally slashed the coating, causing damage that required repairs.

In a statement released June 22, Rhino Linings, a company primarily known for spray on truck bed liners, said it was aware of reports of “localized areas of finish coat separation” in portions of the rehabilitation project. The company said it had been informed by the project team that the issue was limited to isolated areas of the finish layer and did not affect the underlying waterproofing membrane.

One would think a box cutting knife wouldn’t stop for a waterproofing membrane. Rhino Linings said corrective actions had already been identified and did not mention vandalism, sabotage, criminal activity, or cuts to the coating.

While the manufacturer’s statement does not definitively rule out Trump’s claim, it describes the problem as finish-coat separation rather than deliberate damage caused by a box cutter.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. The manufacturer of the product used on the Reflecting Pool there have been "localized areas of finish coat separation."

Link to tweet

[struggle4progress]

4. Up next: ICE accidentally deports NPS deputy director to Somalia

Here Trump say: I never ever even heard of him. But he's a very bad man. I was warned about him weeks ago. He ihas been cutting the Reflecting Pond with a knife. When we first met, I said we are going to fix the Reflecting Lake. He said Thanks you sir.Very bad man. But when I heard about him gouging the pond, I told ICE to deport him. I said I didn't want him to still be here when I woke up from my nap.

[Beartracks]

5. You'll see it in court... along with all that election fraud evidence!

[Cheezoholic]

6. Their truck liner is crap too. Waste of money n/t

[progressoid]

8. Time for some more alternative facts about this from the white house