Trump Claims Vandals Slashed Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Promises Courtroom Proof

President Trump unleashed a wild claim, alleging that vandals "cut" a massive 350-foot slit in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which he insists is the culprit behind the peeling paint on the algae-infested renovation project.

In a heated exchange with CBS News senior White House correspondent Ed O'Keefe, Trump pointed fingers at vandals instead of the $14.7 million sealant job's craftsmanship. He stated that this alleged vandalism occurred between the World War II Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

U.S. Park Police reported five arrests for vandalism linked to the Reflecting Pool, with five more individuals receiving federal citations. However, neither the project contractor nor the U.S. Park Service has confirmed that a cut slit caused the ongoing issues.

When pressed for proof, such as photos or videos of the supposed vandalism, Trump retorted, "Well, let's put it this way, when you have a 350, I think it's 350, not 250, when you have a 350-foot slit, from one end to the other, you think that's proof? You think that's proof?"

O'Keefe pointed out that reporters had visited the site and found no evidence of any slit. Trump dismissed this, suggesting reporters should consult the Parks Department for verification. "They cut it very violently," he claimed, referring to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. "They cut it, and then they lifted it. They pulled it, and that's what it is."

After defending the renovation project, Trump asserted, "We also have pictures." When asked for tangible evidence of his claims, he replied, "Yeah, at the right time you'll see it. You'll see it in court." He urged O'Keefe to contact the Parks Department or the Department of Interior for more information.

Trump also floated a theory that someone might have introduced fertilizer into the water to exacerbate the algae problem. "If you put fertilizer in the water, you get algae," he said, again failing to provide any supporting evidence.

The National Park Service and the Department of the Interior have yet to respond to inquiries from CBS News regarding these allegations.

Atlantic Industrial Coatings, awarded a no-bid contract for the sealant installation on the Reflecting Pool's floor, acknowledged that "some areas" need repairs. They clarified that these areas represent a minor fraction of the extensive 7-acre project and do not signify a failure of the liner. Repairs cannot commence until the pool is drained; AIC stated they would return to address these issues as part of their warranty once feasible.

In an unedited statement: "These repairs can not be made until the pool is drained."