US Olympian Indicted for Alleged Vandalism of Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Amid Trump’s Claims

Three-time US Olympian David Hearn faces indictment after President Trump claimed vandals damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a site already marred by a failed renovation project costing £11 million (USD$14.7 million). Trump insisted on painting the pool “American Flag Blue,” but the result was a green, algae-infested disaster. The paint began to peel off in strips, leading to speculation that hydrogen peroxide, used by National Park Service workers to combat algae, was the culprit. Trump, however, pointed fingers at Hearn, accusing him of maliciously damaging the pool's lining material on June 19.

Prosecutors allege Hearn caused over £749 (USD$1,000) in damage by pulling up the pool’s bottom liner and refusing to stop when confronted. If convicted, he could face a decade behind bars.

Jeanine Pirro, representing Washington DC, announced the felony charge against Hearn during a press conference. She claimed prosecutors possess “tremendous evidence” that Hearn “forcefully and violently” removed the bottom liner. Pirro described Hearn as “belligerent” and “disrespectful” when asked to cease his actions by National Park Service employees. “Today is about accountability for damaging a national resource, a national treasure,” she stated.

Hearn's legal team, Norm Eisen and Mary Dohrmann, vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the Trump administration is criminalizing ordinary behavior. They labeled the charges as outrageous and alarming for American citizens. “On the eve of our nation’s Independence Day, Americans should be deeply concerned by the misuse of government power against an ordinary citizen based on a concocted narrative,” they declared.

Rips in the Reflecting Pool were evident as algae turned the water green. An aerial view captured ongoing cleaning efforts on June 25, 2026, amid Trump’s claims of vandalism being responsible for the damage.

Hearn previously recounted to the Associated Press that he reached into the pool to inspect the peeling coating but let go when instructed by a park worker. He had stopped by during a 102-kilometre bike ride but was detained for five hours by National Guard troops and Park Police before being released.

After his arrest, Hearn denied any intent to damage the pool. He stated, “I didn’t vandalise anything. I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realised what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”

The indictment follows Trump’s social media tirade in June, where he labeled individuals as “vandals” responsible for the pool's damage. On his platform Truth Social, he claimed federal authorities had made “multiple arrests” related to the vandalism.

Trump further criticized a reporter from ABC News, accusing him of tampering with the pool’s surface while reporting on its condition. The reporter noted that the Reflecting Pool was filled with gunk and green algae, contradicting Trump’s earlier claims of a successful renovation.

The Reflecting Pool has been plagued by algae issues under various administrations, often failing to reflect the memorial as intended.