- President Donald Trump attributed ongoing problems with the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's renovation to " vandals " who allegedly created a 300-foot "slit" in its new coating.
- The pool's "American flag-blue" spray-painted surface has been separating, with chunks floating amid a swamp-green algae growth.
- Reporters have been unable to independently confirm the president's claims of vandalism or the existence of the large "slit" he described.
- The renovation project has escalated to a $14 million cost for U.S. taxpayers, with critics arguing the blue paint is a waste and alters the memorial's original aesthetic.
- Despite the issues and unverified claims, the president intends to proceed with further renovation efforts, including extending the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River waterfront.
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