President Donald Trump said his administration is preparing to sue ABC News over its reporting on vandalism at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., accusing the network of omitting key details about previous renovation efforts under former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed ABC failed to mention what he described as more than $100 million in spending on the iconic landmark during previous administrations, while praising his own restoration efforts and suggesting legal action against the network was imminent.
"In describing the vandalism that took place at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., ABC Fake News, one of the worst in the business, even paying me $16,000,000 for past bad and inaccurate reporting, failed to report that their close 'friends,' Democrats Obama and Biden, spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool, and it never worked," Trump wrote.
The president further alleged that the Reflecting Pool was "rarely open due to leaks and 'stench'" despite the spending and claimed earlier plans would have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
"They wanted to spend 300 to 400 million dollars, but just let it ROT," Trump said. "I spent approximately 16 million dollars, and it came out great, except for the vandalism, which we are now fixing."
Trump did not provide evidence supporting the spending figures cited in the post. The National Park Service has previously undertaken several restoration and rehabilitation projects at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including a major reconstruction completed during the Obama administration, though official government estimates have varied depending on the scope of the projects.
The president also accused ABC of engaging in "false reporting" and suggested that another lawsuit against the network is already being prepared.
"We are preparing lawsuits against ABC for false reporting," Trump wrote. "I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury!"
President Trump says he is preparing to sue ABC over their reporting on the reflecting pool:
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 23, 2026
In describing the Vandalism that took place at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., ABC FAKE NEWS, one of the worst in the business, even paying me $16,000,000 for past bad and… pic.twitter.com/A4O9d7iNQg
The threat comes months after ABC News and Trump reached a high-profile settlement in a defamation case stemming from comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. Under that agreement, ABC agreed to contribute $15 million to Trump's future presidential foundation and museum and pay an additional $1 million in legal fees, while issuing a statement expressing regret over inaccurate remarks made during a broadcast.
Monday's comments signal that tensions between Trump and major media organizations remain high as he continues his second term in office. The president has frequently targeted major news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, and The New York Times, accusing them of political bias and inaccurate reporting.
The latest dispute centers on vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, one of Washington's most visited monuments and a site closely associated with American history, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech. Authorities have not yet released a full estimate of the damage caused by the recent vandalism or the expected repair costs.
ABC News had not publicly responded to Trump's latest threat as of Monday evening.
The president ended his post by defending the scope of his administration's restoration work.
"It was also a much bigger job than originally envisioned, including the outer areas and sidewalks," Trump wrote. "Thank you for your attention to this matter."
The dispute adds another chapter to Trump's long-running legal and political battles with the news media, a relationship that has increasingly shifted from rhetorical attacks to courtroom confrontations.
