President Donald Trump said five people were arrested after the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was vandalized on Saturday [1].
The incident targets one of the most iconic landmarks in the U.S. capital, prompting an immediate government response to repair the damage and investigate the perpetrators.
Trump described the damage as a 290-to-300-inch slit made with a knife [1]. He said the perpetrators cut the pool [1]. According to the president, five people were arrested, and another five individuals are currently under investigation [1].
The president used the event to justify immediate repair orders for the site. The vandalism occurs amid a broader rehabilitation project for the pool that costs more than $14 million [2].
United States Park Police are handling the arrests and ongoing investigations [1]. Trump said the damage was significant and required a swift response to restore the memorial's appearance.
While some reports described the arrests as involving several people, the president provided the specific figure of five [1]. The investigation continues to determine the motive behind the attack on the national monument.
“"We have a 290‑300 slit, right through it… They went in there with a knife"”
The incident highlights the security vulnerabilities of high-profile national monuments in Washington, D.C. By emphasizing the violence of the act and the specific number of arrests, the administration is signaling a zero-tolerance policy toward the defacement of federal property, especially as the site undergoes a costly multi-million dollar renovation.
