Trump extends accusation to Reflecting Pool, WWII Monument
President Donald Trump on Sunday accused “vandals” of damaging large patches of grass on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial, posting a photo on his Truth Social platform showing a once-grassy area that is now patchy and brown across much of the sprawling turf.
“Look what VANDALS did to the grass connecting the vandalized World War II Monument and the vandalized Reflecting Pool, which will be opened again, and better than ever, shortly,” Trump wrote.
The damaged grass sits in the same spot where Trump had a stage constructed and hosted crowds for his Independence Day celebration in July. Trump made the accusation “without saying why he believes it’s the work of vandals instead of trampled turf from the Independence Day festivities,” according to the Associated Press.
In a second post, Trump added: “Anybody who thinks the Reflecting Pool wasn’t vandalized should go back to Law School!”
The Sunday posts extended Trump’s vandalism accusation beyond the dead grass to the World War II Monument and to the Reflecting Pool — which Trump said would reopen “better than ever, shortly” — both of which he described as “vandalized.” The posts did not include documentation of vandalism at either landmark.
Trump did not explain why he believes the damage is the work of vandals rather than trampled turf from the Independence Day festivities.