Donald Trump is taking aim at U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after federal prosecutors decided to drop a felony charge against a former Olympic athlete accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Taking to his Truth Social platform on Saturday morning, the 47th president expressed utter disbelief at the decision to dismiss the case against David Hearn. Trump stated he disagrees "100%" with Pirro's office, standing firm on his belief that malicious actors ruined the multi-million-dollar renovation project.
To back up his claims, Trump pointed to anti-Trump graffiti etched into the nearby grass—specifically giant letters reading "86 47." Refusing to accept that the pool's sudden deterioration was merely a construction failure, he declared:
"There may have been some contractor difficulty, but the major damage was caused by VANDALS!"
Despite Trump's protests, federal prosecutors formally acknowledged on Friday that the reflecting pool's rapid decline was actually "the result of a botched installation and not vandalism." The high-profile $14 million renovation, which Trump heavily championed, began falling apart a mere two weeks after completion. The pool's new blue lining quickly started peeling away, and the water turned a murky green due to a massive algae bloom.
The administration had initially launched an aggressive crackdown to find those responsible, resulting in Hearn's arrest. The former Olympic canoeist was hit with a felony charge simply for touching a loose flap of the pool's failing lining.
Hearn vigorously fought the allegations, pleading not guilty and publicly criticizing the government's heavy-handed tactics.
"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," Hearn previously stated.
With the prosecution now conceding that poor workmanship—not criminal sabotage—is the true culprit behind the ruined reflecting pool, Hearn has been officially cleared, much to the frustration of the president.