Trump's ABC Lawsuit
Donald Trump sues ABC News over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation reports, citing false claims
Key Points
Trump accused ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl of attempting to damage the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
ABC’s $16 million defamation settlement included $15 million designated for Trump’s presidential library and $1 million in legal fees.
Post-renovation signs of algae growth and peeling paint on the Reflecting Pool were reported as the project neared completion.
The repaint cost climbed to more than $14.65 million, reportedly under a no-bid contract and more than $4 million over the original estimate.
Authorities reported at least five arrests in connection with the alleged vandalism of the Reflecting Pool.
President Donald Trump announced he is preparing lawsuits against ABC News over its coverage of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation, calling the network's reporting "FAKE NEWS" and demanding its money go to the U.S. Treasury. The threat came after ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl filmed the pool's peeling blue paint and green algae bloom on June 19, prompting Trump to accuse Karl of trying to "rip the rubber off of the surface."
The $16 million renovation — intended to make the pool "crystal clear" by July 4, the nation's 250th birthday — was declared complete on June 6. Within two weeks, visitors found the water had turned green and large chunks of the new blue coating were floating on the surface, according to The Guardian.
A $16 Million Renovation That Quickly Fell Apart
Trump fast-tracked the pool project in April, awarding a no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings — a firm that previously worked on pools at his private golf clubs, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The repaint alone cost $14.65 million. An additional $1.74 million went to Green Water Solutions for an algae-fighting "nano bubble" system. The original estimate was $1.5 million to $1.8 million.
By June 17, journalists and visitors saw what experts warned could happen. Materials scientists told NPR the algae bloom was caused by stagnant water in 85°F heat. The peeling was likely caused by hydrogen peroxide the National Park Service used to kill the algae. The pool will need to be drained again, almost certainly leaving it empty during the July 4 celebrations it was built to headline.
Trump Blames Vandals and Targets ABC's Checkbook
Rather than address the renovation's failure, Trump pointed to sabotage. He claimed a "350-foot slit" was cut into the pool lining. He cited Interior Secretary Doug Burgum as his source. But journalists who visited the site told CBS News they saw no visible gash. Authorities confirmed at least six arrests, five federal citations, and 17 police reports as of June 23.
One of those arrested was David Hearn, a 67-year-old three-time U.S. Olympian. He told ABC News: "I reached out and touched the end of that piece that was loose... I did not remove, I did not damage... I was a curious, concerned citizen." Trump tied his lawsuit threat to ABC's 2024 defamation settlement, in which ABC paid $15 million toward his presidential library and $1 million in legal fees after anchor George Stephanopoulos misstated facts about the E. Jean Carroll verdict.
Trump's $100 Million Claim Doesn't Match the Record
Trump wrote on Truth Social that "Obama and Biden spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool, and it never worked." The actual record tells a different story. The Washington Post reported that the Obama-era reconstruction cost $34 million and ran from 2010 to 2012. It re-engineered the pool with a sustainable filtration system. The Biden administration proposed a $301 million long-term overhaul but never started major construction.
Mediaite and other outlets noted Trump's $100 million figure has no public support. Critics say the inflated number is meant to make his $16 million project look like a bargain — even as taxpayers face at least $4 million in cost overruns and the bill for a second round of repairs.
Legal Threat Seen as Move to Silence Press Coverage
Legal experts say Trump's lawsuit faces steep hurdles. To win a defamation case, he must prove ABC reported facts it knew were false or acted with "actual malice." WHYY reported that critics see the lawsuit threat as a way to "chill" coverage of the no-bid contract and its ballooning costs. A lawsuit could also trigger discovery — a legal process forcing the administration to hand over documents about how the contract was awarded.
The Daily Beast reported that analysts called Trump's "vandalism" narrative a "reflection deflection" — a way to shift blame for a failed cosmetic fix onto protesters and journalists. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro backed Trump's line, warning: "Anyone who is in a position of vandalizing or attempting to vandalize will face the criminal justice system in DC." The pool's fate — and the lawsuit's future — remain unresolved as July 4 approaches.
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