Trump Resurrects Reflecting Pool Case, Invokes Park Service Employee’s Account of Alleged Vandalism

President Donald Trump intensified his push back against the dropped case involving alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Sunday, citing newly highlighted testimony from a National Park Service employee who described witnessing former Olympian David Hearn engage in destructive conduct. Trump posted court documents to Truth Social detailing interviews with two NPS workers present at the site when Hearn approached the area.

According to the document Trump shared, one NPS employee identified as W-1 recounted that Hearn initially used his phone to capture images of existing damage before kneeling, submerging his hands into the pool, and beginning to “violently” rip and tug at large sections of the pool’s blue coating. The employee stated he instructed a colleague to contact police and warned Hearn to cease pulling at the coating, but Hearn reportedly dismissed the concerns, stating NPS personnel were “awfully sensitive about the pool” and continued his actions until National Guard soldiers arrived.

Trump characterized the witness account as credible validation of his position that intentional vandalism occurred alongside contractor negligence. He acknowledged that some damage stemmed from construction errors as workers accelerated the project to meet the July 4 deadline, but argued the NPS employee’s statement proved deliberate destruction also took place. Trump referenced additional alleged incidents, including the application of an “acid like material” on newly seeded grass and damage involving the numbers “86 47.”

The president revealed that security camera systems have been installed and are being expanded at the Reflecting Pool, which he said would reopen shortly. Trump reiterated his disagreement with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office for dismissing the felony destruction charge against Hearn, accusing prosecutors of capitulating to pressure.

Hearn was indicted July 2 on one felony destruction charge after U.S. Park Police alleged he grabbed and pulled at a section of the pool coating on June 19 despite being warned by an NPS employee. Prosecutors initially estimated damage exceeded $1,000, but later moved to dismiss the case, arguing the Department of the Interior had withheld critical information about installation defects by contractor Atlantic Industrial Coatings that complicated proving the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors requested dismissal without prejudice, technically preserving the option to refile charges. Hearn’s legal team—attorneys Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann, and Steve Levin—maintained that charges “should never have been brought” and stated Hearn “did nothing wrong.”