Former Olympian among Several Sick Leftists Arrested for Vandalizing DC Reflecting Pool

Todd Starnes : Jun 22, 2026
ToddStarnes.com

"Of the MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, the only one that was Vandalized was the Reflecting Pool, which is being taken care of, ASAP! It has been given a 300 foot long gash, chemicals have been illegally placed in the water, and the beautiful new grass field has been destroyed with a gigantic 86 47 chemically carved into it (Probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!). Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things - Which will be fully enforced! Thank you for your attention to this matter." -President DJT

BCN Editor's Note: In addition to reports of destruction to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, now there are "pro-algae protesters" gathered there chanting "Let's, grow Algae!" in unhinged opposition to Trump's beautification of the American landmark. It seems "Trump derangement syndrome (TDS)" really IS a mental illness, but one of their own choosing. -Aimee Herd, Breaking Christian News

[ToddStarnes.com] A former US Olympian was arrested near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Trump said multiple vandals targeted the newly renovated landmark on the National Mall—and warned that the suspects could face "years in jail!" (Image: via X)

The president said that the amount of damage the vandals did to the renovations was significant and contractors may have to drain much of the water to make the repairs.

"What they have damaged does not even include the earlier killing of a large amount of grass which was, by far, the least of it," the president wrote on Truth Social. "They took some form of knife or blade, and put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade of what took so much work, competence, and money to build and complete."

The president also said vandals poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool.

David Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was detained Friday by US Park Police after he stopped at the Reflecting Pool during a long bike ride and reached into the water to inspect a section of the newly installed blue liner, according to the Associated Press.

Hearn, a former Olympic canoe racer, has been charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property and is expected to appear in DC Superior Court next month.

Videos have surfaced on social media showing a number of other people intentionally vandalizing the work that was done to restore the Reflecting Pool to its original grandeur.

Clearly, leftists prefer filth and squalor.

"We've cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues, and 22 Fountains in Washington, DC," President Trump wrote on X. "Things are really looking good in our Nation's Capital, and add to that the fact that when I became President, Crime was rampant, and now, Washington, DC, is one of the Safest Cities anywhere in the United States."

The criminal activity comes as Trump's $14 million-plus restoration project has become the latest flashpoint in the battle over law, order and the beautification of Washington, DC. The president had ordered the historic pool lined in "American flag blue" ahead of America's 250th birthday celebration, but within days the water had turned green with algae and sections of the liner appeared to peel.

The president said on Truth Social that US Park Police had arrested "multiple individuals" for vandalizing the nation's "magnificent" Reflecting Pool. He did not provide a specific number, and as of Saturday, Hearn was the only suspect publicly identified in national reports. (Screengrab image: via Reuters video)

"Who would do such a thing?" Trump wrote. He called the alleged vandalism a serious crime involving "National Monuments" and added: "Years in jail!"

Hearn, however, denied that he damaged the pool.

"I didn't vandalize anything," Hearn told The Washington Post. "I didn't destroy or break or peel anything."

He said he noticed a portion of the liner already coming loose and reached down only because he was curious.

"I'm a curious citizen," Hearn told the Associated Press, adding that the material felt "very rubbery."

Trump said the trouble at the Reflecting Pool followed another disturbing incident on the National Mall, where the numbers "86 47" were found etched into the grass. Authorities have said the numbers could be interpreted as a threat against the president.

The president also accused vandals of using chemicals to attack the pool's surface and sabotage the administration's work. On Truth Social, Trump said the algae was "75 percent gone" and that the vandalized area would be repaired early next week. He blamed "Radical Left Lunatics" and suggested the vandals were trying to "destroy and demean" the restoration.

The National Park Service had previously deployed chemicals, ozone nanobubbles and vacuum systems to fight the algae bloom. Fox News reported that the agency said the treatment posed "no harmful side effects to marine life or to the environment."

Federal officials have not publicly released a full list of suspects, booking records or a final arrest count. But Trump made clear he expects accountability.

"Work will begin immediately on its repair," the president said.

CNN, meanwhile, has been providing wall-to-wall coverage of the president's attempts to kill the algae. If only they had provided that much coverage to the illegals who were killing American citizens. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here