Trump says he will repair National Mall reflecting pool after July 4

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said on June 26 he would repair the National Mall reflecting pool after July 4, as the landmark remains under heightened security and surveillance amid ongoing controversy over its renovation and emerging maintenance problems.

The reflecting pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, was the subject of a roughly US$14 million (S$18 million) Trump-directed renovation that aimed to restore and recolour the basin ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, but has since drawn scrutiny after reports of algae growth, peeling surface material and visible deterioration just weeks after completion.

Trump has blamed dark-of-night saboteurs for the issues with the project.

While no evidence has emerged to support Trump’s claim that a vandal cut a 107m gash in the pool, a National Park Service official said in a sworn court statement late on June 24 that on June 9, US Park Police examined apparent intentional damage to the pool. REUTERS