President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro after federal prosecutors concluded that widespread damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool stemmed from problems with its recent renovation rather than the vandalism Trump has repeatedly blamed for the deterioration.
The dispute has created an unusual public split between Trump and one of his own senior Justice Department appointees, while also bringing renewed scrutiny to the costly renovation of one of Washington’s most recognizable landmarks.
Speaking to NBC News on Thursday, Trump rejected Pirro’s conclusion that vandalism was not responsible for the broader damage and described her handling of the matter as a serious mistake.
Despite the criticism, Trump indicated that he was not currently planning to remove Pirro from her position as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
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The disagreement centers on the prosecution of David Hearn, a 67-year-old former U.S. Olympic canoeist who had been charged with felony destruction of property after allegedly pulling at material from the newly installed lining at the Reflecting Pool.
Hearn pleaded not guilty.
When prosecutors originally announced the indictment in July, Pirro’s office alleged that Hearn had deliberately damaged the recently installed pool material. The Justice Department said at the time that he was presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The government’s position later changed significantly.
In a court filing seeking to dismiss the case, Pirro’s office said additional information supplied by the Interior Department after Hearn had been indicted showed that widespread problems with the pool’s new lining were linked to flawed installation and the rushed completion of the renovation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The filing concluded that the broader damage was attributable to the renovation work rather than vandalism.
That conclusion directly conflicts with Trump’s continued insistence that vandals were responsible for significant damage to the pool.
Trump had already criticized Pirro earlier in the week for abandoning the prosecution, saying she had “folded like an umbrella” and later saying he believed she had “choked” in her handling of the case.
The disagreement reportedly became the subject of an Oval Office meeting involving Trump, Pirro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Trump has nevertheless stopped short of announcing any personnel change, suggesting his anger over the decision does not necessarily mean Pirro will lose her position.
The legal case itself has now moved another step forward.
On Thursday, D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted prosecutors’ request to dismiss the felony charge against Hearn. However, the judge has not yet resolved whether the dismissal should permanently prevent prosecutors from bringing the same charge again.
That distinction matters because prosecutors requested dismissal without prejudice, which could theoretically allow a future prosecution, while Hearn’s attorneys have sought stronger protection against the case being revived.
Hearn’s legal team has also said it is considering further action related to his arrest and prosecution, including possible civil claims, requests for legal fees and professional complaints concerning those involved in bringing the case. Whether any of those actions will actually be filed remains uncertain.
The controversy dates back to a major renovation of the Reflecting Pool undertaken ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The project included installation of a new blue coating but soon encountered problems. Reports and testimony indicated that the pool experienced peeling material, leaks and other defects, raising questions about whether the deterioration resulted from intentional damage or problems with the renovation itself.
Even before prosecutors dropped Hearn’s case, evidence had emerged indicating that parts of the pool were already damaged before the alleged vandalism incident involving him.
The episode now presents two separate questions.
The first is legal: whether there was sufficient evidence to prosecute individuals accused of intentionally damaging the pool.
The second is administrative: why a multimillion-dollar renovation experienced significant problems so soon after completion and whether the government received appropriate value for the money spent.
For taxpayers, that second question may ultimately have broader consequences than the criminal cases. If construction or installation defects were responsible for much of the damage, attention could shift toward the contractor, federal oversight of the project and the cost of repairs.
Several issues are still unresolved. Trump continues to dispute the Justice Department’s conclusion about vandalism, it remains unclear whether additional investigations into the renovation will follow, and Hearn’s attorneys have not yet announced which potential legal actions they will pursue.
Why It Matters
The dispute is notable because it puts Trump publicly at odds with a prosecutor he personally selected while raising questions about how a high-profile criminal case was brought and then abandoned after additional evidence emerged.
It also shifts attention from alleged vandalism toward oversight of the Reflecting Pool renovation itself. If defective work caused much of the damage, taxpayers may ultimately want answers about how the project was managed, whether repairs will require additional spending and who will bear those costs.
What Comes Next
The immediate criminal case against Hearn has been dismissed, although the court still must determine whether prosecutors could theoretically bring the charge again.
Attention is now likely to move toward Hearn’s potential legal claims, the government’s handling of the original prosecution and the underlying problems with the Reflecting Pool renovation.
Trump’s relationship with Pirro will also remain under scrutiny after the president publicly criticized her decision while signaling that he is not currently planning to replace her.
The White House had previously promoted video it said showed suspected vandalism at the Reflecting Pool, a characterization later disputed in the Justice Department’s court filing.
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Suspects vandalizing the Reflecting Pool.
Destroying, injuring, defacing, or removing cultural or archaeological resources is a federal crime and will NOT be tolerated! pic.twitter.com/zCtXVYvMZn
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 25, 2026
