Trump Criticizes Jeanine Pirro Over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Case

The public rebuke came during an Oval Office event after reporters sharply questioned the handling of a federal case involving damage to the newly renovated landmark. Pirro’s office moved to drop charges against former Olympian David Hearn in a court filing on Friday, concluding that the pool’s damage stemmed from shoddy construction rather than deliberate vandalism. The high-profile disagreement marks a rare instance during Trump’s second term of a political appointee openly defying him.

Dispute Over Vandalism Versus Construction Flaws at the Reflecting Pool

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool project became a flashpoint after the water turned green with algae blooms and sections of its blue lining peeled away. The $14.7 million renovation had been rushed to open ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration last month, according to reporting by Thomson Reuters. While the administration maintained that vandals had intentionally sliced waterproofing material around the basin, prosecutors reached a different conclusion under judicial scrutiny.

Trump insisted that surveillance footage proved intentional sabotage and expressed deep frustration with the prosecution’s reversal. The president doubled down on his critique during his remarks, indicating that the pressure applied by the presiding judge caused the top federal prosecutor to relent.

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President Donald Trump stated via the Associated Press that frankly, he believed she had choked because the judge was truly vicious, explaining that instead of going after the perpetrators, the judge targeted her and her department, leading him to conclude that she had choked under the pressure.

Hearn maintained that he merely touched a loose piece of the pool’s peeling coating on a June 19 bike ride before complying with a park worker’s instruction to let go. Online court records indicate that misdemeanor destruction of property charges carrying values under $1,000 were also dropped against three other defendants—Justin Carreno, Cameron Thiers, and Sophie Dennison-Gibby—who had previously pleaded not guilty.

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White House Meeting and Questions Surrounding Jeanine Pirro’s Future

Following the public fallout, Jeanine Pirro arrived at the White House on Monday afternoon for discussions amid mounting speculation regarding her tenure. Although a White House official declined to comment on the closed-door meeting beyond pointing to the Oval Office remarks, sources familiar with the situation indicated that Trump had privately debated whether to dismiss the U.S. Attorney, though no final decisions had been formalized.

Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana weighed in on the courtroom proceedings, telling observers that prosecutors must be prepared to substantiate claims brought before federal judges. Senator John Kennedy remarked that Hearn might seek compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act following the dismissal.

Senator John Kennedy, R-La., stated via the Associated Press that all he knew was that it was advisable not to appear before a federal judge and make allegations that could not be substantiated.

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Contractor Scrutiny and Future Repairs in Washington

The controversy also shifted attention back to the contracting process behind the water feature’s troubled overhaul. Trump acknowledged that the contractor worked under a compressed schedule to meet the July 4 deadline, though he distanced himself from the selection by stating he did not personally know the firm. Public records and prior statements show that Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings secured the $14.7 million no-bid contract to waterproof the floor.

Crews have since drained the basin to execute a fresh round of repairs. While the administration has not disclosed the final financial cost or a definitive completion date for the ongoing fixes, Trump stated that the reflecting pool would be fully restored and reopened within the next week and a half to two weeks.