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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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The White House is escalating its response to ongoing issues at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, pointing to a series of arrests and police reports as scrutiny of the site continues to grow.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there have been “17 police reports” and “six arrests” tied to incidents at the site in recent days, describing the vandalism as “very real.”
In a Fox News interview, Leavitt went further, directly targeting critics and demonstrators she suggested were aligned against the project.
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“These deranged leftist in algae costumes with ‘Team Algae’ on their backs—what does that even mean?” she said. “Only the Democrats could hate beautifying our nation's capital and making it a symbol of pride again.”
Leavitt framed the dispute not just as a maintenance issue, but as part of a broader political divide, arguing that opposition to the project reflects resistance to the administration’s efforts to overhaul Washington, D.C.
She added that the work at the Reflecting Pool formed part of a wider push to “make our nation's capital… safe and beautiful again,” pointing to reductions in violent crime and broader infrastructure efforts across the city.
President Donald Trump has likewise blamed deliberate acts. In posts on Truth Social, he said “multiple individuals” had been arrested for vandalizing the landmark and warned that those responsible could face serious legal consequences—at one point suggesting penalties of up to 10 years in prison for those convicted of damaging federal property.
He has also used his social media platform to highlight what he portrays as politically motivated protest activity at the site, amplifying imagery and messaging he says demonstrates opposition aligned against the project.
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In one post, Trump shared an image of a demonstrator holding a banner reading “First they came for the algae…,” a reference to the well-known postwar poem about political persecution, alongside a costumed protester positioned near the Reflecting Pool, in footage that has circulated widely online.
“Here is another example of a crazy pro-algae (likely paid) protestor,” Trump wrote. “The sign says, ‘First they came for the algae…’ which is in reference to a famous post‑WW2 statement… ‘…Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out… Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.’”
The post—and Leavitt’s remarks—form part of a wider effort by the president and his allies to frame criticism of the project, and attention on the pool’s algae problems, as politically driven, with so‑called “pro‑algae” demonstrators emerging as a recurring focus of that messaging.
The administration has also pushed back forcefully on media coverage of the issue. In a post on X, the Interior Department’s press office accused “legacy media” of “trying to cover up for criminals who desecrated a great American monument,” while reiterating that six people had been arrested and seven others issued federal citations. The statement also that U.S. Park Police were investigating what officials described as a 300‑plus‑foot “gash” in the pool’s perimeter—claims that mirror those made by the president but which have not been publicly substantiated with detailed evidence.
Evidence of Increasing Enforcement
At the same time, footage and posts from the scene point to a growing and more assertive law enforcement operation around the Reflecting Pool.
Multiple videos and images circulating online show visitors being stopped, questioned or detained after approaching or touching the water, with several separate incidents filmed over a short period suggesting sustained enforcement rather than isolated interventions.
Video published by TMZ shows one individual being led away in handcuffs by U.S. Park Police, while additional clips appear to capture similar encounters, including a woman being detained after briefly reaching into the pool.
Separate footage shared by reporter Jon Michael Raasch appears to show a U.S. Park Police mobile surveillance truck circling the perimeter of the Reflecting Pool, indicating a broader monitoring effort alongside officers on the ground.
The vehicle—equipped with mounted camera equipment—has been described in posts as actively patrolling the area, adding a visible surveillance layer to the law enforcement response.
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National Guard members have also been deployed nearby, contributing to a heightened security presence at one of Washington’s busiest tourist landmarks.
In one case, a Swedish journalist was approached by National Guard personnel and warned she would be “detained” if she touched the water again.
Newsweek reached out to U.S. Park Police via email for comment.
Ongoing Debate Over Causes
The controversy follows a multimillion-dollar renovation project completed earlier this month, which aimed to give the Reflecting Pool an “American flag blue” appearance ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Within days, however, the site showed signs of strain, including algae blooms and sections of coating peeling away, prompting questions about both environmental conditions and the durability of the newly installed materials.
While the White House has emphasized vandalism as a key explanation, officials and experts have also pointed to more routine factors, such as residual algae in water systems or complications with new materials, suggesting the issues may stem from a combination of environmental and technical causes rather than a single source.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and Emma Lee-Sang.
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