Trump blames vandals for damage at Reflecting Pool

US president Donald Trump said six people have been arrested over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as the president’s 14 million dollar-plus (£10.7 million) rehabilitation project gone awry becomes a flashpoint ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

In a social media post, Mr Trump claimed without offering any supporting evidence that there had been a “350 foot gash” in the paint as the administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix the botched renovation before the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration next week.

He also said that the federal government would release images to substantiate his claim.

Mr Trump pledged to beautify the century-old Reflecting Pool ahead of the anniversary celebrations, draining its water and having the bottom painted a colour he dubbed “American flag blue”.

But since the site was restored, its water has been plagued with algae bloom and pieces of the new coating appeared to be peeling off the bottom.

The US leader, without evidence, has repeatedly blamed the peeling paint on vandalism.

“It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had to work very hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition,” Mr Trump wrote on Tuesday, adding that another seven people were cited for allegedly damaging the pool.

The Associated Press verified that one man was arrested after touching the already-peeling paint. He said he wanted to examine the new coating, touching a still-attached chunk briefly then letting go shortly after a park worker told him to.

National Guard members and Park Police have been patrolling the deck around the pool after Mr Trump insisted over the weekend that vandals were responsible for damage to the liner, without providing evidence.

Pressed by reporters after Air Force One landed in Pennsylvania for a visit to a trucking company, Mr Trump said the department of the interior is “going to share” photos and videos of the alleged vandalism, which remains unverified.

On Monday, Mr Trump alleged “somebody said they might have put fertiliser” in the pool.

“They did something to create the algae. But that doesn’t matter, because that’s been purified. It’s dead, laying at the bottom.”

There is no evidence fertiliser has been added to the pool.

Workers were seen in recent days pouring hydrogen peroxide into the pool in an attempt to kill the algae. Hydrogen peroxide can act as a paint remover.

Experts say the dark lining can add to algae growth by absorbing more sunlight than lighter surfaces. That raises the surrounding water temperature, allowing algae to thrive.