Story perspectives

Trump Says Vandals Cut 300-Foot Gash; Three Arrested

7/14/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump alleges vandals cut a 300-foot gash in the Reflecting Pool’s liner.
Crews began draining the 6.5-million-gallon pool on July 10, leaving water levels low as repairs continue.
Three individuals, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, have been arrested and charged with vandalism, all pleading not guilty.
National Park Service officers increased patrols after photos released on July 13 showed the pool’s concrete surface as water receded.

History

Historical Context

The April 19 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols killed 168 people, injured hundreds, and caused $652 million in damage, prompting the FBI’s largest domestic-terrorism probe and new federal building security laws. When the Reflecting Pool was vandalized in July 2024, the National Park Service and federal law-enforcement agencies responded with heightened security, echoing the post-1995 pattern of allocating extra resources after attacks on national symbols.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump alleges vandals cut a 300-foot gash in the Reflecting Pool’s liner.
Crews began draining the 6.5-million-gallon pool on July 10, leaving water levels low as repairs continue.
Three individuals, including former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, have been arrested and charged with vandalism, all pleading not guilty.
National Park Service officers increased patrols after photos released on July 13 showed the pool’s concrete surface as water receded.

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