Trump says Reflecting Pool work is complete; pool still empty on Thursday
Trump said on Tuesday the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation is "totally complete" and would be refilled this week. Newsweek reported the pool was still drained on Thursday, and the project's cause of failure remains contested.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that renovation work on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is almost done and that contractors would refill it this week. Washington ExaminerR ““I think it’s almost complete from what I understand.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ NewsweekN ““I think they’re going to fill it up this week. The Reflecting Pool is totally complete, and we changed the old pipes,”” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1He said the old pipes had been replaced, work he said had originally been planned for later. Washington ExaminerR “we went and got rid of all of the old pipes, which we were going to do later, and during the winter we did it.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek reported that the pool had not been filled as of Thursday morning, and that, according to The Washington Post, workers were still spraying material on parts of the interior on Wednesday while grates for the centre drain were not yet in place. NewsweekN “But the pool has not been filled as of Thursday morning”“seen spraying material on sections of the pool’s interior while grates for its center drain were not yet in place.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1The multimillion-dollar resurfacing and repainting project, meant to refresh the pool before the US 250th anniversary, began in April and ran into an algae bloom and peeling blue paint. Washington ExaminerR “The multimillion-dollar resurfacing and painting project to give the Reflecting Pool a facelift ahead of the U.S.’s 250th birthday began in April.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek put the contract at $14 million, awarded without competitive bidding, and said crews began draining 4 million gallons of water in July for a second round of work. NewsweekN “Crews began draining 4 million gallons of water in July, after major controversy over the $14 million no-bid contract” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1Trump again blamed vandals on Tuesday, saying the pool was now "about as vandal-proof as you can get", though he has also acknowledged "some contractor error". Washington ExaminerR ““Well, we had vandalism there, and we have it about as vandal-proof as you can get,””“Though he has acknowledged “some contractor error” and “some contractor difficulty,”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Centre · 1In June the administration said law enforcement had found deliberate slashes in the liner, sides and coating. Olympic canoeist David Hearn was arrested and indicted for felony destruction of property. NewsweekN ““deliberate slashes cut through the liner, sides, and coating, as well as fencing and debris thrown into the pool.””“Olympic canoeist David Hearn was one of several people arrested before he was later indicted for felony destruction of property” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro later dropped the case, saying the damage was the "result of flawed installation by the contractor" amid a rush to finish before the July 4 America 250 events. Washington ExaminerR “She said the disputed damage to the landmark was the “result of flawed installation by the contractor,”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Centre · 1Last week Judge Todd Edelman permanently dismissed the case against Hearn, saying "no crime had occurred". Hearn's attorneys have called for a thorough investigation of the prosecution. NewsweekN “because no crime had occurred.”“Hearn's attorneys have since called for a “detailed and comprehensive” investigation into the prosecution of Hearn.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1A Department of the Interior spokesperson said Tuesday that Hearn admitted to officers he had tampered with the pool, citing court documents. The DOJ spokesperson said it and the Inspector General make independent decisions about what to review. NewsweekN “A Department of Interior spokesperson said Tuesday that Hearn admitted to officers that he had tampered with the pool”“independently and makes its own decisions about what to review.”” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Fact-checks Trump's completion claim against aerial photos and on-site reporting, and sets it against the vandalism-versus-defects dispute.
- Emphasis
- The pool was still empty after Trump's announcement; the $14 million no-bid contract; Hearn's dismissal; critics' doubts about the vandalism claims.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Pirro's statement blaming contractor installation.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with Trump's confidence the project is nearly done after six months of setbacks, then recounts the problems and his continued blame of vandals.
- Emphasis
- Trump's quotes and the project's timeline; Pirro's reversal appears as background.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report that the pool was still empty on Thursday, the no-bid contract, or the judge's dismissal wording.
- Charged language
- “beleaguered”
- For example
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“after multiple setbacks dragged out the restoration.” — Washington Examiner
“The effort quickly became beleaguered by an algae bloom” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Trump said the Reflecting Pool work is nearly or fully complete and the pool would be refilled this week.
- The project was marred by algae and peeling coating.
- Pirro's office dropped the vandalism case, citing flawed installation.
Where accounts differ
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Cause of the pool's damage
- Centre
- Federal prosecutors concluded flawed installation, not vandalism, caused the damage; critics question the vandalism claims; Interior says Hearn admitted tampering.
- Right
- Trump blames vandals; Pirro said damage resulted from flawed installation by the contractor.
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Whether the work is finished
- Centre
- Pool still drained Thursday; workers still spraying and drain grates missing Wednesday.
- Right
- Reports Trump saying it is almost or totally complete, without checking.
Donald Trump person
Says the pool is complete and will be refilled, and keeps blaming vandals while acknowledging some contractor error.
““Well, we had vandalism there, and we have it about as vandal-proof as you can get,”” — Washington Examiner
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Aerial Photos Show Reflecting Pool Work Progress As Trump Announces Refill
Critical Tests Trump's claim against photos and on-site observation, and gives space to critics and Hearn's lawyers.
Right1 article
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Trump says work on the Reflecting Pool is almost done after six months
Neutral Reports Trump's completion remarks with the history of setbacks and his vandalism claims alongside Pirro's contrary finding.
- 8 Oct 17:15 First Washington ExaminerR Trump says work on the Reflecting Pool is almost done after six months
- 8 Oct 19:10 +1h 55m NewsweekN Aerial Photos Show Reflecting Pool Work Progress As Trump Announces Refill
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.