President Donald Trump unleashed a fresh broadside against ABC News on Monday, threatening the network with a new round of lawsuits over its coverage of the troubled Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation — and blaming his predecessors for the iconic landmark’s woes.
In a fiery Truth Social post, the 80-year-old president accused ABC of deliberately omitting context about what he characterized as failures by former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, insisting their administrations wasted more than $100 million on the pool without results. The figure is a significant exaggeration: Obama oversaw a renovation that cost approximately $34 million, while Biden did not conduct any major work on the pool at all.
Trump Blames Obama, Biden for Pool’s Decline
Trump’s Truth Social tirade, published Monday night, accused the network of running interference for Democratic allies rather than giving viewers the full picture. He claimed the pool under his predecessors was rarely open because of persistent leaks and what he described as a foul odor, and said officials had floated plans to spend up to $400 million on repairs before ultimately doing nothing.
Trump said his own administration tackled the job for approximately $16 million — a figure he said reflected a broader scope than originally planned, covering outer areas and surrounding sidewalks. He claimed the project was a success until vandals intervened, asserting that saboteurs cut a 250-foot slit in the pool’s floor and poured illegal chemicals into the water. He has yet to provide any evidence for either claim, though he has said several people have been arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism.
Trump said his team is now preparing legal action against ABC, declaring that any settlement money would flow directly to the U.S. Treasury. “I like their money, which will be given to the US Treasury!” he wrote.
A History of Legal Battles With ABC
This would not be the first time Trump has pursued ABC News in court. In 2024, the network settled a defamation lawsuit Trump filed against it and anchor George Stephanopoulos, opting to issue an on-air apology and direct a $15 million donation to Trump’s presidential library rather than fight the case at trial. Trump, in his latest post, called ABC “one of the worst in the business” and claimed the network had paid him “$16,000,000 for past bad and inaccurate reporting.”
ABC News did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The White House was also contacted but had not replied at time of publication.
Peeling Paint, Algae, and a Dead Duckling
The legal threats come amid an escalating public relations disaster for the administration’s renovation of the 2,000-foot-long pool, which was repainted “American Flag Blue” in advance of the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4. The work cost $14 million but has been plagued by problems. By mid-June, journalists observed extensive paint peeling from the pool’s lining. ABC correspondent Jonathan Karl reported on the deteriorating conditions, which included both the flaking paint and a severe algae problem that had turned the water bright green. Crews applied hydrogen peroxide to combat the algae, and a dead duckling was later found in the pool, though the cause of death remains unclear. Trump has accused Karl of damaging the liner during his report, a charge Karl has not publicly addressed. Additionally, vandals carved “86 47” into National Mall grass—interpreted by the White House as a threat against Trump, the 47th president. Trump warned that vandals targeting the pool or Mall could face lengthy prison sentences.
The “Warrior Goddess” Joins the Fray
One demonstrator has attracted Trump’s focus. On Monday, the president posted about a protester he described as a “crazy pro-algae (likely paid) protester,” accompanied by an image of a woman in a pink inflatable frog suit demonstrating near the Lincoln Memorial. Trump also interpreted her sign, which stated “First they came for the algae,” as an allusion to Martin Niemöller’s famous post-World War II poem about failing to oppose Nazi atrocities.
The demonstrator is Nadine Otego Seiler, who left her employment in November 2025 to protest Trump’s policies nationwide. She calls herself the “Warrior Goddess for the Resistance” and selected the frog outfit intentionally, noting that frogs have become an emblem of resistance and that her costume increases visibility. “I decided I am his number one nemesis,” Seiler told the Times.
With July 4 fast approaching and the pool still displaying a murky green hue, the administration faces mounting pressure to deliver on its promise of a patriotic showcase in time for the nation’s semiquicentennial celebration.