Trump under pressure to back up claim of sabotage at reflecting pool

Donald Trump and the Department of the Interior are facing growing pressure to release photo and video evidence substantiating their claims of sabotage at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington. The $14.7m renovation of the landmark has descended into a farce of algae blooms, peeling paint and dead ducks just days before the US’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Crews have been seen erecting fencing near the area. On Wednesday the US president posted an image that purportedly showed the pool before it was recently refilled with water. “This is the hard rubber surface – No Paint – Before the Vandals cut and pulled it apart!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform . In a previous post, Trump had alleged without providing evidence that a “350-foot gash” had been deliberately carved into the pool’s lining. “It was purposefully and criminally done and somebody had to work very hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition.” The president added that the interior department would make public photographs and video to prove his point. But as of Wednesday afternoon, no such evidence had materialised. Further doubt was cast on Trump’s claims when the New York Times said it obtained government documents that gave no indication peeling paint and algae blooms were caused intentionally. …