In-Town Pool Report #6: Reflecting Pool Quotes

President Trump said that damage to the reflecting pool was done by a vandal with "probably a box cutter or a knife of some kind." He said that damage was done also to the grass on the National Mall.

When asked how a vandel could get that close to the reflecting pool, given the increased National Guard and police presence in Washington, D.C., the president replied, "who would think that somebody would go into a pool and take a knife and start cutting it?"

Asked for proof of the alleged crime, Trump replied, "let's put it this way, when you have a 350--I think it's 350, not 250--a 350 foot slit from one end to the other, you think that's proof?"

The president referred reporters to the Parks Department and to Sec. Burgum for additional information. He added of the slit in question, "I saw it."

Trump said of the algae bloom, "they put, somebody said, fertilizer in the water. If you put fertilizer in the water, you get algae, but somebody said they might have put fertilizer. They did something to create the algae."

He said that the water will need to be drained and that the pool will be fixed shortly.

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Philip Wegmann

WSJ White House Reporter