Trump threatens lawsuit against ABC News over Lincoln Memorial pool coverage

President Donald Trump warned ABC News to prepare for lawsuits on Tuesday over what he called false reporting on vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. "ABC FAKE NEWS, one of the worst in the business, failed to report that their close 'friends', Dumocrats Obama and Biden, spent over 100 Million Dollars on the Reflecting Pool, and it never worked. In fact, it was rarely open due to leaks and stench," he wrote on Truth Social.

The 80-year-old alleged that Obama and Biden had sought to spend $300–$400 million on the pool but left it to "rot" instead. "I spent approximately 16 million dollars, and it came out great, except for the vandalism, which we are now fixing," he wrote on Truth Social, adding that the scope of the restoration was larger than initially planned, with outer areas and sidewalks. "I like their money, which will be given to the U.S. Treasury!" he concluded.

The controversial restoration began in April and was completed last week ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. However, the opening hit early snags—sweltering heat triggered an algae bloom that turned the water green rather than the intended blue, with workers seen pouring chemicals into the pool to contain it. The issues were compounded when sections of the coating that lent the pool its "American flag blue" color began to peel within days.

Trump has been particularly sensitive about the project, which was awarded to vendors through a no-bid contract and drew mounting criticism over government spending priorities. He remained defiant, attributing the deterioration to vandalism, and directed law enforcement to open an investigation. He has since announced that five people were arrested and five more remain under investigation.

Many critics argued that Trump was attempting to deflect blame onto vandals without offering evidence. In a separate post, he claimed that despite renovating multiple monuments, vandals singled out the pool—and suggested they were inspired by former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. He warned that anyone caught vandalizing would face a 10-year prison sentence, vowing that authorities intend to enforce it.

Trump has a personal history of suing media organizations he disagrees with or views as critical, having filed nearly 11 such lawsuits. He has also shown little hesitation in using government machinery to threaten legal action against news outlets, raising significant questions about the First Amendment and potential government intimidation. If he proceeds, this would mark the second time he has sued ABC News.

The first suit stemmed from anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely stating on air that Trump had been found liable for "rape"—when in fact a civil jury determined he was liable for "sexual abuse," a distinct legal definition under New York law. Despite observers believing ABC was well-positioned to prevail, the network settled, paying Trump $15 million, covering $1 million in legal fees, and publishing an editor's note expressing "regret" over Stephanopoulos's remarks, BBC explained.