President Trump is escalating his push to revive criminal charges in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool case, publicly urging U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to reconsider her decision to drop the prosecution. In a Friday post on Truth Social, Trump called on Pirro to “re-visit her hastily made decision,” reiterating his claim that the pool’s damage was the result of deliberate vandalism, not renovation work.
The Justice Department’s decision to file a nolle prosequi—effectively ending the case—came after investigators concluded that contractors overseeing the monument’s renovation were responsible for the damage. But Trump has refused to accept that finding, pointing to photographs and witness accounts he says prove the pool was slashed with knives.
In his social media post, Trump shared an image from freelance photographer Andrew Leyden, who posted photos of what he described as “cuts in the expansion joints on the side of the Reflecting Pool.” Trump wrote: “The material was cut right where the video tape showed, for 300 feet or more. People were on their knees with their hands in the water at the exact location of the ‘slashes.’ Additionally, there were witnesses to the VANDALISM, and the flexible areas of the material were cut with a knife.”
The president’s intervention comes after the DOJ dropped charges against three individuals accused in the incident, as well as against David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist. Trump’s public rebuke of Pirro—who was appointed by the president—has fueled speculation about her future in the administration. Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said Pirro “folded like an umbrella” and “choked,” comments that drew immediate attention given his authority to remove U.S. attorneys.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to weigh in on Pirro’s job security, deferring to Trump. “If President Trump wanted to fire anybody within his administration, he understands he has the power to do that. So, when he makes a decision about whether to fire a U.S. attorney or anybody else, that’s his call,” Blanche told reporters Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Trump said he had not “made a determination yet” about Pirro’s future, leaving the situation unresolved. The episode is the latest instance of Trump publicly challenging the Justice Department’s independence, a theme that has defined his second term. His administration has already faced legal and political roadblocks on several fronts, and this dispute adds another layer of tension between the White House and federal prosecutors.
The Reflecting Pool controversy has also intersected with broader political battles. Trump’s insistence on the vandalism narrative aligns with his base’s skepticism of federal institutions, while Democrats and legal experts have criticized his attempts to pressure prosecutors. The case has drawn attention to the administration’s handling of the Justice Department, with some lawmakers calling for oversight.
Meanwhile, the president has been juggling multiple priorities, including mining deals to counter China’s mineral grip and efforts to pressure Senate Republicans on a college sports bill. But the Reflecting Pool dispute remains a flashpoint, testing the boundaries of executive influence over prosecutorial decisions.
As the standoff continues, Pirro has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest remarks. The DOJ has declined to comment beyond its earlier statement. For now, the case remains closed, but the political fallout is far from over.
