The contractor, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, told the Trump administration that errors in its own work and flaws in the repair plan resulted in the pool’s new blue liner peeling and breaking loose.
The New York Times reports the contractor that renovated the Reflecting Pool told the Trump administration that errors in its own work and flaws in the plan caused the pool's new blue liner to peel and break loose—not vandalism.
The contractor hired to renovate the Reflecting Pool says its repair work caused the pool's liner to peel and bubble, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. Why it matters: President Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for the pool's damage — and has pushed for some of them to be prosecuted , even after U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro dropped the case. Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Go deeper: Reflecting Pool repairs become personal for Trump
The contractor said the pool’s new blue liner peeled and tore because of “human oversight” and a flawed plan that involved layering two incompatible chemicals, documents show.
President Trump is basking in the momentum of the various projects he has spurred around downtown Washington.
The president had ordered repairs to the iconic, and Ionic, columns outside the White House entrance.
Kennedy Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi called the incident another example of the need for the major renovations, which are supported by President Donald Trump and the center’s board.
No one was injured, according to a Kennedy Center statement, but debris and dust were spread across a wide area of the red carpet that patrons would typically walk on.
The Kennedy Center is removing a 24-foot sculpture that has been a part of the center’s grounds since 2019 amid Trump's ongoing crusade to put his name on the building. The Weeknight hosts react.
A White House spokesman said the alley renovations included fixing broken lights. The project comes as the president has sought a broad overhaul of the White House and its surroundings.