Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Saturday that those responsible for damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will face the “full” extent of the law. The comments came during a “Fox & Friends Weekend” appearance where Burgum addressed the vandalism and the administration’s reaction to the incident.
According to Burgum, investigators believe vandals used a box cutter to slice a 350-foot-long gash into the pool’s industrial rubber liner. In addition to the structural damage, the perpetrators left behind anti-Trump graffiti, including the marking “8647,” which has been widely interpreted as a call to remove the president.
Burgum stated that federal authorities have already made seven arrests, issued several citations, and filed 18 separate police reports regarding the event.
“When people are attacking it, it is like an attack on our country,” Burgum said. “These are our most sacred monuments, and they are gonna be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” He added that, in the eyes of the law, using a box cutter on the pool is equivalent to defacing the Lincoln statue itself.
President Donald Trump commented on the situation Friday, describing the damage as a deliberate act of sabotage against the newly restored site. “They ripped a scar 350-feet-long through the side of the Reflecting Pool,” the president said. “These are the people we’re dealing with. These are people that want to destroy our country.”
The incident occurred despite a broader effort by the Trump administration to renovate and beautify the National Mall ahead of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
Burgum noted that this initiative has included the repair of 48 monuments, the restoration of over 50 parks and circles, the reactivation of 22 fountains, and the replacement of approximately 1,700 lights.
Fencing has been erected around the perimeter of the Reflecting Pool as the investigation continues.
Burgum explained that the barrier protects the site from further damage and is also intended to assist with security preparations for the upcoming July 4 festivities, which are expected to include fireworks displays. Repairs are ongoing, and the project has been pushed past the holiday celebration schedule.
READ: Sawzall, Smokes, And A Splash: How A Florida Man’s Gas Station Roof Heist Ended In A Pond
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
