Maggie Haberman said President Trump’s response to Jeanine Pirro’s account of damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was “shocking”. Trump publicly rejected Pirro’s conclusion that contractors’ flawed work, rather than vandalism, caused the main damage, highlighting an unusual split between the president and his chosen US attorney.

Pirro moved to drop a case against former Olympian David Hearn after prosecutors said the pool’s problems stemmed from a rushed and botched installation. Trump nevertheless said he disagreed with Pirro “100%” and maintained that vandals had caused major damage, while acknowledging there may have been contractor difficulties. The refurbishment reportedly cost more than $16 million and was intended to make the pool appear blue, but it later suffered peeling coating and algae problems.