Trump criticizes Jeanine Pirro over dropped Reflecting Pool case

Aug 3, 2026

President Donald Trump publicly criticized U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, saying she "choked" after her office dropped a vandalism case related to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors admitted the pool's peeling liner was caused by a "botched installation," not vandalism, exonerating accused Olympian David Hearn. Trump is reportedly "furious" and considering firing Pirro over the reversal.

Pirro dropped vandalism case

▪U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office dropped its case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn on the Friday before August 3, 2026.
▪A court filing from Pirro's office blamed a "flawed installation" by a contractor and a "rushed" construction timeline for the pool's damage.
▪Prosecutors acknowledged that damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from a "botched installation" and not vandalism as initially claimed.

Trump criticizes Pirro publicly

▪President Trump also stated he was "really disappointed" with Jeanine Pirro and blamed a "really vicious" judge in the case.
▪On August 3, 2026, President Donald Trump told reporters that Jeanine Pirro "choked" and "folded like an umbrella."
▪When a reporter asked if Jeanine Pirro's job was safe, President Trump called the reporter "fake news" and said "Don't ever talk again."

Potential firing of Pirro

▪A source told CNN that President Trump was "blindsided" by the Justice Department filing from Jeanine Pirro's office and did not know about it beforehand.
▪President Trump has previously fired other U.S. attorneys, including Roger Rogoff in Washington and Desiree Leigh Grace in New Jersey.
▪According to CNN sources, President Trump is "furious" with Jeanine Pirro and it is "highly likely she's removed from her job."

Reflecting Pool renovation failures

▪Contractors used hydrogen peroxide to kill algae, but the chemical is a paint thinner and caused the pool's "American flag blue" lining to peel.
▪President Trump has repeatedly claimed the pool was sabotaged by vandals, contradicting the findings of Jeanine Pirro's office.
▪A $16 million, no-bid renovation of the Reflecting Pool has been plagued by problems including algae blooms and a peeling liner.

Spurious charges against Hearn

▪At President Trump's urging, Jeanine Pirro indicted former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn in July for felony destruction of property.
▪David Hearn, a 67-year-old, was accused of "forcefully and violently" pulling up the pool liner and maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal.