President Donald Trump has threatened to sue ABC for false reporting regarding the repair costs of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. While Trump claimed the Obama and Biden administrations spent over $100 million on the landmark, PBS reported the Obama administration spent roughly $35 million, and no major repairs were noted during the Biden administration.
Why is Trump disputing ABC’s reporting on the Reflecting Pool?
Trump’s dispute centers on the cost of repairs and the alleged cause of damage to the monument. In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed ABC “failed to report” that the Obama and Biden administrations spent more than $100 million on the Reflecting Pool. However, PBS reported that the Obama administration spent approximately $35 million on repairs for the monument. No major repairs to the pool are known to have been carried out during the Biden administration.
Trump also alleged the damage was caused by vandalism, telling reporters on Monday that a “350-foot slit” was cut into the pool using a “box-cutter or a knife of some kind.” While the White House has not provided evidence that the Reflecting Pool was intentionally damaged, NBC News reported that at least five people have been arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism.
Trump stated he is preparing lawsuits against ABC because he “likes their money,” which he said would be given to the U.S. Treasury. He referenced a 2024 defamation settlement in which ABC paid $16 million, consisting of $15 million for his presidential library and $1 million in legal fees.
How much did the Reflecting Pool repairs actually cost?
The dispute follows ABC’s report last week regarding the ballooning costs of repainting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. According to federal contract data, the cost to repaint the pool rose to more than $14.65 million, which exceeded the original estimated cost of the no-bid contract by more than $4 million.
The broadcaster also highlighted additional spending through a separate no-bid process. This included a $1.74 million contract awarded to Green Water Solutions, an Ohio-based company, to install a “nano bubble” system designed to kill algae. When combined, these costs would bring the total project expenditure to more than $16 million.
What regulatory challenges is ABC facing?
The threat of litigation arrives as ABC faces two investigations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) led by Trump appointee Brendan Carr. The FCC has also demanded that ABC submit early renewal applications for eight of its local broadcasting licenses. These stations were reportedly not scheduled to apply for renewal until 2028 at the earliest. This demand followed President Trump’s call for the firing of comedian Jimmy Kimmel after a joke regarding First Lady Melania Trump.
Additionally, Reuters reported that ABC is launching an on-air campaign to encourage viewer support. This move comes after the daytime talk show “The View” was investigated under federal “equal time” rules for political candidates. These ongoing legal and regulatory developments could impact the network’s licensing and future operations.
