Trump Says His Own U.S. Attorney "Choked" for Dropping the Reflecting Pool Case After Her Office Found No Vandalism

President Trump said in the Oval Office on Aug. 3, 2026 that U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro "made a mistake" and "folded like an umbrella" by moving to dismiss the prosecution of David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist indicted July 2 over damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro's office filed to dismiss on Friday after evidence from the Interior Department and U.S. Park Police showed the damage came from flawed installation of a new coating by a contractor during a Trump-directed renovation. Trump wrote on Truth Social that he disagreed "100%" and that it remained "a pure case of VANDALISM"; CNN reported he was weighing whether to fire her, and Pirro was seen entering the West Wing that day.

A president publicly rebuking his own appointed prosecutor for dropping a case the evidence did not support — and reportedly considering removing her for it — bears directly on whether charging decisions are made on the evidence.

Hearn's case has been dismissed. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum publicly backed Trump's vandalism characterization. At least seven people were arrested in connection with the pool, according to the White House.