A heated exchange erupted on Fox News’ The Five on Thursday after co-host Jesse Watters claimed Democrats were responsible for damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, prompting an immediate interruption from co-host Jessica Tarlov.
The dispute centered on ongoing problems with the recently renovated Reflecting Pool, a project initiated after President Donald Trump approved two no-bid contracts to address persistent issues with algae.
The renovation was intended to produce what Trump described as an “American flag blue” color for the pool. Instead, the water has taken on a green hue since the work was completed. Last week, visitors also began noticing paint peeling from the bottom of the pool, with some tourists reportedly removing pieces of the loose paint as souvenirs.
Trump has blamed the pool’s problems on vandals, though the article states that he has offered no proof for that claim.
During Thursday’s discussion, Watters echoed those allegations while asserting there was evidence linking Democrats to the damage.
“The Democrats have been ripping up the Reflecting Pool,” Watters said. “Now, a couple days ago—”
Before he could continue, Tarlov quickly cut him off.
“Stop it!” she interjected.
Watters continued by arguing that reports supported his position.
“A lot of people at this table pooh-poohed the idea that you guys would vandalize the pool,” he said. “But now we have hard evidence recorded by The New York Times and the Park Police, because I’ve looked at all the reports.”
Watters then referenced several incidents he said had been documented.
“There was a guy with a pitchfork there the other day. They caught him at midnight. Another guide, 171-foot razor slashes at the bottom. Someone even got caught pulling up while he videotaped himself ripping up the bottom. That was the canoeist.”
However, according to the article, the New York Times report Watters cited does not contain evidence that Democrats vandalized the Reflecting Pool or that the pool had been vandalized at all.
The article notes that Park Service documents obtained by the Times described “cuts in sections of the foam.”
The report further stated that “The cause of the cuts was unclear.” While a June 9 report from the U.S. Park Police described the damage as “razor blade slashes” along a 20-foot section of foam, the administration had not presented evidence supporting that conclusion.
The documents reviewed by the Times described the damage as two 171-foot blade cuts but did not explain how those cuts were made.
Watters also referred to “the canoeist,” a reference to David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympic athlete who was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Reflecting Pool.
According to the article, Hearn’s attorney disputed that characterization, saying the former Olympian merely touched a piece of paint that was already peeling from the bottom of the pool because he wanted to see what it felt like.
The exchange underscored a sharp disagreement between the co-hosts as they debated the source of the Reflecting Pool’s problems, with Tarlov challenging Watters’ assertion that Democrats were responsible and the article noting that the New York Times report he cited did not provide evidence supporting that claim.
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