Can Tire Tracks Be Seen on Bottom of Lincoln Reflecting Pool?
By: Alice Gibbs (Newsweek)
Barack Obama did it! No, no, Joe Biden did it! No, no, Tim Walz did it! No, no, Iranian terrorists did it! No, no, Communists did it!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
July 14, 2026 -- What appear to be tire tracks have become visible on the floor of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the landmark was drained for a second round of repairs, adding another point of intrigue to the Trump administration's troubled renovation project.
As the pool is drained once again for repairs, photographs appear to show a series of parallel marks stretching across sections of the exposed pool floor.
The newly visible marks come amid continued debate over what caused damage to the recently renovated pool. President Donald Trump has repeatedly alleged that vandals slashed the pool's blue liner, prompting officials to drain the basin again to carry out repairs.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
President Donald Trump's motorcade drives across the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool basin as he inspects the ongoing painting on May 07, 2026 in Washington, D.C. | Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
What Do the Images Show?
The photographs appear to show multiple sets of track-like impressions running across portions of the exposed bottom of the Reflecting Pool.
It is not immediately clear what caused the marks. Maintenance crews, pumps, hoses and other equipment have been present around the site during the latest draining operation, and photographs from the scene have documented ongoing work by National Park Service personnel.
While some have suggested the marks resemble vehicle tracks, there is currently no public evidence indicating when they were made or whether they are connected to the repairs.
The markings are likely to attract renewed attention because Trump's motorcade was driven across the drained Reflecting Pool during a highly publicized inspection of the project on May 7. Video posted by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung showed presidential vehicles traveling across the basin as Trump toured the renovation work.
The resurfaced pool later became the subject of debate after patches of the blue polyurea coating began peeling, algae blooms turned the water green and officials reported damage to the liner.
Tim Auerhahn, chair of Aquatic Council, LLC, told Newsweek that it is difficult to draw clear conclusions from the current images.
"Based on publicly available photographs alone, I don't think it's possible to definitively identify those features as tire tracks or determine their significance. If they are in fact related to vehicle traffic, they would represent one of several factors that should be evaluated as part of a comprehensive forensic failure analysis," he said.
Auerhahn explained that right now there is not enough evidence to fairly conclude that vehicle traffic caused the issues with the pool. "A proper investigation would consider many potential contributing factors, including product selection, substrate preparation, application methods and cure conditions, expansion joint detailing, environmental exposure, mechanical loading, and any chemical exposure after the pool was placed into service. Direct field observations and testing will provide far more reliable information than photographs circulating on social media," he said.
"This is dumb and unfounded," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Newsweek previously on speculation that the motorcade may have caused damage.
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Search for the Alleged 'Gash' Continues
The appearance of the tracks comes as attention remains focused on Trump's claims that extensive damage was inflicted on the pool's liner.
On Monday evening, Trump said on Truth Social that officials had drained the Reflecting Pool in order to repair what he described as "scars and damage" caused by vandals. He claimed the liner had been cut over a distance of hundreds of feet.
The president's characterization of the damage has drawn scrutiny because large portions of the basin are now visible following the draining operation.
During a recent visit to the site, Newsweek was unable to identify any obvious long gash in the exposed sections of the pool. However, significant fencing remains in place around parts of the memorial, access is restricted, and the basin had not yet been fully drained. As a result, it was not possible to inspect the entire length of the pool.
A person stops to look at the partially-drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Monday, July 13, 2026, in Washington. | AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Why Is the Reflecting Pool Being Drained Again?
National Park Service crews began draining the roughly 4-million-gallon Reflecting Pool again last week, just weeks after a renovation project intended to restore the landmark was declared complete.
The project has faced a series of setbacks, including algae blooms that turned the water green and reports that portions of the newly installed coating were peeling away from the bottom of the pool.
Court filings submitted by National Park Service officials have also cited a June 9 incident in which a sharp object allegedly cut through caulk covering the pool's foam sealant and debris was thrown into the basin. Trump has repeatedly pointed to such incidents as evidence that vandals were responsible for the ongoing problems, while critics have argued that other explanations for the project's rapid deterioration should not be ruled out.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has said the latest draining was anticipated and would allow crews to remove debris, repair vandalism and carry out additional maintenance before refilling the pool.
For now, the newly exposed floor of the Reflecting Pool is offering the clearest look yet at the troubled renovation project. But while apparent tire tracks are now visible, questions remain over the source and extent of the damage that prompted the latest repairs.
Update 07/14/26 08:45 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional expert comment.
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It was immigrant painters working illegally that did it. There's no way that Donald Trump can be blamed. He doesn't know anything about driving over the fresh coating before it cured.
Must be time to sue the New York Times or CNN or CBS or the Wall Street Journal, again. Damn fake news.
They certainly look like tire tracks to me. Stupid vandals, lock trump up.
There's an echo in here