Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pushed President Donald Trump’s debunked lie about vandalism at the Reflecting Pool and failed to provide any evidence on CNN and ABC News. Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele Debunked Burgam’s claim on Twitter/X.
BASH: But it peeled off. Why did that happen?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 5, 2026
BURGUM: It didn’t peel off. There was vandalism. There was box cutters. There have been 7 arrests.
BASH: There are photographs of people cutting a 350 foot gash in the reflecting pool?
BURGUM: Dana, I’m not sure why you and others… pic.twitter.com/JiEUnKkTIG
STEPHANOPOULOS: The president has repeatedly claimed vandals cut a 350 foot gash in the pool. That claim is echoed in a legal filing by your department. What evidence do you have?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 5, 2026
BURGUM: Ah, well we have the actual cuts that were made
STEPHANOPOULOS: There's a 350 foot gash?… pic.twitter.com/kjI8NGxaY5
We question Mr. Secretary because we know that ish did not happen. You know there are cameras on the Pool 24hrs, right?You do not have photographs of anyone submerging in the Reflecting Pool to cut a gash longer than a football field. But we do have video and photos of the liner… https://t.co/VSa6o6m6vq pic.twitter.com/DkNTE4J2oy
— Michael Steele (@MichaelSteele) July 5, 2026
(Sources: CNN, ABC News, Michael Steele)