Secretary Burgum condemns vandalism against the National Mall amid new threats
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is dealing with a disturbing pattern of vandalism targeting the National Mall, including the heavily damaged Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Burgum details recovery efforts, security deployments and the arrest of seven people involved. He insists that such acts are an attack on the country and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum vowed to prosecute “fully” Saturday the vandals accused of cutting a 350-foot-long hole in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and vandalizing the area with anti-Trump graffiti.
“If people attack it [the Reflecting Pool]it’s like an attack on our country,” Burgum said. “These are very sacred monuments, too [the perpetrators] they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Burgum discussed the damage and the Trump administration’s response to it during an appearance on “Fox & Friends Weekend”, revealing that authorities have arrested seven people, issued multiple citations and filed 18 police reports regarding the vandalism.
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum speaks with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez (deceased), after their meeting at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas on March 4, 2026. (Federico PARRA / AFP via Getty Images)
According to Burgum, the damage extended about 350 meters along the lake’s rubber walkway, which investigators believe was cut with a box cutter.
The images show some of the vandalized anti-Trump signs left behind, including “8647,” which many have interpreted as a call to violence or a call to remove the president.
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The flags are visible on the National Mall with the US Capitol behind them. (AP)
“The Reflecting Pool [is] part of the 1922 Lincoln Memorial,” Burgum said.
“If people use box cutters to destroy this thing, it’s like throwing paint on a picture of Lincoln in the eyes of the law.”
President Donald Trump addressed the vandalism on Friday, saying the recently restored Reflecting Pool was targeted.
“They tore a 350-foot-long scar on the side of the Reflecting Pool,” Trump said.
“These are the people we are dealing with. These are the people who want to destroy our country.”
Burgum said the vandalism occurred despite the Trump administration’s concerted efforts to restore and beautify the nation’s capital ahead of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.
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He said that more than 50 parks and circles have been restored, 48 monuments have been repaired, 22 fountains have been put back to work and about 1,700 lights have been repaired throughout the National Mall.
A fence is now in place around the Reflecting Pool during an investigation into the damage.
Burgum said the fence has been installed to protect the lake and preparations are being made for July 4 celebrations, which will include fireworks on both sides of the monument.
