Olympic Shock: American Canoeist Arrested After Alleged Incident at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
A former US Olympian was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, was cycling past the monument on Friday when he said he stopped and noticed a piece of the pool’s liner floating in the water.
President Trump announced that “many additional people” have also been arrested in connection to the “disgraceful Vandalism [sic].”
“What these terrible Vandals [sic] have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly,” Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday.
Former US Olympian David Hearn was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC.Getty Images
Trump claimed that the vandals poured destructive chemicals into the pool and that it would have to be drained so that repairs could be made.
“The Reflecting Pool was never so beautiful as it was just one week ago, even going back to 1922 when it opened. We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure, and we will get it repaired, quickly, to an equal level of Beauty,” Trump wrote.
He blamed the vandals for the current dismal state of the Reflecting Pool, just weeks after a $14.8 million restoration project was completed.
He vowed to have the pool repaired as quickly as possible.
Additionally, the grass at the National Mall was defaced after with giant etchings of the numbers “86 47.”
The numerical phrase came into prominence after former FBI Director James Comey posted a picture of the numbers written with seashells on Instagram in May 2025.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told The Washington Post.REUTERS
Comey was indicted in April on charges of allegedly threatening to kill President Trump. “86” is common restaurant slang meaning a person should be ejected from the establishment or an item should be disposed of.
Hearn, 67, claimed to the Washington Post he reached out and touched the detached piece and let it go after a worker told him to. He was then taken into custody by Park Police.
Video of the incident went viral, with Hearn shown looking bewildered as he’s confronted by members of the National Guard and then put in cuffs by US Park Police.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told The Washington Post.
President Donald Trump on Friday claimed vandals damaged the recently renovated reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial, adding that authorities are investigating the incident.REUTERS
“I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs,” he said.
“I reached in there, and I was able to grab the end of that flapping piece, the already peeling piece. It was still attached to the bottom. I didn’t remove anything,” he explained.
The Bethesda, Maryland, man was drawn to check out the Reflecting Pool because of its newly installed “American flag blue” liner, which has been deteriorating amidst an algae bloom.
Hearn competed in the Whitewater Slalom Canoe in the Summer Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2000.
He also won Gold at two World Championships in 1985 and 1995 and came away with silver medals five times.
In 1995, Hearn was honored as USA Canoe Kayak Male Athlete of the Year.
He was detained for almost five hours at a Park Police facility in Hains Point, according to the Washington Post.
He is scheduled to appear in DC Superior Court on July 9 to face a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property.
US Park Police did not respond to request for comment.
With Post Wires.
