Trump blames ABC reporter and vandals for Reflecting Pool problems after nightly rant
The Independent (UK)—President Trump went on a nighttime social media rant blaming multiple parties for problems with the National Mall's Reflecting Pool, including blaming ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl. Trump said police are investigating vandalism he claims caused the issue, shifting responsibility away from any administrative failures. HuffPost reported Trump had been finding 'someone new to blame' in each successive statement about the controversy. The Daily Beast noted Trump specifically called out Karl by name, escalating the dispute with the journalist. Critics drew comparisons between Trump's blame-shifting and the behavior of a mob boss, a characterization the Drudge Report amplified.
- The Independent (UK) — Trump claimed police are investigating vandalism as the source of Reflecting Pool damage
- Drudge Report — Critics likened Trump's blame-shifting to a mobster after the Reflecting Pool rant
- HuffPost — Politics — Trump rants and finds someone new to blame for reflecting pool mess
- The Daily Beast — Trump specifically blamed ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl for the Reflecting Pool mess
- HuffPost — Trump blamed a new culprit in each successive rant about the Reflecting Pool controversy