The White House strongly condemned what it described as deliberate “targeted sabotage” of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, forcing repairs to be pushed back until after the July 4 Independence Day celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

According to a court document filed by the National Park Service, vandals used a sharp knife or razor to cut through caulk and foam sealant, destroyed delaminating surface material, and threw approximately 70 fence post tops into the pool. The damage occurred just weeks after President Donald Trump ordered a major renovation of the iconic landmark.

The White House issued a blistering statement calling the acts “targeted sabotage by anti-American crackpots who despise a strong, proud, and beautiful country.”

In a separate statement, officials described the perpetrators as “crazed and deranged lunatics” who “have once again exposed their hatred for America with a cowardly, deliberate attack on one of our nation’s most iconic landmarks.”

President Trump previously referred to those responsible as “thugs” and noted that some used chemicals to damage the pool. This incident is part of a broader pattern of vandalism on the National Mall in recent weeks, including multiple “8647” markings — widely interpreted as a threat against Trump as the 47th president — and an individual writing a message in blood on the Washington Monument.

Seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the Reflecting Pool vandalism, seven others received federal citations, and additional investigations remain ongoing.

The deliberate timing and nature of these attacks — just days before massive crowds gather to celebrate America’s 250th birthday — reveal the deep contempt some radicals hold for American symbols, history, and national pride.

While the Reflecting Pool will be drained and repaired after July 4, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the cultural and political rot the Trump administration continues to confront in Washington, D.C.