A former U.S. Olympian has been arrested in connection with alleged vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a high-profile incident that prompted a sharp response from President Donald Trump and an ongoing federal investigation into damage at one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.

David Hearn, a three-time Olympic canoeist, was taken into custody Friday after authorities accused him of damaging part of the recently renovated Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

According to Hearn, he was riding his bicycle near the memorial when he noticed what appeared to be a section of the pool’s liner floating loose in the water and stopped to investigate.

The arrest came as Trump announced that authorities had detained multiple individuals in connection with what he described as extensive damage to the memorial site.

“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 today.

Trump alleged that vandals had poured harmful chemicals into the Reflecting Pool, causing significant damage and necessitating repairs that will require the water to be drained.

“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.

The president blamed the damage on vandals, noting that it occurred only weeks after the completion of a $14.8 million restoration effort. He pledged that the site would be restored as rapidly as possible.

Investigators are also examining vandalism elsewhere on the National Mall, where large markings displaying the numbers “86 47” were etched into the grass.

The phrase gained national attention after former FBI Director James Comey posted an image of the numbers arranged with seashells on Instagram in May 2025.

Comey was later indicted on allegations that the message constituted a threat against President Trump. The term “86” is commonly used in restaurant slang to indicate that something should be removed or thrown out.

Hearn, 67, maintains that he committed no crime and told The Washington Post that he merely touched a piece of material that had already come loose from the pool.

Video footage of the incident spread rapidly online, showing Hearn appearing confused as members of the National Guard approached him before U.S. Park Police placed him under arrest.

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn told The Washington Post.

“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, resident said he was drawn to the Reflecting Pool because of its recently installed “American flag blue” liner, which has reportedly experienced deterioration amid an ongoing algae problem.

Hearn is one of the most accomplished canoeists in American history. He represented the United States in the Whitewater Slalom Canoe competition at the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Summer Olympics.

His international résumé also includes world championship gold medals in 1985 and 1995, along with five silver-medal finishes at the world level.

In recognition of his achievements, Hearn was named USA Canoe/Kayak Male Athlete of the Year in 1995.

According to reports, he spent nearly five hours in custody at a U.S. Park Police facility in Hains Point before being released.

Hearn is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9, where he will face a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property.

{Matzav.com}