President Donald Trump is publicly criticizing U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro following her office's decision to drop charges against a former Olympian. The charges were related to vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, an issue that became a point of tension for the administration. Trump expressed his frustration during a White House event, claiming Pirro folded like an umbrella when faced with pressure from a judge who was critical of the legal arguments presented by her team.
Pirro, a former media personality and longtime political ally, faced direct scrutiny from the President after she concluded that damage to the historic pool was caused by construction quality rather than criminal vandalism. While Trump did not confirm plans to replace her, he made his displeasure clear. The administration has since faced questions regarding the management of the Reflecting Pool restoration project, which was fast-tracked ahead of Independence Day.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has also moved to dismiss charges against three other individuals who were accused of removing paint from the pool. These developments mark a rare public disagreement between the President and one of his own appointees. Trump stated that the pool repairs will be completed within the next two weeks, distancing himself from the specific contractor involved in the initial work.