President blames vandals for reflecting‑pool damage, says five arrests made and promises repairs

Reporters at the signing event pressed the President about damage to the reflecting pool and whether the contractors who worked on the pool or vandals were responsible. The President blamed vandals, said parks officials told him five people have been arrested and five more are under investigation, and described the damage as cuts made with a knife.

A reporter noted that earlier cost estimates given publicly had differed from the President’s figures; the President disputed those earlier numbers, saying prior work by other administrations had cost far more and arguing the current repair bill was far lower. When asked whether the President could release photos documenting the damage, he said that photos would be shown "in court" and pointed reporters to parks and Interior Department records.

The President also described interim maintenance steps — letting water out and vacuuming algae — and framed the repairs as part of broader park‑improvement work carried out by his administration. Reporters continued to press for documentary proof of the knife cuts and for a clear accounting of contractor fees versus repair labor; the transcript does not include release of photos or an invoice and records request appeared unresolved on the record.

The President characterized the arrests and the investigation as evidence that the damage was criminal vandalism rather than contractor error. The parks department or Interior Department representatives did not provide testimony on the record during the event; reporters asked for the parks department’s documentation and the President said those materials would be available through official channels or in court proceedings.