Trump admin renovations damage National Mall fountain, other monuments

Trump Administration Construction Projects Damage Another National Monument

A fountain in the German-American Friendship Garden on the National Mall has been severely damaged after a contractor vehicle drove over it, Newsweek reported Thursday.

According to recent photographs captured by photojournalist Andrew Leyden, the center of the fountain has collapsed into the ground, and surrounding stones were severely cracked. Repairs are reportedly underway.

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This incident is the latest in a series of problems stemming from President Donald Trump's sweeping renovation efforts around Washington, D.C. Federal contractors hired by the Trump administration have previously damaged other historic landmarks.

Reflecting Pool Renovations

Just a few hundred yards from the cracked fountain, renovations on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have faced significant issues. Shortly after construction was completed, large sections of the pool's new blue lining began to peel off. Experts have suggested the peeling was the result of shoddy application—not vandalism, as administration officials have claimed.

Key facts about the Reflecting Pool renovations:

• Cost taxpayers more than $16 million
• The pool has been left drained
• Surrounded by chain-link fences
• Under strict surveillance

Lincoln Memorial Undercroft

A short walk away, the $69 million renovations on the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft have also encountered problems. The National Parks Service has struggled to maintain safe conditions for displaying historical documents, leading to their removal from the new exhibit last week.

Read more: Trump's Handpicked Company Screwed Up Reflecting Pool Reno From Start

New Senator Darline Graham Faces Scrutiny Over Abortion Stance

Newly minted Senator Darline Graham, stepping in for her recently deceased brother Lindsey, has only one political donation on record—and it was to a South Carolina state senator who helped kill an abortion ban.

The Daily Beast reported Tuesday that Graham donated $100 in 2020 to state Senator Katrina Shealy, who is best known for filibustering the state's near-total abortion ban in 2023.

Shealy was part of South Carolina's "sister senators," a group of five female state lawmakers—two Republicans, a Democrat, and an independent—who staunchly opposed the ban. Shealy lost her primary the following year, largely due to this vote.

Graham attempted to address the controversy, writing in a statement on X on Wednesday that she believed in "protecting the sanctity of human life at every stage."

"For years, I've committed my life to fighting for vulnerable populations, and no one is more vulnerable than an unborn child who cannot speak for themselves. As a mother, I know that welcoming children into this world is God's greatest gift. I'm proud to be pro-life and to stand up for the unborn and expecting moms. I will not waver in my support for life, pregnant women, and families."

The MAGA-verse has expressed skepticism.

"Darline Graham Nordone is good friends with Katrina Shealy, the disgraced former South Carolina state senator who is PRO-ABORTION and OPPOSED the Heartbeat bill," one conservative X account commented. "Darline even donated money to her campaign."

Another user wrote: "I'm going to ask @LIFEforSC to not consider her for the coveted..."