Donald Trump left Fox News viewers furious after issuing a bizarre threat against an ABC reporter over alleged vandalism at the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. The 80-year-old president took to Truth Social to accuse reporter Jonathan Karl of sticking his hand into the pool and trying to rip the rubber off the surface. Karl had reported for ABC News on Thursday that the pool was filled with gunk and green algae and that the multi-million-dollar paint job was falling apart.
Fox News Segment Sparks Outrage
On Sunday, June 21, Jeanine Pirro, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, appeared on Fox News's The Sunday Briefing with host Peter Doocy. Doocy asked Pirro directly: "President Trump's got a Crime Stoppers tip for you. He says lightweight ABC reporter Jonathan Karl was seen sticking his hand into the pool and trying to rip the rubber off the surface. Judge, is Jonathan Karl from ABC in trouble?"
Pirro responded: "Anyone who is in a position of vandalizing or attempting to vandalize the reflecting pool will face the criminal justice system. There are several citations that have been handed out to individuals, and these are cases that will be prosecuted to the full extent. If there are more serious products that are put into the reflecting pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we'll consider more serious charges." She added: "Make no mistake, making DC beautiful is a priority, and if you damage, vandalise, and do anything to impact something like the Reflective Pool, you can be prosecuted."
Viewers React With Fury
Viewers were not impressed by Pirro's remarks, which seemed to indicate Karl could be in legal trouble. They took to X to vent. One fumed: "Get serious! Any trial will fail after finding conclusively the hydrogen peroxide put in by the Trump maintenance team to control algae caused the paint to peel. Trump and Co screwed up! Trump is too sissy to admit he screwed up. Watch he will blame anyone other than himself."
Another added: "You'll pay a big price if you take any pieces of the reflecting pool as souvenirs. If you want to avoid prosecution, just storm the Capitol or go to Epstein Island." A third chimed in: "They're going to prosecute more people for touching the peeling paint at the Reflecting Pool than they've prosecuted from the Epstein file."
A fourth shared: "What kind of justice will Donald Trump face for vandalising the White House by demolishing an entire wing for a ballroom and using the front lawn for white trash backyard brawls?" Meanwhile a fifth penned: "And yet not a single pedophile from the Epstein files has been charged. Priorities are monuments not people."
