US President Donald Trump has sparked outrage among Fox News viewers after threatening an ABC reporter with prosecution over an incident at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to accuse reporter Jonathan Karl of vandalism, claiming Karl had been seen 'sticking his hand into the Pool, and trying to rip the rubber off of the surface.'
The accusation follows Karl's report for ABC News on Thursday, in which his team discovered the Reflecting Pool filled with green algae and its paint job peeling. Trump's comments prompted a discussion on Fox News's The Sunday Briefing, where host Peter Doocy asked former US Attorney Jeanine Pirro whether Karl was in trouble.
Pirro responded that anyone vandalising the pool would face the criminal justice system, adding that citations had already been issued and cases would be prosecuted to the full extent. She warned that more serious charges could be considered if harmful substances were introduced to worsen the algae problem.
Viewers were unimpressed, taking to X to criticise the remarks. One commenter argued that the paint peeling was caused by hydrogen peroxide used by Trump's maintenance team, while another sarcastically contrasted the threat with the lack of charges in the Epstein case. Others questioned Trump's own record of vandalism at the White House.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and the media, as well as public frustration over perceived selective prosecution.
