FactCheck.org is reporting that President Donald Trump has blamed alleged vandals for issues with the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but has not provided evidence for his claims. After the pool was refilled in early June, it developed a greenish hue from algae and its blue coating began to peel. Trump stated at a June 22 press event that a "slit" was made with a box cutter or knife and that someone may have put fertilizer or other substances in the pool to cause algae growth. Science Writer Kate Yandell noted that the administration has not offered photographic evidence of these acts. Experts cited by FactCheck.org suggest alternative causes, including surface preparation, the pool's shallow depth, stagnant water, and lack of shade. FactCheck.org Senior Writer D'Angelo Gore also confirmed that Trump's motorcade drove across the empty pool on May 7 while it was being coated, though it is unclear if this contributed to the later problems.
FactCheck.org also published a story detailing how some aspects of Trump's preliminary 14-point memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran, signed June 17, are at odds with his previous rhetoric. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Switzerland to continue negotiating the peace deal. The organization highlighted that Trump's agreement to immediately waive sanctions on Iranian oil exports conflicts with his prior statements on a potential deal.
Additionally, FactCheck.org examined Trump's claims that the federal "Right to Try" law, which he signed in 2018, has "saved thousands of lives." It said the administration has not provided evidence for this assertion. The law allows seriously ill patients to access unapproved drugs outside of clinical trials, but the Food and Drug Administration is only required to report the number of investigational drugs used, not the number of patients treated. FDA summaries indicate 21 investigational drugs were used from May 30, 2018, through Dec. 31, 2024. Researchers studying experimental drug access believe the president is greatly exaggerating the law's impact.
Finally, FactCheck.org reported on Trump's forecast of over $500 billion in prescription drug savings over 10 years due to his policies. It said these projected savings are largely aspirational and not based on the limited measures the administration has implemented thus far.