Six arrests, a green pool and a political firestorm at the Lincoln Memorial

Six individuals have been arrested for alleged vandalism at the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described the arrestees as "deranged individuals" and claimed many were donors to the Democratic Party, while announcing that 17 police reports have been filed.

The president accused alleged vandals of using a "box cutter or knife" to damage the pool's coating, without providing evidence, and suggested that the $14 million-renovated pool might need to be redrained.

National Guard soldiers have been deployed to patrol the pool's perimeter following incidents that included the arrest of Olympian David Hearn, who denies vandalizing the site.

Despite official claims of clear water, photos and tests reveal the pool's coating is separating and an algae known as Scenedesmus is turning the water green.