President Donald Trump renewed his public criticism of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Monday, lashing out at the former Fox News host as reports surfaced that she could be removed from her post.
Trump appeared furious that attorneys in Pirro’s office had dropped charges against U.S. Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
‘I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro,’ Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, visibly angry. ‘She folded like an umbrella, and people get away with things, and it’s a disgrace.’
Pirro, a former judge and district attorney, became a Fox News personality in 2006 and was later appointed by Trump as U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., in May 2025.
‘Frankly, I think she choked,’ Trump said, before adding: ‘I don’t know what the hell happened.’
Reporters later saw Pirro entering the West Wing on Monday evening, apparently for a meeting with the president.
Trump had taken a personal interest in the $16 million refurbishment of the reflecting pool, which formed part of his broader push to beautify Washington, D.C., ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
But after the fast-moving, high-profile renovation was completed, sections of the pool’s liner came loose in June and drifted toward the surface, prompting public ridicule of Trump’s showcase project.
Pirro’s office moved to dismiss the charges of federal vandalism against Hearn after he was spotted reaching into the water of the reflecting pool to examine a piece of detached reflecting pool liner in June.
Trump expressed his outrage with U.S. Attorney and former Fox News ally Jeanine Pirro on Monday
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial, top, and the World War II Memorial, bottom, is shown
David Hearn (pictured), the former Olympian accused of vandalizing Donald Trump’s restored Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, has had his charges dismissed
US Park Police arrested Hearn, and he was subsequently indicted on a single felony count of property destruction. Hearn pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The court filing released Friday cited new evidence in the case that ‘undermines the evidentiary basis for the indictment’ and dismissed the case.
The filing revealed that new documents indicated that the damage to the pool ‘was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented’ by the Interior Department.
‘Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,’ the filing states.
Hearn told the Daily Mail last month his arrest and the subsequent charges were wrong.
A former Fox News star, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia was appointed by Trump in May to serve in the position
Investigations into David Hearn showed the damage was the result of a ‘flawed installation by the contractor’ and ‘the rush to complete the project’ in time for Trump’s America 250 celebration
‘It’s a completely unfounded accusation. It’s a lie,’ Hearn said over the phone. ‘I didn’t rip, tear, destruct, destroy, or harm in any way, any part of the reflecting pool.’
Trump did not indicate to reporters that he would replace Pirro in the position, although he was reportedly ‘furious’ by what he considered a grave error.
When MS Now reporter Jake Traylor asked the President if he was reconsidering her role, he dismissed the question.
‘You’re fake news. Don’t ever talk again,’ he replied sharply. ‘You’re fake news. One of the worst in the business.’
