On November 3, President Donald Trump posted on X accusing Congressman Ted Lieu of making a knowingly false and defamatory claim that Trump wanted to rename the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool the "Trump Reflecting Pool." Trump said the remark was made in jest and that he immediately clarified, "Don't worry, I'm only joking."
Trump quoted Lieu's post as stating: "What are Trump and his Republican enablers focused on? Changing the name of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to the Trump Reflecting Pool. Punish them at the ballot box. Repudiate them. Vote." Trump asserted that Lieu omitted his joking clarification, labeled Lieu a "Lightweight" and a "Third Rate Congressman," and described him as a "FRAUD." He added that the comment originated at a news conference and that "All of the gathered Reporters laughed," claiming "even the Media was aghast" at Lieu’s portrayal.
Trump signed the message "President DONALD J. TRUMP." The post centered on disputing Lieu’s characterization and asserting that any reference to renaming the reflecting pool was a joke made at a press event. Source: X
