Furious Trump considers removing Jeanine Pirro after Reflecting Pool dispute, sources say
By Saqib S. Qureshi | SCN NEWS
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is considering removing Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro after she publicly contradicted his claims about vandalism at Washington's Reflecting Pool, according to people familiar with the matter.
The dispute centers on Trump's repeated assertion that vandals caused significant damage to the historic Reflecting Pool near the National Mall, an allegation Pirro reportedly declined to support after federal investigators found no evidence to substantiate the claim.
According to sources familiar with internal discussions, Trump was angered by Pirro's handling of the matter and has privately discussed whether she should remain in one of the Justice Department's most prominent prosecutorial positions.
Pirro, a longtime Trump ally and former television host, has been serving as interim U.S. attorney while overseeing federal prosecutions in the nation's capital. Her reported disagreement with the president has exposed a rare public split between Trump and one of his own senior Justice Department appointees.
The White House has not confirmed whether a final decision has been made, and officials familiar with the discussions cautioned that no formal dismissal has been approved.
The episode highlights the growing tension inside the administration over how politically sensitive investigations and public statements should be handled. While Trump has continued emphasizing crime and public safety in Washington, Justice Department officials have maintained that prosecutorial decisions must be guided by verified evidence.
Legal analysts say removing Pirro over a disagreement involving investigative findings could generate renewed debate about the independence of federal prosecutors and the relationship between the White House and the Justice Department.
The Reflecting Pool controversy has become an unexpected political flashpoint, with critics arguing that public officials should rely on verified facts before making allegations involving criminal conduct. Supporters of the president, meanwhile, contend that broader concerns about crime and vandalism in the capital remain legitimate regardless of the specific dispute.
Neither Pirro nor the Justice Department immediately commented on the reports. If Trump ultimately decides to replace her, it would mark one of the most significant personnel changes within the administration's law enforcement leadership since the start of his second term.