Daily English Article — July 7, 2026

The Trump administration has decided not to seek new contractors to repair the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on Sunday. Burgum stated that the existing company would continue the work, praising its performance as a 'fantastic job.' Both Burgum and President Trump expressed certainty that vandalism, not poor workmanship, was responsible for a 350-foot cut discovered in the pool's liner during ongoing renovation work on the historic National Mall landmark.

The damage has sparked significant controversy, with Burgum clarifying that the 350-foot figure represents multiple cuts rather than a single gash as Trump had suggested. Burgum added that the pool would need to be at least partially drained in the coming week to complete the repairs. He estimated that the cost of fixing the vandalism could run into tens of thousands of dollars, potentially elevating the offense to a felony under laws governing damage to government property.

The renovation of the Reflecting Pool was personally championed by President Trump, who pledged this spring to restore and beautify it ahead of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations on July Fourth. Under his direction, the pool was drained and its bottom was painted in a color he described as 'American flag blue.' However, the project quickly ran into trouble when an algae bloom plagued the newly filled pool for over a week, and portions of the new coating appeared to be peeling away.

The pool was ultimately closed during the Independence Day celebrations, though Burgum attributed the closure to safety concerns related to the fireworks display rather than the ongoing repairs. Authorities have made more than half a dozen arrests in connection with the alleged vandalism, and Trump has claimed that investigators possess concrete proof to support the charges. The administration maintains that the damage was deliberate and criminal in nature.

The controversy surrounding the Reflecting Pool has intensified the broader political debate over Trump's sweeping push to renovate and overhaul major Washington landmarks, including the White House itself, nearly two years into his second and final term. Critics have questioned the handling of taxpayer funds and the management of the project, while the administration continues to defend both its renovation agenda and its response to what it characterizes as a targeted act of vandalism against a beloved national monument.

Apple is expected to unveil its highly anticipated foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but the foldable model — reportedly to be named the iPhone Ultra — may not be available for pre-order until significantly later, according to prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo draws a direct parallel to the launch strategy Apple employed in 2017, when the iPhone X was announced at the same event as the iPhone 8 series but became available for pre-order six weeks later.

The delayed pre-order timeline is being driven by manufacturing constraints, Kuo explained. Limited early production capacity for the foldable iPhone means Apple will not be able to fulfill immediate large-scale consumer demand upon announcement. This mirrors the supply-side challenges that famously accompanied the iPhone X launch, which created a sense of scarcity and generated enormous media attention. Kuo believes pre-orders for the foldable iPhone could open as late as the fourth quarter of 2026.

In terms of pricing, Kuo estimates the foldable iPhone Ultra will carry a starting price of approximately $2,299 to $2,499 in the United States, placing it firmly in the ultra-premium segment of the smartphone market. Despite the high price point, Kuo expects demand to far outstrip supply, predicting the device could sell out immediately after pre-orders open. He further anticipates that delivery lead times could quickly stretch to four to six weeks or longer following the launch.

Apple's suppliers are projected to ship roughly seven to eight million foldable iPhones in 2026. This figure stands in stark contrast to the 20 to 22 million units expected for the iPhone 18 Pro models combined, underscoring the relatively limited initial availability of the foldable device. The production gap reflects both the complexity of foldable display technology and the cautious ramp-up strategy typically employed when Apple enters an entirely new product category.

Based on the available information, consumers should anticipate a September announcement for the iPhone Ultra, consistent with Apple's established fall product cycle, but should not expect to be able to order the device until at least October. The launch is poised to be one of the most significant moments in Apple's product history, representing the company's long-awaited entry into the foldable smartphone market that rivals such as Samsung have occupied for several years.