Ex-RNC chair torches Doug Burgum's Reflecting Pool story: 'We know that did not happen'

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's attempts to blame a sea of reflecting pool troubles on D.C. vandals instead of D.C. incompetence left one Republican sputtering.

Michael Steele, the former chair of the Republican National Committee, took to X Sunday afternoon to share his views on a tense CNN interview that saw Burgum snapping at anchor Dana Bash.

"I'm not sure why you and others and the media think you want to question the whole thing," Burgum spat at Bash.

Steele replied, "We question Mr. Secretary because we know that ish (sic) did not happen."

Burgum snapped after facing repeated questions about the Trump administration's failed $14 million effort to turn the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "American flag blue."

Bash quizzed Burgum about a peeling liner that allowed algae to return and ruin the effect of a perfectly blue pool and requested details about claims that vandalism was to blame.

"You're a hundred percent sure that what happened with the liner was vandalism?" Bash asked. "You can prove it?"

Burgum said he could — Steele wasn't so sure.

"You know there are cameras on the Pool 24hrs (sic), right?" he wrote. "You do not have photographs of anyone submerging in the Reflecting Pool to cut a gash longer than a football field. But we do have video and photos of the liner peeling from the floor of the pool."

Then Steele made a request of Burgum.

"Stop it," he said. "As soon as you are asked to prove vandalism, you whine about why you are being questioned about it."