Trump Acknowledges Real Problems at Reflecting Pool After $14M Makeover, Blaming Vandalism
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has become the center of attention after problems emerged following a $14 million renovation project. President Donald Trump ordered the refurbishment to turn the water “American Flag blue” before the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations. The site sits between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall.
Just days after workers finished the renovation, you could see an algae bloom that turned the water green. The National Park Service sent employees to address the issue. They used skimmers and added hydrogen peroxide to try to fix the water quality.
Trump blamed vandalism for the problems in a Truth Social post on Friday night. He wrote that his administration had cleaned and renovated over 45 monuments and memorials, 28 statues, and 22 fountains in Washington DC. However, he said vandals had targeted the reflecting pool.
The Algae Problem
Trump claimed in his Sunday post that the algae problem was mostly under control. He suggested it was “75% gone” and would soon be completely fixed. He said law enforcement was actively investigating and would hopefully resolve the situation soon.
The Interior Department had declared on Wednesday that “advanced nanobubbler technology” had effectively killed the algae. They stated that National Park Service teams were vacuuming up dead algae from the bottom of some parts of the reflecting pool.
Despite these claims, much of the water remained murky later in the week. You could still see algae in some areas. Large flakes of paint were peeling from the basin and floating on the surface.
The Atlantic commissioned laboratory testing that identified the algae as Scenedesmus, a genus of green algae. This testing provided specific information about what was growing in the water.
Claims About Arrests and Damage
The president claimed that people had damaged the pool’s interior surface, which had been painted during the renovation. He alleged that vandals used chemicals similar to those used on the National Mall to harm the work. Trump provided no evidence for these claims.
In another Truth Social post on Sunday afternoon, Trump stated that the US Park Police arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing the reflecting pool. He called these “very serious crimes” involving the destruction of national monuments. The Department of the Interior did not respond to requests for comment about his statement.
A US Olympian, David Hearn, was arrested on Friday after he touched a piece of the blue liner. The 67-year-old three-time Olympian and canoeist told the Washington Post that he noticed a partly detached piece while cycling. He reached into the water to feel what it was like.
“I didn’t vandalize anything,” Hearn said. “I didn’t destroy or break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.”
Contract Questions
The project has faced scrutiny over how contracts were awarded. The New York Times reported that the Trump administration gave a no-bid contract to a business connected to a longtime supporter of the president. This contract was for installing the water purification system in the pool.
The ozone nanobubbler filtration system was supposed to keep the water clean and blue. However, the technology did not prevent the algae bloom that appeared shortly after the renovation was completed.
Additional Vandalism Claims
Trump mentioned that someone had etched “86 47” onto a large patch of grass near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The number 86 is commonly used in the restaurant industry to mean “stop” or get rid of something. The number 47 refers to Trump being the 47th president.
He alleged that vandals had done everything possible to damage the pool’s interior surface. The president wrote that repairs would begin immediately to address the vandalism he described.
Public Response
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who ran against Trump and JD Vance as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, criticized the project. He wrote on X that the administration found an imaginary problem, claimed only they could fix it, did not listen to experts, hired associates who took millions, failed badly, and bragged about success.
The reflecting pool project was one element of Trump’s efforts to recondition Washington, D.C., during his second term. The site is one of the capital’s most historically symbolic attractions for you to visit.
Katie Martin and other officials from the White House and National Park Service have been involved in managing the situation. The $14.2m renovation was intended to improve the pool’s appearance for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings was reportedly involved in the renovation work. The company applied the blue coating that has since been peeling off and floating in the water, where you can see it.
