Trump acknowledges ‘real problems’ with reflecting pool after $14 million renovation, blaming ‘vandalism’ | Washington DC

Donald Trump has blamed “vandalism” for the “real problems” at Washington’s reflecting pool after an algae bloom following a $14.2 million renovation of the site that he said would turn the “American flag” blue. Paint was also seen peeling in the water. He also said vandals had been arrested.

Days after his administration claimed the pool was actually “crystal clear,” despite an unmistakable green hue, the US president acknowledged the problems – and, without evidence, accused foul play.

“We have cleaned, renovated and beautified more than 45 monuments and memorials, 28 statues and 22 fountains in Washington, DC,” Trump wrote in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform Friday evening. “However, we have had real problems with vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool, located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.”

Trump noted that “86 47” had recently been etched onto a large patch of grass nearby — “86” is frequently used in the restaurant industry to mean “stop” or get rid of something, even though Trump is the 47th president of the United States — and claimed that some people had “also gone out of their way to damage the interior surface” of the pool painted as part of the recent renovation.

“Just like the chemicals used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our great work,” Trump claimed, again without proof.

In an article published by Truth Social on Sunday afternoon, Trump claimed, again without a shred of evidence, that “several individuals” had been arrested by the U.S. Park Police for “vandalizing our nation’s magnificent thought poll.” “Who would do such a thing?” » Trump wrote. “These are very serious crimes linked to the destruction of national monuments. Years in prison! Repair work will begin immediately.”

Trump also claimed in his message that the algae problem was largely under control, suggesting it was “75% gone” and that the problem would soon be “completely resolved.”

Law enforcement is “actively investigating this situation,” he said, and “we hope it will be resolved soon.” The Interior Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Trump’s statement.

Paint peeling at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, June 19, 2026. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Reuters

A three-time U.S. Olympian and canoeist was arrested Friday after noticing a partially detached piece of the blue liner and dipping his hand into the water to see what it felt like, he said.

“I didn’t vandalize anything,” David Hearn, who was riding his bike, told the Washington Post. “I didn’t destroy, break or peel anything. By the time I realized what was happening, I was being handcuffed.”

Trump ordered a renovation project to make the pool “American flag blue” ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The site – one of the most symbolic attractions in Washington, DC’s history – was part of his efforts to recondition Washington during his second term.

However, just days after the renovation work was completed, an algae bloom turned the water green. In response, National Park Service employees were deployed and seen using skimmers and adding hydrogen peroxide to the water in an attempt to restore water quality.

In a statement posted on social media Wednesday, the Interior Department said “advanced nanobubbler technology” had “very effectively killed the algae,” adding: “Our National Park Service team is currently vacuuming up the dead algae that sits at the bottom of parts of the reflecting pool – just like the destroyed Iranian Navy that sits at the bottom of the Persian Gulf.” »

In reality, however, much of the water remained cloudy later in the week, with algae still visible in some areas and large flakes of paint flaking from the pool and floating on the surface.

News crews report that National Park Service workers clean algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 19, 2026. Photograph: Andrew Thomas/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The Atlantic reported over the weekend that lab tests he ordered identified the algae in the pool as Scenedesmus, a genus of green algae.

The project has also come under scrutiny with regard to its contracting process. The New York Times reported that the Trump administration awarded a no-bid contract to a company linked to a longtime supporter of the president to install the pool’s water purification system.

Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who ran against Trump and JD Vance as Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election, wrote on bragged about how well everything had gone, the whole Trump presidency in a nutshell.”

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