Trump blames vandalism for algae bloom in renovated Reflecting Pool
President Donald Trump said vandalism was responsible for algae growth and peeling paint at the Reflecting Pool after a $14 million renovation, while federal officials said treatment efforts were ongoing.
President Donald Trump said the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., was experiencing "real problems" after a recent $14.2 million renovation, attributing the issues to vandalism. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he noted that the pool, situated between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, had been "etched" with the numbers "86 47" on nearby grass and claimed that chemicals had been used to damage the newly painted surface.
"We've cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues, and 22 Fountains in Washington, DC," Trump wrote.
He added that the algae problem was largely under control, estimating it to be "75% gone" and saying law enforcement was "actively investigating this situation."
Federal officials from the Department of the Interior said the National Park Service had deployed staff to treat the water with skimmers and hydrogen peroxide, and that "advanced nanobubbler technology" had been used to kill the algae. Despite these efforts, water remained murky and flakes of paint were observed floating on the surface.
Laboratory testing commissioned by a media outlet identified the algae as a species of Scenedesmus. The renovation project has also faced scrutiny over its contracting process, with reports that a no-bid contract was awarded to a firm linked to a longtime presidential supporter.
