Algae bloom turns Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool green, sparking viral memes

An algae bloom has turned the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool a bright green within days of a multi-million-dollar refurbishment announced by the administration. President Donald Trump has suggested the discoloration results from vandalism, and police say six individuals have been arrested in connection with the site, though internal records appear to contradict that claim.

City officials are currently treating the water and attempting to restore its clarity. The unexpected color change quickly became a subject of online humor, with users posting memes that reimagined the landmark as a swampy Star Wars set, a Bob Ross painting, and other pop-culture scenes.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat from New Mexico, shared a video of a Super Mario character swimming in the algae-filled pool, noting that the incident was “winning the internet.”

Other posts featured fictional characters such as Tony Soprano wading among ducks, and a depiction of Secretary of State Marco Rubio kayaking through the murky water, accompanied by captions that linked the images to the algae issue.

The memes also targeted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., showing him beside the pool with a glass of the green water, and referenced his unconventional health practices.

The viral trend extended to references to Star Wars and edited clips of painter Bob Ross, as well as fashion commentary that matched the pool’s hue.

Authorities continue to address the algae problem, and the incident remains a focal point of both environmental concern and internet satire.