President Donald Trump has accused vandals of being responsible for the issues affecting the recently renovated Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., only weeks after a $14 million restoration project that included coating the pool in what officials described as “American Flag Blue.”
Not long after the updated pool was unveiled, the water began turning green as algae rapidly spread throughout the basin. In response, maintenance crews were recently seen adding large amounts of hydrogen peroxide to the water in an effort to control the bloom and restore its appearance.
At the same time, observers have reported sections of the blue coating beginning to peel away from parts of the iconic landmark.
Despite these visible issues, Trump rejected suggestions that the problems stemmed from algae growth or defects in the renovation work. Instead, he claimed the pool had been deliberately targeted.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Reflecting Pool had suffered from significant acts of vandalism. He alleged that individuals had intentionally damaged the newly installed interior surface and introduced chemicals into the water to undermine the project.
According to Trump, those responsible were political opponents whom he described as “Radical Left Lunatics.” He suggested that investigators were actively working to identify those involved and hold them accountable.
The president also stated that efforts to remove the algae had been largely successful, claiming that roughly three-quarters of the growth had already been eliminated. He added that any remaining damage caused by alleged vandals would be repaired in the coming days.
White House Defends Restoration Effort
A spokesperson for the White House also addressed the situation, insisting that the problem was being managed effectively. During the statement, the administration took aim at former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, arguing that the National Park Service is now providing a higher level of maintenance for the landmark.
The spokesperson said advanced water-treatment methods, including nanobubble ozone technology, were being used to eliminate algae and other contaminants from the pool.
Meanwhile, scientists and water management specialists have offered a different explanation for the discoloration. Experts say the green water is consistent with a natural algal bloom, a common phenomenon that occurs when microscopic aquatic organisms multiply rapidly under favorable environmental conditions.
So far, no public evidence has been presented to support claims that vandalism played a role in causing the algae outbreak or the other issues reported at the Reflecting Pool.
