Former US President Donald Trump blamed “vandalism” for the “real problems” seen at Washington’s reflecting pool, which is experiencing algae blooms and peeling paint after a $14.2 million renovation. The work, according to Trump, should make the attraction blue, in the color of the American flag.
The accelerated intervention in the capital’s monuments, promoted by the Trump administration, has generated perplexity among residents and visitors, with some comparing the situation to an “occupation”.
Although his administration had declared, days before, that the pool was “crystal clear”, the American president finally recognized the difficulties and, without presenting any evidence, attributed the failures to illegal acts.
In a lengthy post on the Truth Social platform Friday night, Trump detailed his administration’s efforts: “We have cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 monuments and memorials, 28 statues, and 22 fountains in Washington, D.C.” He went on to say, “However, we have had some serious problems with vandalism at the beautiful reflecting pool, which sits between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.”
Trump even mentioned that the “86 47” sequence was recorded in a nearby grassy area — “86” is a restaurant term for “stop” or “eliminate,” and he is the 47th president. He claimed that “some people did everything they could to damage the inside surface” of the newly painted pool.
The former president also suggested that, “just as they used chemicals on the National Mall”, individuals had used similar substances at the Reflecting Pool “to try to destroy and depreciate our beautiful work”, again without presenting evidence to support the allegation.
Recent images showed the blue paint on the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool peeling off on June 19, 2026, confirming the visible flaws in the structure.
In his post, Trump expressed optimism, stating that the algae problem was “largely under control”, with 75% of it already “gone”, and that the issue would be “completely resolved” soon.
He said law enforcement is “actively investigating this situation” and expects a quick resolution. The Interior Department, however, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.
The renovation project was an initiative by Trump to paint the pool blue, in reference to the US flag, ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The reflecting pool, one of Washington D.C.’s most symbolic historical landmarks, is part of the capital’s revitalization efforts during his second term.
However, days after the work was completed, an unexpected proliferation of algae turned the water green. In response, teams from the National Park Service were called in, using skimmers and hydrogen peroxide to try to restore water quality.
Images released on June 19, 2026, recorded news crews and employees from the National Park Service cleaning algae in the water mirror of the Lincoln Memorial, with the Washington Monument in the background.
In a statement on social media Wednesday, the Department of the Interior declared that “advanced nanobubble technology” had “very effectively eliminated algae.” The agency added, peculiarly, “Our National Park Service team is now vacuuming up dead algae lying on the bottom of some parts of Reflecting Lake – as well as Iranian Navy wreckage lying on the bottom of the Persian Gulf.”
The Trump administration even compared the complexity of resolving the algae infestation in the capital’s swimming pools with the dynamics of a war with Iran.
Despite official statements, reality showed that, at the end of the week, much of the water was still turbid, with algae visible in several areas and large pieces of paint breaking away from the basin and floating on the surface.
The Atlantic newspaper reported this weekend that laboratory tests commissioned by the publication identified the algae present in the pool as being of the Scenedesmus species, a common genus of green algae.
The contracting process for the project also drew criticism. The New York Times revealed that the Trump administration awarded a no-bid contract to install the water purification system to a company with ties to a longtime supporter of the former president.
Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, criticized the situation on platform
