Donald Trump has announced that the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington D.C. will 'probably' be drained for necessary repairs, following persistent algae blooms and peeling paint that have undermined a recent $14.2 million renovation. The pool, a centerpiece of the National Mall, was refurbished ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations next month.
Trump Blames Vandals for Pool Problems
In a Truth Social post late Saturday, Trump stated that after meeting with contractors, they would 'probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible.' He acknowledged 'real problems' with the pool but attributed them to vandals, claiming 'many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool.'
Trump asserted on Saturday that several individuals had been arrested for alleged vandalism. However, details remain scarce. Three-time Olympian David Hearn, who was apprehended, told the Washington Post he merely touched a peeling piece of paint liner out of curiosity and was arrested by U.S. park police on a misdemeanor charge. No other arrests have been officially confirmed, and the status of any apprehensions remained unclear as of Sunday afternoon.
Algae and Paint Issues Plague Renovation
The pool’s troubles began shortly after the completion of the $14.2 million makeover, which included painting the bottom of the long pond a dark blue. Trump claimed that immediately after the renovations, the pool was reflecting 'better than ever,' stating, 'It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work. Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before!' He referred to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Despite Trump’s initial praise, algae blooms and peeling paint soon emerged, marring the pool’s appearance. Trump’s battle with the eukaryotic organisms has shown no sign of prompt resolution, echoing challenges faced by many pool owners with standing water.
Vandalism Claims and Unanswered Questions
Trump cryptically cited vandals, possibly the same ones who had previously scorched or etched '8647'—numeric slang for '86ing' Trump, the 47th president—into the lawn near the pool earlier this month. He alleged that the pool damage 'does not even include the earlier killing of a large amount of grass which was, by far, the least of it' and accused vandals of using 'some form of knife or blade, and put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade and of pouring chemicals into the pool.'
No official details have been provided on any perpetrators, and the National Park Service has not commented on the alleged vandalism or the planned repairs. The reflecting pool, originally built in 1922 and known for chronic leaking, has been a subject of controversy since the costly renovation was rushed ahead of the anniversary celebrations.
