Donald Trump has announced the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, declaring that it is now fully operational following the removal of algae that was deliberately introduced. The President attributed the damage to vandals and emphasized that the pool had been facing issues since a costly renovation.
Despite being currently cordoned off for additional maintenance work scheduled around the July 4 holiday, Trump proudly shared on Truth Social that the pool was functioning smoothly with the algae issue resolved. He stated that the pool had never functioned properly until recently and assured that it would be in perfect condition after the upcoming maintenance.
Trump’s assertion that the algae problem was a result of criminal acts contrasts with the statement from a senior National Park Service official, who mentioned that the pool’s liner had been tampered with using a sharp object. The plans to drain the pool again for repairs and to reapply the blue coating have led to a significant increase in renovation costs beyond the initial estimate.
The administration now anticipates spending around $16 million to fix leaks and achieve the desired darker-blue appearance that the President had envisioned. The pool had been visibly affected by the algae, showing a greenish hue at times along with pieces of the blue coating and deceased ducklings floating in the water during the maintenance process.