WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said vandalism was responsible for problems that emerged at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following a recent renovation, after an algae bloom and peeling coating drew public attention to the project on the National Mall. Trump made the claim on Friday, saying law enforcement was investigating, though federal authorities had not publicly provided evidence linking the deterioration to deliberate acts of vandalism.
The Reflecting Pool, one of Washington’s most visited landmarks, reopened earlier this month after a renovation costing more than $14 million, according to federal contract records and administration statements. The project included resurfacing the basin and painting its bottom what Trump described as “American flag blue” ahead of events marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Within days of reopening, however, algae growth became visible and sections of the new coating began to peel.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged what he called “real problems” at the site but attributed them to vandalism. He said individuals had damaged the area surrounding the pool and alleged that chemicals may have been used to affect the newly renovated structure. “We’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool,” Trump wrote. Federal officials have not publicly confirmed those allegations.
The National Park Service and Interior Department have been working to address the algae bloom using hydrogen peroxide treatments and nanobubble technology designed to improve water quality and reduce algae growth. Workers were seen removing algae from the pool earlier this week as maintenance efforts continued.
Administration officials initially described the algae as a temporary condition associated with restarting the water system after construction. An Interior Department spokesperson said earlier this month that the growth was “residual algae from the supply lines” and part of a normal startup process. The department said measures were being implemented to prevent recurring blooms.
The Reflecting Pool has experienced algae problems in previous years, including after earlier renovation projects. Recent reports citing satellite imagery and on-site observations indicated algae levels increased rapidly following the completion of the latest work.
Questions have also been raised about the cost and procurement process for the renovation, which expanded beyond initial estimates announced by the administration. Critics have called for additional scrutiny, while the White House has defended the project as a long-term improvement to a major national landmark.
As of Saturday, maintenance crews remained at the site, and officials said efforts to remove algae and repair damaged areas were continuing. Authorities had not publicly released findings from any investigation into the vandalism claims, and details regarding the cause of the coating failure remained unclear.
