Algae and Vandalism Issues at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump attributed recent problems at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to vandalism on Friday. This comes amid ongoing issues with algae blooms and reports of deteriorating surface material. Trump used Truth Social to express his concerns, suggesting both unknown individuals and ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl were involved in damaging the pool. The pool has faced scrutiny for turning green shortly after an expensive renovation meant to produce ‘American flag blue’ water.

The renovation, costing over $14 million, aimed to enhance the pool in preparation for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. However, the reappearance of algae across the water’s surface prompted an immediate cleanup by National Park Service teams. Algae blooms are common in shallow, sunny areas such as this, especially in warm periods, making them hard to prevent entirely. Crews have been using various treatments, including hydrogen peroxide and ozone filtration, to manage the growth.

Trump stated his administration had successfully renovated numerous D.C. sites while highlighting public safety improvements. He claimed that the Reflecting Pool’s damage resulted from ‘real problems with vandalism,’ suggesting chemicals and other methods were used to sabotage the surface and surrounding areas. Trump specifically accused Jonathan Karl, stating he saw the reporter interfering with the pool.

On Friday, Scott Jennings, a former adviser to President George W. Bush, commented on Trump’s claims during a CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins. He affirmed the possibility of vandalism and supported law enforcement actions to investigate. Jennings commended Trump’s efforts to clean up the capital and advocated for legal consequences for those responsible.

The peeling surface material further complicates the situation. Many visitors have observed fragments in the water, with some individuals reportedly touching or removing pieces. This has raised questions about the renovation’s quality and longevity. Officials have called the algae issue a ‘normal startup process’ linked to inactive water lines and environmental factors. Despite these challenges, crews are working diligently to resolve the issues before significant events on the National Mall.

“You have no plants, probably they pumped in like city water, which added chlorine content to it, and once that precipitated out, then you have just basically water, and with sunlight, and just ideal conditions, and warming, you’ve got algae blooming,” John Wilson Jr., President of Aqua Doc Lake and Pond, told Newsweek.