You don’t usually hear “poop” in the White House briefing room, but that’s exactly what happened when a reporter asked Trump about the possibility of the Potomac River smelling like sewage during upcoming celebrations for its 250th anniversary. Despite the light-heartedness of the term, it’s a serious issue.
“He’s worried about that,” said spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt, confirming the president’s concerns during a news conference. “The federal government wants to address the issue, and we hope local governments will cooperate.”
The problem stems from a broken pipe that released 243 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River, creating a significant odor that has escalated tensions between Trump and Maryland’s Democratic governor, Wes Moore.
On Truth Social, Trump referred to the situation as a “massive ecological disaster,” attributing the blame to local Democratic leadership, particularly targeting Governor Moore.
The incident began on January 19, when a section of the 72-inch-wide Potomac Interceptor pipe broke in Montgomery County, Maryland, about eight miles from Washington, D.C. This type of pipe normally carries around 60 million gallons of waste each day. The sewage flowed into the river for about a week before officials could divert it.
DC Water, the utility company responsible, estimates that repairs will take four to six weeks.
In his response, Trump insisted that local leaders need to take immediate action. He stated on Truth Social, “If they can’t do their job, they have to call me and politely ask me to fix the problem.” He emphasized that the federal government wasn’t involved in the initial issue but offered assistance in resolving it.
Governor Moore strongly countered that maintaining the pipeline is indeed the federal government’s responsibility. He also pointed out that Maryland authorities were quick to respond to the breach.
Meanwhile, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin acknowledged the agency’s readiness to step in if needed, but noted that neither DC Water nor Maryland had requested federal intervention. “EPA has continued to support state and local leaders from the beginning,” Zeldin shared on social media.
Testing showed that E. coli levels in the Potomac were significantly higher than the EPA’s safety standards this week. Officials reassured the public that drinking water remains safe, but have advised against recreational activities in the river until the sewage issue is resolved.
