President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the reflecting pool near the Lincoln Memorial, which had recently undergone renovations, has fallen victim to vandalism, and investigations are underway.
This remark comes as the pool faces criticism for peeling paint and algae blooms, just weeks after the wrap-up of a $14.8 million restoration effort.
On Truth Social, Trump stated, “Conditions in our nation’s capital are very good. Plus, when I became president, crime was rampant, and now Washington, D.C., is one of the safest cities in America.” However, he noted that the stunning reflecting pool situated between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is encountering serious vandalism issues.
He further commented that the culprits damaged the ground surrounding the pool and apparently employed chemicals to harm the surface that had just been installed. “It’s no different than the chemicals used on the National Mall, and they tried to use the same on the reflecting pool to destroy and degrade our beautiful work,” Trump said.
This statement came about a week after a large “86 47” was carved into the lawn near the National Mall. Administration representatives have previously noted that “86” can refer to eliminating something, while “47” might indicate Trump himself as the 47th president.
Trump had announced on June 6 that the restoration of the reflecting pool was completed. Yet, shortly afterward, algae began to proliferate in the pool, obscuring parts of the newly restored “Stars and Stripes Blue.” In response, the National Park Service and contractors employed chemicals and ozone nanobubbles to alleviate algae conditions this week.
Workers also utilized a vacuum system reminiscent of a swimming pool setup to clear algae from the bottom of the pool. The park service reassured the public that there were no harmful impacts on marine life or the environment due to these actions.
Trump reported that most of the algae has been cleared away and that the damaged area would be repaired soon. “The algae is 75 percent gone and conditions will soon fully recover. Fortunately, the area that was destroyed is relatively small and will be repaired early next week,” he stated. He also mentioned that law enforcement is actively pursuing leads on the vandalism incident.
Images circulating on social media show National Guard members and U.S. Park Police officers monitoring the area. Videos shared online depict people gathering around the reflecting pool, voicing criticism of the renovation and, oddly enough, celebrating the algae’s presence.
