President Trump blames vandals amid Reflecting Pool algae bloom

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated June 19, 2026, 11:48 p.m. ET


President Donald Trump defended his administration's beautification record in Washington, DC, despite the algae bloom in the recently overhauled reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial. In a Truth Social post on June 19, the president blamed vandals for the troubles that have cropped up after the $16 million renovation of the pool.

"We've cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues and 22 Fountains in Washington, D.C. Things are looking really good in our Nation's Capital," the Truth Social post stated. "However, we've had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool, which sits between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial."

"Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they've also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed," Trump added. "No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the reflecting pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work.". Trump's post stated the algae is "75% gone, and the condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage, and will be fixed early next week."

Algae blooms aren't new

Law enforcement is investigating, Trump confirmed. But historical records show algae has been a recurring issue in the pool for decades, possibly for much of its existence. After a $34 million renovation in 2012, the water turned into an "icky sea of algae" about a week after the pool was filled, USA TODAY previously reported. Workers were seen skimming the surface of the pool in the end nearest the World War II Memorial. Algae blooms have plagued "every pool reopening since 1922," according to a statement the Department of the Interior provided to USA TODAY.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/06/19/donald-trump-reflecting-pool-renovation-algae-bloom-paint/90625359007/

[Lovie777]

1. Sure Jan......

[QueerDuck]

12. Vandals or terrorists... perhaps "Algae-zerra" or "Algae-Qa'ida" 🤣😂🤣😆

Last edited Sat Jun 20, 2026, 03:55 PM - Edit history (1)

[Dem_in_Nebr.]

16. Or Algae-TACO, perhaps???

[twodogsbarking]

2. Are these vandals in the room with you now?

[sop]

4. Law enforcement should be investigating Trump and his henchmen.

[Blues Heron]

3. Krasnov just needs to look in the mirror to see who the true vandal is

[twodogsbarking]

5. The exact quote is from an Interior Department spokesperson, who stated:"President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder

who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extremely costly attempt by Obama and Biden."

[Stargazer99]

6. The cause of the problem is always someone else according to those who ARE the cause of the problem

[Hugin]

7. Tarp time!

Pathetic.

[paleotn]

8. A shallow pool in a hot, humid environment for much of the year.

What do you get? Algae blooms. Investigate away, you stupid, orange shit.

[twodogsbarking]

11. Plus it is more than seven acres in size.

[ChicagoTeamster]

9. His base are ignorant and will probably believe this nonsense.

[ClaudetteCC]

10. Trillions and Trillions of tiny vandals

invading our precious fluids

[Goonch]

13. ;-{) TOXIC RED TIDE

[City Lights]

14. OMG. I just can't with him anymore.

I've run out of words to use to describe my feelings about him.

Yesterday the Department of Interior posted that the water was "crystal clear," and today Pedo claims vandals ruined his "lake."

[lavoosh99]

15. Vandals, eh?

Maybe it was Huns...or Visigoths...or other Barbarians.

[Bengus81]

17. What else was he going to say, he screwed up,blew $14M using a donor

that doesn't know shit about what to do instead of a real company??

[Earth Bound Misfit]

18. Obama did it.