Donald Trump has pointed to what he described as ‘vandalism’ as the reason behind damage at the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The administration spent more than $14 million on the overhaul, which resurfaced the pool in a vivid blue coating Trump has called “American flag blue.” The work was completed in early June, and the pool began refilling shortly afterward.
Within days, however, the water had turned green as an algal bloom developed in the shallow basin. The National Park Service began treating the pool with hydrogen peroxide and aeration to help clear the bloom and restore the water’s appearance.
Park Service notices said the Reflecting Pool had been closed for lining and repair work beginning April 10, 2026, with the closure set to end June 10. The renovation was part of a broader push by Trump to refurbish monuments and memorials on the National Mall.
As the cleanup continued, Trump posted on Truth Social claiming that “vandalism” was behind the issues affecting the site, including peeling blue paint at the memorial.
“We’ve cleaned, renovated, and beautified over 45 Monuments and Memorials, 28 Statues, and 22 Fountains in Washington, D.C. Things are really looking good in our Nation’s Capital, and add to that the fact that when I became President, Crime was rampant, and now, Washington, D.C., is one of the Safest Cities anywhere in the United States,” the president began.
He continued: “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.
“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 also said the algae problem is now ’75 percent gone’ before adding: “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.
“It’s a shame that the Radical Left Lunatics, most likely Dumocats, who have spent their lives trying to ruin our Country, are free to do so.
“Law Enforcement is actively investigating this situation, and will hopefully have it resolved soon.”