Trump’s Reflecting Pool Revamp Hits Bumps: Green Algae, Tears in ‘American Flag Blue’ Sealant
President Trump’s ambitious push to overhaul the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — touted as a centerpiece of his spring beautification blitz for Washington, D.C. — has run into a series of embarrassments in recent days. Just weeks after water was reintroduced, a sheen of fluorescent green algae spread across the surface, and tears have now appeared in the “American Flag Blue” sealant that Mr. Trump personally chose for the pool’s floor.
The century-old Reflecting Pool has long been plagued by leaks, algae and aging plumbing. In April, Mr. Trump declared the pool in “terrible” condition and vowed to fix it as part of a slate of projects ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday — reflecting his desire to leave a physical mark on the capital. Federal contracts for the refurbishment totaled more than $14 million.
The president boasted that the sealant was the “latest and greatest filament,” an industrial-grade swimming-pool liner, and revealed he had handpicked the shade — “American Flag Blue.” Workers applied it to the stone flooring after draining the pool. But within days of refilling, algae emerged. A Department of the Interior spokesperson told CBS News the outbreak was “part of the normal startup process” and that residual algae from supply lines, dormant during eight weeks of construction, would be quickly cleared. “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,” the spokesperson added.
Crews were spotted this week pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water and vacuuming up dead algae. The Interior Department declared on social media Wednesday that the water was now “crystal clear” and that a “nanobubbler” — an advanced tool — would prevent future blooms.
But on Thursday, a new problem emerged: a tear was spotted in the applied sealant on the pool floor. CBS News has requested more details from the Interior Department. In a Truth Social post Friday night, Mr. Trump alleged, without providing evidence, that vandals had “destroyed the grass outside of the Pool” and “done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed.” He said the algae was “75% gone” and the vandalized area — “just a small area of damage” — would be fixed early next week.
This renovation marks the second major overhaul of the Reflecting Pool in less than 20 years. Early in the Obama administration, a more than $30 million project aimed to fix similar problems, yet algae blooms and periodic cleanings for goose droppings and debris persisted. Mr. Trump vowed in April to make the pool “beautiful” and “the way it’s supposed to be.” At one point, he drove his motorcade onto the dried-out pool floor — roughly the length of 12 Olympic swimming pools — to inspect the work.
The Reflecting Pool project is just one of several Trump-led renovations reshaping the D.C. landscape. The administration has repaired fountains across the city, demolished the White House’s East Wing to make way for a ballroom, attempted to close the Kennedy Center for upgrades, and drawn up plans for a colossal triumphal arch in Virginia. The real estate developer-turned-president has personally reviewed mock-ups and discussed designs at length during White House events, casting the projects as long-overdue fixes to neglected national landmarks.
But critics have accused Mr. Trump of grandstanding and bypassing congressional approval or public input. Several initiatives have sparked lawsuits, including a judge’s order blocking the administration from closing or renaming the Kennedy Center to include Mr. Trump’s name. The Reflecting Pool’s latest hiccups — algae and torn sealant — add ammunition to those who argue the president’s hands-on approach prioritizes spectacle over sound maintenance.