Trump Says ‘vandals’ Poured Chemicals Into The Reflecting Pool After His Team Used Bleach To Treat The Algae

President Donald Trump has claimed “vandals” poured chemicals into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool aft his ain squad used bleach to dainty nan algae plaguing nan multi-million-dollar renewal project.

Trump had promised nan excavation would be “the astir beautiful point that you've ever seen” after nan shallow basin was painted what he called American emblem blue. But conscionable days aft nan task was finished, algae turned nan excavation green, and nan American emblem bluish overgarment chipped away.

Amid nan blowback from a renewal task gone awry, nan Trump management has poured hydrogen peroxide into nan excavation to woody pinch nan algae and thrown astir accusations of vandalism to propose that it was sabotage, not shoddy craftsmanship, that caused this caller headache.

“Of nan MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, nan only 1 that was Vandalized was nan Reflecting Pool, which is being taken attraction of, ASAP!” Trump wrote connected Truth Social Monday.

Trump claimed “chemicals person been illegally placed successful nan water” and that a 300-foot-long gash was made successful nan basin.

It’s unclear what chemicals Trump has accused vandals of pouring into nan water, but nan management has already dumped immoderate of its ain into nan pool.

Last week, workers were seen pouring gallon bottles of hydrogen peroxide into nan astir 2,000-foot pool. The Interior Department said “advanced nanobubbler technology” was besides utilized to hole nan issue.

In an X post Wednesday, nan Interior Department said nan exertion “very efficaciously killed nan algae” and nan excavation was now “crystal clear.”

The agency admitted location was much activity to do, arsenic a National Park Service squad still had to vacuum up algae connected immoderate parts of nan pool. Photos taken of nan excavation since nan societal media announcement look to show ample swaths of nan basin tinted green.

Trump besides said successful Monday’s station that nan “beautiful” grass connected nan National Mall was “destroyed with a gigantic 86 47 chemically carved into it (Probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!).”

The president was referring to a national indictment against erstwhile FBI Director James Comey, alleging that a photograph he posted connected societal media successful May 2025 of seashells connected nan formation that publication “86 47” amounts to making threats to harm Trump. Comey has maintained his innocence and vowed to conflict nan charges against him.

“Please retrieve that location is simply a 10 twelvemonth situation condemnation for nan destruction, aliases moreover nan attempted destruction, of specified things - Which will beryllium afloat enforced!” Trump wrote successful his station astir nan alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism.

Trump said connected Truth Social complete nan play that U.S. Park Police “arrested aggregate individuals” for vandalizing nan Reflecting Pool.

Former U.S. Olympic canoe racer David Hearn of Bethesda, Maryland, was among those arrested. He told The Washington Post he was detained for 5 hours connected Friday for a misdemeanor complaint of demolition of authorities property.

“It's a wholly unfounded accusation. It's a lie,” Hearn told nan Daily Mail. “I didn't rip, tear, destruct, destroy, aliases harm successful immoderate way, immoderate portion of nan reflecting pool.”

He said he did touch a “loose flap of coating” connected nan basin, but only did truthful arsenic a “concerned citizen.”

Jeanine Pirro, nan U.S. lawyer for Washington, D.C., warned against vandalizing authorities property connected Fox News’The Sunday Briefing.

“If location are much superior products that are put into nan reflecting excavation to create much algae aliases a bigger problem, past we’ll see much superior charges.

“But make nary mistake, making D.C. beautiful is simply a priority, and if you damage, vandalize aliases do thing to effect thing for illustration nan Reflecting Pool, you tin beryllium prosecuted,” Pirro said.

Trump has said nan excavation will likely person to beryllium drained for repairs. The renovations person already costs his management much than $14 million, according to reports.

The excavation is conscionable 1 of respective awesome projects astir Washington, D.C., that Trump has undertaken.

He has demolished nan East Wing of nan White House to build a monolithic and costly ballroom and paved complete nan Rose Garden for a Mar-a-Lago-style patio.

Trump has besides proposed a 250-foot arch astatine nan extremity of Arlington Memorial Bridge, crossed from nan Lincoln Memorial. The elephantine building will beryllium topped pinch a aureate winged fig flanked by 2 gilded eagles.

“Our state is astir beauty, cleanliness, safety, awesome people. Not a filthy capital,” Trump told reporters past period when defending nan ornamental Reflecting Pool task as Americans struggled pinch precocious state prices amid nan Iran war.