Trump Orders Immediate Repairs to Washington’s Reflecting Pool After Algae and Vandalism Scandal
President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he inspected Washington’s iconic Reflecting Pool by helicopter and that work will begin immediately to repair the seriously vandalised landmark.
Despite a $13 million renovation earlier this year—including a fresh coat of blue paint—the pool remains plagued by green algae, leaking pipes and graffiti. Trump noted that the pool may need to be drained again this month following his flight back from Camp David.
The vandalism has swept up political debate. Washington’s U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro pledged to prosecute anyone who damages the pool, and senior Trump officials said five people were arrested and five cited during a Saturday night raid.
Police filed 14 reports in total. Allegations include a visitor claiming to have inflicted a 250‑foot gash on the pool’s façade with a blade.
The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 2,030 ft (619 m) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has long endured leaks, pipe failures and bird droppings. Even after the renovation, the structure still shows patches of peeling paint from the fresh coating.
On Sunday, Trump used Truth Social to condemn the vandalism as “sick” and “deranged”, urging the U.S. Attorney’s office to act. He claimed to have only inspected the site from the air, hovering over the pool from his helicopter on his way back to the White House.
While a former Olympic athlete was arrested on Friday, he claimed only to be touching the paint, not vandalising it. He called his arrest an “arbitrary, capricious prosecution”.
Environmental details include the use of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide to combat the algae bloom that began after the pool was refilled. A dead duckling was recently spotted in the water, raising concerns about animal welfare during maintenance.
George Mason University professor Rosalina Stancheva Christova took a water sample on 16 June and identified the dominant algae species as Desmodesmus—harmless to humans and animals. However, she cautions that the pool’s ecosystem is dynamic and must be monitored to detect any harmful organisms introduced by birds.
Trump’s announcement appears aimed at reassuring citizens before the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Independence Day, amid a cloud of vandalism and ecological questions surrounding an emblematic national monument.
