Trump Addresses Issues at Reflecting Pool After Costly Renovation
WHO:
CNN - President Trump described the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as “absolutely filthy.”
CNN - Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon criticized the renovation project.
CNN - Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia commented on the renovation's issues.
CNN - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed his views on the renovation.
The Guardian - Trump is the 47th president of the United States.
WHAT:
CNN - The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool cost $14 million.
CNN - Trump claimed the algae problem is “75% gone” and will be “completely remedied” soon.
The Guardian - The algae bloom turned the water green shortly after the renovation.
The Guardian - Paint has been seen peeling off in the water.
The Guardian - The project aimed to turn the pool “American Flag blue” ahead of the country’s 250th birthday celebrations.
The Guardian - The National Park Service deployed employees to clean the algae and add hydrogen peroxide to the water.
WHERE:
CNN - The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is located in Washington, DC.
The Guardian - The pool sits between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial.
WHEN:
CNN - Trump ordered the refurbishment project in late March.
The Guardian - The algae bloom occurred shortly after the renovation was completed.
WHY:
CNN - Trump aimed to beautify Washington, DC, as part of his efforts leading up to the America 250 celebrations.
The Guardian - Trump blamed “vandalism” for the problems at the reflecting pool.
HOW:
CNN - The renovation included painting the bottom of the pool a shade of blue resembling the American flag’s blue field.
CNN - Workers were sent in to vacuum the algae and install a filtration system known as the “ozone nanobubbler.”
(UPDATED June 20, 2026 17:24 UTC)
President Trump has described the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, as “absolutely filthy,” following a $14 million renovation project that aimed to beautify the area ahead of the country’s 250th birthday celebrations. Despite claims that the algae problem is “75% gone” and will soon be “completely remedied,” issues such as peeling paint and a greenish hue in the water have drawn criticism from Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon and others. The National Park Service has been deployed to clean the algae and improve the situation, as the pool sits prominently between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial.