US President Donald Trump says he has "inspected" the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, and that "work will begin immediately" to repair the American landmark.
Despite a multi‑million dollar renovation, including fresh blue paint, the historic pool continues to suffer from algae growth, turning the water bright green, and paint peeling from the bottom.
Trump, who flew over the site in a helicopter on Sunday while returning from Camp David, announced the plan on Truth Social, calling the vandalism "SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!" He implied the inspection was conducted from the air and did not involve ground access.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro vowed to prosecute anyone who vandalizes the pool, and a senior Trump administration official reported five arrests and five citations for vandalism. A total of 14 police reports were filed, including one that claimed a 250‑foot gash was made in the pool’s façade.
The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 2,030 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has long struggled with leaks, structural issues, faulty pipes, algae, and bird droppings.
Officials have used chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide to manage the green algae bloom that appeared after the refill following the paint job earlier this month. A photographer this weekend photographed a dead duckling floating in the pool, though the cause remains unclear.
Professor Rosalina Stancheva Christova of George Mason University sampled the water on 16 June and identified the green algae as species Desmodesmus, which she says is harmless to humans and animals, though she noted that other organisms could be introduced by birds and carry harmful bacteria.
These ecosystems are dynamic and can change quickly, she added, recommending constant monitoring to identify the organisms living there.
For further context, read the related story about a former Olympian denied vandalising the pool: Former Olympian denies vandalising Washington Reflecting Pool after arrest.
