Donald Trump’s recent allegations of vandalism causing damage to the Washington DC reflecting pool have been discredited following the emergence of new evidence. The 80-year-old US President expressed his frustration on Truth Social after the pool near the Lincoln Memorial turned green due to an algal bloom shortly after undergoing a $14 million renovation. The pool’s base was colored ‘American flag blue’ during the remodeling, potentially leading to the rapid algae growth that has plagued the pool for years.
Reports indicate that the painted layer has started to peel, with some tourists taking painted fragments as souvenirs. Despite previous criticism of the pool’s condition under Joe Biden’s administration, Trump firmly believes that vandalism is the root cause of the recent issues at the Reflecting Pool.
Efforts to address the algae problem included using hydrogen peroxide, which inadvertently caused the paint to peel off, while the algae persisted. Ozone nanobubbles and other treatments were deployed to clean the pool, with workers resorting to vacuuming algae from the bottom. Trump’s discord with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni escalated over claims of photo requests and criticisms of Italy’s stance during the Iran conflict. The dispute unfolded during the G7 summit, leading to diplomatic tensions and the cancellation of Italy’s foreign minister’s visit to the US.
