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Washington, DC – President Donald Trump said on June 20, 2026, that his administration would likely have to drain the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool again, only sixteen days after the federal government began refilling it following a $14.2 million renovation. The overhauled pool, which Trump had promoted as a showcase project that would produce crystal‑clear water and a structure that could last for 100 years, has instead developed a fluorescent green algae bloom and visible structural issues. Large sections of the newly installed, custom “American flag blue” coating on the bottom have peeled away from the concrete and floated to the surface, drawing scrutiny from visitors and residents who had expected a long‑term upgrade to the prominent landmark. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform on Friday night, Trump acknowledged the problems but attributed them entirely to what he called “disgraceful Vandalism,” rejecting any suggestion that the renovation design, workmanship, or materials might be at fault. He said his administration had successfully cleaned, renovated, and beautified more than forty‑five monuments, memorials, statues, and fountains across Washington, and argued that the Reflecting Pool was an outlier because of alleged sabotage. In a follow‑up post on Saturday, he said the U.S. Park Police had arrested multiple individuals in connection with the incident and indicated that the government would take further action, including draining the pool again, to address the damage and restore the site.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.