Algae has foiled Donald Trump's $14.2 million attempt to transform the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool into what he called "American flag blue," just days after the renovation was completed.
Failed Makeover
The US president had sought to turn the historically significant pool, a site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech, from a "filthy" and "dirty" state into a "beautiful" monument in time for the nation's 250th birthday. However, the water has turned green again due to algae proliferation.
Contract Controversy
The no-bid contract for waterproofing and repainting the century-old pool was awarded to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia company that previously worked on a swimming pool at one of Trump's golf clubs. The administration initially claimed that residual algae would be cleared after renovation, but warm weather has caused it to thrive.
Nanobubbler Technology
The US Department of the Interior has announced the installation of a water treatment system using "nanobubbler technology" to combat the algae. A spokesperson stated that the technology has successfully destroyed the algae bloom, which has plagued every pool reopening since 1922. The spokesperson added that the pool was "broken and disgusting" after a previous renovation under Barack Obama.
"Now, due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology, the algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak," the spokesperson said. "We thank President Trump for fixing the reflecting pool for good."
Trump's Claims
In a Truth Social post on June 5, Trump boasted that the renovation would last 100 years, describing it as "highly sophisticated material, industrial strength" applied by talented workers. Administration officials have claimed that previous presidents failed to beautify the pool with costly projects. Initially estimated at $1.8 million, the cost has skyrocketed to over $14 million.
National Park Service employees were seen using skimmers on June 15 to clean algae from the pool and restore its intended blue hue.
