Donald Trump's rush to repaint the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, an iconic symbol of Washington DC, has hit roadblock after roadblock as the country's 250th anniversary nears. The $14m renovation, intended to turn the pool 'American flag blue' for the Fourth of July, has been plagued by algae, peeling paint, and a ballooning price tag.
Cost Overruns and No-Bid Contracts
Trump originally said the renovation would cost $1.8m, but the federal contract shows the price has ballooned to nearly $15m. The administration bypassed competitive bidding, awarding a no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia-based business that had not previously won federal contracts. Trump said the company had worked at his golf club, but the firm did not confirm this. Another no-bid contract worth $1.7m went to John J Cafaro, a Trump donor and neighbor of Mar-a-Lago, for a filtration system to address algae.
Algae and 'New Pond Syndrome'
Within days of completion, the water turned green due to algae. The interior department claimed the water was 'crystal clear' and blamed 'fake news' media. Officials used 'advanced nanobubbler technology' and hydrogen peroxide to clean the pool, but algae persisted. Steve Goodale, a swimming pool specialist, told NPR: 'It's called new pond syndrome. It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural, clear body of water like this that sits in an open air environment and you try to start it up, very often you end up with green water almost immediately.'
Peeling Paint and Vandalism Claims
The blue coating also started to peel off, with chunks floating in the water. Trump blamed vandals, claiming they cut a 250ft gash in the pool and poured 'corrosive chemicals.' However, Washington Post reporters found no evidence of such damage. Five people were arrested for vandalism, but one, Olympic canoeist David Hearn, said he was handcuffed after reaching into the water to feel a detached piece of liner. 'I didn't vandalize anything,' he told the Washington Post.
What Happens Next?
Trump said contractors will likely drain the water for repairs. 'Work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool,' he wrote on Truth Social, calling the perpetrators 'sick, deranged people.' The pool, built in 1922 and site of Martin Luther King Jr's 'I Have a Dream' speech, remains green and peeling as the Fourth of July approaches.
