A dead duckling was discovered floating in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Saturday, following the Trump administration's $20 million renovation that involved pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to combat algae growth. The young duck's body was seen by visitors, raising concerns about the pool's condition after the renovation.
Renovation details and algae issues
The Trump administration announced the refurbishment of Washington DC's Reflecting Pools to fix leaks in the granite foundation and coat the pool with blue paint ahead of the 250th anniversary of US independence. However, the pool quickly became filled with algae, and the National Park Service was seen working to clear lumps of algae from the still water over the weekend. Some of the 'American Blue' paint was also observed lifting off the pool bottom and floating around.
In an effort to tackle the algae growth, workers poured high-strength hydrogen peroxide, a form of bleach, into the water. President Donald Trump has denied the presence of algae in the pool.
Duckling death and arrest of Olympian
Yesterday, the body of a young duckling was seen floating in the water, though it is unclear if its death was related to the bleaching and ongoing issues. Trump has long boasted about the renovation, which he completed ahead of America's 250th birthday. 'The algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak,' the government said last week, adding: 'We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good.'
In a separate incident, a three-time Olympian who visited the Lincoln Memorial on Friday to see the newly refurbished Reflecting Pools was arrested. David Hearn, 67, was checking out the pool when he reached into the water to feel it. He was handcuffed and charged with destruction of government property. Video of the incident spread online, with conservative commentators claiming Hearn was 'vandalising' the pool.
Hearn told the Washington Post: 'I didn't vandalise anything. I didn't destroy, break, or peel anything. By the time I realised what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs.'
Government response and Trump's comments
The government has vowed to prosecute anyone they suspect of vandalising the pool. President Trump posted on Truth Social: 'Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool. It hasn't looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn't work. Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before! What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly.'
