Trump gives update on 'criminally made algae' at Reflecting Pool and announces when it will be drained
Donald Trump has given an update on one of his pet beautification projects in Washington D.C., despite the site still being surrounded by visible fencing and undergoing renovation work.
The president toured the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a rainy visit to inspect progress on the renovation, which has become something of a headache in recent weeks after a string of issues plagued the famous landmark.
Despite the ongoing work clearly still being visible at the site, Trump insisted the pool was already back in action, setting tongues wagging online over the state of the project.
The renovation has faced a number of setbacks since it began, with the pool turning a noticeable shade of lime green at one point due to an algae bloom, while chunks of blue coating have also been seen visibly separating from the pool's structure.
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What did Trump say about the Reflecting Pool algae?
Trump claimed the pool was "in full use" during his tour of the site, despite the visible signs of ongoing renovation work surrounding it.
He also gave an update on the algae issue that's been plaguing the pool, writing on Truth Social that the "criminally made algae is gone" and that the pool would be in "perfect shape" after July 4th, following further treatment.
His use of the word "criminally" appears to reference claims that the algae bloom wasn't simply a natural occurrence, with the Parks Service confirming that vandals had cut the liner coating the bottom of the pool, lending some credibility to the suggestion of deliberate damage.
The pool has endured a rocky few weeks even before the vandalism was confirmed, with weeks of chemical treatment failing to fully resolve the algae problem, and reports of dead ducklings being found at the site adding to the litany of issues surrounding the renovation.
How much has the Reflecting Pool renovation cost?
The cost of the project has also become a point of scrutiny, after ballooning significantly from Trump's original estimate.
The renovation was initially projected to cost around $2 million, but that figure has since climbed dramatically to an estimated $16 million, marking a significant jump from the price first floated when the project was announced.
The rising costs, combined with the ongoing algae issues and confirmed vandalism, have made the renovation one of the more scrutinised infrastructure projects tied to Trump's Washington D.C. beautification efforts.
Trump has maintained that the pool will be fully resolved in time for Independence Day celebrations, with further treatment expected to take place in the lead-up to July 4th.
Speaking to UNILAD, White House Spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said: “We’re seeing the sad effects of just 29 per cent of Democrats saying they’re very proud of our country, deranged left-wing lunatics vandalising monuments and trying to sow division ahead of America’s 250th birthday.
"President Trump spearheaded historic renovations of the Reflecting Pool because he wants to build this country up and celebrate its greatness. Today, the Reflecting Pool is crystal clear and is reflecting beautifully."
The National Park Service told UNILAD: "Unlike under Obama and Biden, the National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool.
"To keep the water in the Reflecting Pool not only crystal clear but also clean, we are deploying high-tech nanobubble ozone technology. This technology is actively killing algae, pathogens (e.g., E. coli), and contaminants that have long plagued the Reflecting Pool since 1922, most infamously, the Obama pool reopening that resulted in massive algae clumps taking over the pool’s surface following years of construction that cost taxpayers millions upon millions, only to be broken and disgusting days later.
"Additionally, hydrogen peroxide, which is a milder treatment than chlorine and is used in spas and speciality pools like natural swimming pools, is also treating the pool. There are no harmful side effects to marine life or to the environment. The nanobubble technology has been tested and validated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The Ohio State University and The University of Florida."
UNILAD has contacted the National Park Service for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Washington
Thomas Bamford