Critics are hammering President Donald Trump's renovation of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall after algae quickly appeared following the refilling, despite the president declaring it's now filled with "CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL WATER."
Algae Blooms Appear Shortly After Refilling
Less than two weeks after the pool was refilled following Trump's $14 million renovation, the algae blooms have forced the administration to employ several techniques to mitigate them. These include using hip-waders to vacuum up the water and pouring gallons of hydrogen peroxide into the pool, according to a CNN report.
Interior Department's Response
The Interior Department claims a "state-of-the-art" filtration system has been installed as part of the renovations and is working. "Due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology, the algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak," an Interior Department spokesperson told CNN. "The nanobubbler technology has successfully destroyed the algae bloom that has plagued every pool reopening."
A U.S. National Park Service employee uses a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on June 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Trump Administration spent $16 million on a no-bid contract to have the bottom of the pool painted "American flag blue" and the seams resealed as part of an effort to repair Washington landmarks in preparation for the country's 250th birthday this summer.
Worker's Perspective
However, a worker at the National Mall who spoke to CNN said it would take "an entire lifetime" to clean the entire pool. Before the renovations, Trump harshly disparaged the pool's green water, calling it "disgusting" and "not representative of the country."
Historical Context
This is not a problem specific to Trump, as previous administrations have attempted to address the algae issue with little success. In 2012, algae quickly reappeared after a $34 million renovation done under the Obama administration.
Social Media Backlash
Critics on social media have been torching the seemingly nonstop barrage of pictures of the pool's water and the workers attempting to clean it up ahead of the country's 250th anniversary celebration:
- From the man who brought you raking forests, folks.
- #AllAlgaeMatters
- I can't believe the pro life party is killing all that algae. I mean, it doesn't have brain, or a consciousness, but it's living cells, dividing and growing in a warm, dark environment... Maybe if they'd been responsible from the start this wouldn't have happened.
- I'm starting a rumor that the Loch Ness monster has been sighted in the Reflecting Pool.
- The DC reflecting pool just keeps getting better every day, thank you Papa Trump!
- They're literally dumping hydrogen peroxide into the reflecting pool this morning...
- Y'all, not to be a huge nerd but for the reflecting pool you would need a minimum of about 8,000 liters of 12% hydrogen peroxide to reach the 50 parts per million concentration to kill algae…Is this what happens when you have 0 scientists in your administration?
- BREAKING: They are now pouring bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the ultra-green algae-filled Reflecting Pool that Trump wasted $10m of our money on.
