President Donald Trump on Sunday said the “criminally made” algae had been removed from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following two weeks of the water being plagued with the aquatic scum.
The Reflecting Pool has been under Beltway pundits’ microscope after it was refilled following renovations and quickly turned green with algae blooms, with the “American Flag Blue” paint detaching from the surface. Trump has repeatedly claimed vandals were responsible for the algae, but the pool has been prone to algae blooms since it was built in 1922.
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“The Reflecting Pool is now in full use after suffering great damage from Criminal, Radical Left Vandals, people that truly hate our Country,” Trump said. “They cut the lower surface of a very expensive and strong waterproof padding, in the color of American Flag Blue, and put their hands underneath the surface, and ripped it.”
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“Likewise, they cut and butchered a 350 foot long strip, with many 1 and 2 foot individual cuts, creating great damage to this beautiful piece of art that was, last week, 100% free of leaks, and any of the other problems it has had since its building in 1922,” he continued.
While Trump has blamed vandals for the tears in the lining, critics argue the damage was caused by the president’s own motorcade when he drove through the drained pool on May 7 to inspect the new paint job.
The president also said the pool will be drained following Independence Day celebrations in Washington, D.C., to “treat the damage caused by these ‘animals,’ it will again be in perfect shape. In the meantime, it is working well, the criminally made algae is gone, and the grass, which was destroyed, is being replaced shortly.”
Trump also said the grass near the Reflecting Pool will be replaced after “86 47” appeared on the grounds, which the administration has often claimed is a threat against his life (“86” meaning to get rid of something and “47” being Trump).
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News on Saturday that seven people were arrested for vandalism to the Reflecting Pool and 18 police reports and citations have been filed related to vandalism.
The administration has installed fencing around the pool amid Trump’s claims of vandals, which the Interior Department said was supposed to go up for July Fourth celebrations but was stood up due to the “increase in vandalism by leftist activists.” There has also been an increased police presence in the area with officers from several law enforcement agencies.
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Before Trump claimed vandals caused the algae outbreak in the Reflecting Pool, Interior officials told the Washington Examiner the outbreak was caused by “residual” algae left in supply lines that sat dormant during eight weeks of construction.
National Park Service employees combated the algae by dumping gallons of hydrogen peroxide into the bright green pool.
