The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington D.C. underwent a $14.7 million renovation completed in early June 2026, repainting the pool bottom with a color called "American Flag Blue" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Shortly after completion, green algae growth emerged widely, and the newly applied blue paint began peeling off in large pieces visible floating in the water [1, 4, 9].
President Donald Trump claims the damage resulted from deliberate vandalism. He stated individuals dumped corrosive chemicals into the pool and scratched a roughly 250-foot-long gouge into the pool bottom with a sharp object [2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8]. Trump said, "誰會做這種事？這是非常嚴重的罪行，涉及破壞國家紀念碑。將判處多年監禁！修復工作將立即開始。" (Who would do such a thing? This is a very serious crime involving destruction of a national monument and will result in years of prison. Repairs will begin immediately.) [2]. He also indicated multiple suspects have been arrested by U.S. Park Police in connection with the vandalism [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8].
Controversy surrounds the cause of the peeling paint and algae bloom. Some officials and Trump allege vandalism, while observers and experts suggest construction quality problems and the chemical algae treatment actually triggered the damage [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8]. The reflecting pool is 610 to 620 meters long and lies adjacent to the Lincoln Memorial, a historic landmark [3, 4, 7, 8].
David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, was arrested after briefly touching peeling paint in the pool and charged with destruction of government property. Hearn denies wrongdoing, saying, "我沒有破壞、打壞或剝落任何東西。等我反應過來時，人已經被上銬了。我只是伸手碰了一下那塊已經翹起的塗層邊緣。它本來就已經剝落，還連著底部。我沒有把任何東西拿走。" (I did not damage, break, or peel anything. By the time I reacted, I was handcuffed. I just touched the peeling edge which was already lifted, still attached to the bottom. I took nothing.) [7].
Authorities applied hydrogen peroxide to remove algae, but experts warn that this treatment unexpectedly fueled a rapid growth of a new green algae species. Hans Paerl, a professor at UNC Chapel Hill, said, "這確實是一種生長非常迅速的藻類。現在綠藻正全面占領倒映池。" (It is indeed a very fast-growing algae. The green algae now fully occupy the reflecting pool.) [3].
The renovation vastly exceeded initial budgets, costing between $14 million and $14.7 million, much higher than the originally forecasted under $2 million [1, 2, 4, 9, 6, 8]. There is also dispute over a $1.7 million water purification contract awarded without public bidding to a company linked to Trump donors, raising conflict of interest concerns [2, 6].
Trump linked the pool vandalism to an earlier incident where the numbers "86 47" were spray-painted on National Mall lawn, which he interpreted as a threat against him [2, 5, 6].
Photographers on June 19 spotted workers removing paint fragments and large patches of the green algae from the pool [1, 4]. Trump tweeted that several arrests have been made and that the pool will likely need to be drained for repairs [1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8]. The reflecting pool renovation was completed in preparation for the upcoming 250th US Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2026 [3, 4].
