Troubled Reflecting Pool faces fresh scrutiny over vandalism claims and
duck deaths
[June 24, 2026]
By MATTHEW DALY
WASHINGTON (AP) — The saga over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
took a turn as President Donald Trump said Tuesday that six people have
been arrested over recent damage. The president’s troubled
$14-million-plus rehabilitation project has become a visceral flashpoint
over law enforcement, aesthetics and environmental concerns ahead of the
country's 250th anniversary celebrations.
In a social media post, Trump claimed without supporting evidence that
there had been a “350-foot gash” in the paint as the administration
faces a self-imposed deadline to fix the botched renovation before the
nation's 250th anniversary celebration next week. He has also said,
including again on Tuesday, that the federal government would release
images to substantiate his claim.
Trump pledged to beautify the century-old Reflecting Pool ahead of the
anniversary celebrations, draining its water and having the bottom
painted a color he dubbed “American flag blue.” But since the site was
restored, its water has been plagued with algae bloom and pieces of the
new coating appeared to be peeling off the bottom.
Trump, without evidence, has repeatedly blamed the peeling paint on
vandalism.
“It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had to work very
hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition,” Trump
wrote Tuesday, adding that another seven people were cited for allegedly
damaging the pool.
The U.S. Park Police and the Interior Department did not immediately
respond to requests for comment on the arrests or Trump's claim of
vandalism.
The Associated Press verified that one man was arrested after touching
the already-peeling paint. He said he wanted to examine the new coating,
touching a still-attached chunk briefly then letting go shortly after a
park worker told him to.
A maintenance problem morphs into a law enforcement issue
National Guard members and Park Police have been patrolling the deck
around the pool after Trump insisted over the weekend that vandals were
responsible for damage to the liner, without providing evidence.
Crews were seen adding fencing near the area late Tuesday. An Interior
spokeswoman said the Reflecting Pool “was always set to be fenced off
ahead of the 4th of July," noting that one of the launch pads for the
fireworks is near the pool.
“With the increase in vandalism by leftist activists, the fencing is
going up earlier than originally planned to ensure no more damage is
done to this historic site," spokeswoman Katie Martin said in an email.
She did not provide evidence of her claim about the political leanings
of possible vandals.
Trump said Tuesday that the Interior Department will release images of
alleged vandalism at the pool. Pressed by reporters after Air Force One
landed in Pennsylvania for a visit to a trucking company, Trump said
Interior is “going to share” photos and videos of the alleged vandalism,
which remains unverified.
The president had said on Monday that the images existed and the federal
government would provide them. No photos were made public as of Tuesday
afternoon.
The arrests highlighted what’s expected to be tightened security in the
capital ahead of and during the 250th anniversary celebrations, which
are set to draw large crowds to the National Mall and other tourist
sites.
[to top of second column]
|
A piece of the blue coating floats among algae at the Lincoln
Memorial Reflecting Pool Sunday, June 21, 2026, on the National Mall
in Washington. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick
Trump also said Tuesday that “some of the water” will be drained
from the pool “either immediately before or after the Fourth of
July, to do the permanent repair.”
It was unclear from his post what the scale, scope or cost of the
permanent repair would be.
Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a contractor on the pool project, said
it has identified some areas in the Reflecting Pool that require
repairs. “These areas are a very small part of the massive 7-acre
project, and do not indicate a failure of the liner,” the company
said in a statement. The company said it expected to make the
repairs to the pool once it is drained, as part of the warranty.
Environmental group wades in after duckling found dead
Adding to the controversy swirling around the pool, an environmental
group called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate
after a Mallard duckling carcass was photographed floating in the
algae-filled pool, and two other ducks were found dead nearby. The
Center for Biological Diversity said Tuesday that the Wildlife
Service must enforce the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects
migratory birds.
“Wasting taxpayer money turning the reflecting pool into a giant
duck death trap just in time for America’s 250th birthday party is
as Trump as it gets. Cruel, stupid and selfish,” said Tara Zuardo, a
senior campaigner at the Arizona-based group.
City Wildlife, a Washington-based rescue and rehabilitation
non-profit that also conducts necropsies on birds found in the city,
said they could not comment on the cause of the death of the
duckling because its carcass “wasn't recovered for examination.”
Renovation project plagued ahead of the 250 celebrations
Trump pitched the original improvements as intended to clean,
beautify and reinforce an iconic site that he said had become
dilapidated and dirty because of previous presidents’ neglect. Algae
has plagued the pool for a century, and Trump insisted that the
newly installed “American flag blue” coating, which he selected
himself, would turn the pool into a gleaming expanse along the
National Mall.
Yet within weeks of Trump declaring the rehabilitation completed in
time for Independence Day, the water was plagued by a vivid green
algae bloom that clouded the pool’s coating. A piece of liner, about
4 square feet, was observed on Friday, partially floating in the
pool. The Associated Press saw additional pieces in the water on
Monday.
Workers were seen in recent days pouring hydrogen peroxide into the
pool in an attempt to kill the algae. Hydrogen peroxide can act as a
paint remover.
Experts say the dark lining can add to algae growth by absorbing
more sunlight than lighter surfaces. That raises the surrounding
water temperature, allowing algae to thrive.
___
Associated Press writer Josh Boak contributed to this story.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
