President Donald Trump said a small damaged section of the newly coated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool will be repaired after reports of peeling and algae growth following the renovation project.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said vandalism caused damage to the newly installed coating inside the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, as federal workers continue efforts to address algae growth that has turned parts of the water green.
Trump addressed the issue late Friday in a Truth Social post, saying vandals had targeted both the pool area and surrounding grounds on the National Mall.
“[W]e’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool…” Trump wrote.
“Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed. No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work,” the president wrote.
Trump said the damaged section of the reflecting pool coating is “small” and “will be fixed early next week.”
The comments came after reports that parts of the new “American flag blue” coating on the bottom of the pool had begun peeling in some areas. The pool has also been affected by algae growth since the renovation project was completed.
National Park Service workers have used hydrogen peroxide and a new filtration system to combat the algae bloom, which turned the pool green.
The same report noted that some portions of the new coating had begun to peel, adding scrutiny to the recent work at one of the National Mall’s most visible landmarks.
Trump’s post also referenced recent damage to grass near the pool. Just days before the president’s 80th birthday, the numbers “86 47” were etched into the grass on the National Mall.
The number 86 is commonly used to mean removing or getting rid of someone, while Trump is the 47th president of the United States. The administration has argued that the phrase can carry a more threatening meaning, including a possible threat against the president.
The incident followed a separate controversy involving former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted on charges of making threats against Trump after he posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged to display “8647.”
The reflecting pool repair is expected to continue as federal workers address both the damaged coating and algae bloom.
Trump defended the administration’s response and said the affected coating area would be corrected quickly.
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