Lincoln Reflecting Pool turns bright green after Trump renovation
The water in Washington DC’s famed Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has turned a bright green after Donald Trump’s much-touted renovation of the landmark.
The water turned green last week after the pool was beset by algae following the renovation.
Green algae on the surface of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
The seven-acre pool was painted “American flag blue” at Trump’s request ahead of Independence Day celebrations in a few weeks’ time.
But the Interior Department said “residual algae” has come through the pipes after the renovation.
“Versus previous administrations, the National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool,” a spokesperson said.
“The nanobubbler technology has successfully destroyed the algae bloom that has plagued every pool reopening since 1922.
“Now, due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology, the algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak.
“We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good.”
Washington is getting more hot and humid as summer sets in, creating ideal conditions for algae to grow.
Experts say the water will need to be drained completely, and new water treated with chemicals to inhibit more algal growth.
The Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial has a tint of green from algae. AP Photo/Rahmat Gul
But even then, it is no guarantee the water won’t turn green again.
The renovations to the reflecting pool have been one of Trump’s favourite subjects in recent weeks, mentioning it three times on Truth Social in the past 24 hours.
Trump was sued over the renovations, which were made without reviews from federal agencies and with a no-bid contract to a company who worked on his golf course.
The pool is one of Washington’s best known landmarks. A quarter of a million people gathered around the pool in 1963 to hear Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech.
A massive anti-Vietnam war rally in 1967 was famously depicted in the film Forrest Gump, in which the main character runs through the water to embrace his beloved Jenny.
Martin Luther King improvised most of his 'I Have a Dream' speech. Getty
A short walk away, vandals have etched the numbers “86 47” on the grass on the National Mall.
The US Park Police are investigating after the numbers started to faintly appear in brown grass.
The Trump administration has argued in the past that the numbers are a death threat against the president.
“86” is an old-fashioned slang for an item that is no longer on a diner menu, and is commonly used to mean “to throw out”.
And “47″ is often used to describe Donald Trump, as the 47th President of the United States.
It is not apparent what has caused the grass to become browner in a way that makes the numbers appear, but police are looking for a culprit.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
