Trump's 'American Flag Blue' Reflecting Pool Turns Green Amid Algae Bloom

President Donald Trump ordered the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be repainted in an "American flag blue" hue as part of a $14‑million renovation. Within days of the pool being refilled, an algal bloom turned the water chartreuse, prompting the National Park Service to launch intensive cleaning operations. Workers used vacuum pumps, mechanical skimmers and a nanobubble ozone system, and applied hydrogen peroxide as a milder alternative to chlorine. Contractors and park rangers reported that the dark painted bottom raises water temperature, encouraging algae growth, and warned that further treatment or even draining may be required.

Tourists noted the contrast between the intended blue and the green water, while critics highlighted the project’s cost and the non‑competitive contract awarded to a firm previously linked to Trump’s golf clubs. The administration defended the effort, stating the chemicals pose no harm to marine life. The incident has sparked debate over the use of taxpayer funds for aesthetic projects and the feasibility of maintaining a large open‑air water feature.

The situation illustrates the logistical challenges of managing a historic, open‑air reflecting pool and underscores ongoing scrutiny of Trump’s high‑profile construction initiatives in Washington, D.C.