Trump Vows Immediate Repairs to Washington’s Reflecting Pool After Vandalism

U.S. President Donald Trump announced last Sunday that he has inspected the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., and that repair work would start on the spot, following reports that the iconic water feature had been vandalised and suffered from an emerald‑green algae bloom.

The president, who flew over the pool in the helicopter trailing him from Camp David, appeared to assess the damage from a distance, as he “inspected it” from the air rather than walking to the site in a vehicle.

Despite a multi‑million‑dollar renovation that completed last month— repainting the pool’s surfaces with a bright blue finish— the pool is still plagued by leaks, faulty piping and bird droppings. Algae has turned the water a vivid green, prompting the use of chemical treatments such as hydrogen peroxide to restore clarity.

Officials say the vandalism may require the pool to be drained and refilled a second time this month. Police have filed 14 complaints, arresting five people, while issuing citations to five more. The Washington‑DC attorney general’s office, led by Jeanine Pirro, vowed to prosecute anyone who damages the pool.

One of the cases involved a former Olympic athlete who was arrested for allegedly putting a blade in the pool’s surface. The athlete denied damaging the surface, claiming only to have touched the peeling paint, and called the arrest “arbitrary, capricious.”

Scientists from George Mason University recorded that the green algae is a harmless species called Desmodesmus, though wildlife biologists warn that birds could introduce more harmful algae. Continuous monitoring of the pool’s ecosystem is essential to address any changes rapidly.

These events come as the pool approaches its 250th anniversary of the United States’ Independence Day, adding a layer of urgency for the nation's curated landmarks to be kept in pristine condition for future generations.