Trump Blames 'Vandals' for Chemical Chaos in Reflecting Pool After His Team's Bleach Fiasco

President Donald Trump has unleashed accusations of vandalism, claiming “vandals” poured chemicals into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after his own team’s bleach treatment failed miserably, leaving the pool a murky green.

Trump had boasted that the pool would be “the most beautiful thing that you've ever seen,” following a renovation that painted it in what he dubbed American flag blue. Just days post-renovation, algae turned the pool green, and the paint began to chip away.

In the wake of this renovation disaster, the Trump administration resorted to dumping hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat the algae, while simultaneously hurling accusations of sabotage to deflect blame from their own incompetence.

“Of the MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, the only one that was Vandalized was the Reflecting Pool, which is being taken care of, ASAP!” Trump declared on Truth Social.

He alleged that “chemicals have been illegally placed in the water” and claimed a 300-foot-long gash was inflicted on the basin.

The specific chemicals Trump accused vandals of using remain unclear, but his administration has already dumped significant amounts of hydrogen peroxide into the pool.

Last week, workers were observed pouring gallon bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the approximately 2,000-foot pool. The Interior Department also claimed to have employed “advanced nanobubbler technology” to address the algae issue.

In a post on X, the Interior Department stated that this technology “very effectively killed the algae” and proclaimed the pool was now “crystal clear.”

However, the agency acknowledged ongoing work, as a National Park Service team still needed to vacuum algae from certain areas of the pool. Recent photos indicate large sections of the basin remain tinted green.

Trump also lamented that the “beautiful” grass on the National Mall was “destroyed with a gigantic 86 47 chemically carved into it (Probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!).”

This remark referenced a federal indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, alleging that a photo he posted in May 2025 featuring seashells on the beach with “86 47” constituted a threat against Trump. Comey has denied wrongdoing and pledged to contest the charges.

“Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things - Which will be fully enforced!” Trump warned in his post regarding the alleged Reflecting Pool vandalism.

Over the weekend, Trump claimed U.S. Park Police “arrested multiple individuals” for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool.

Among those arrested was former U.S. Olympic canoe racer David Hearn from Bethesda, Maryland. He reported being detained for five hours on Friday for a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property.

“It's a completely unfounded accusation. It's a lie,” Hearn told the Daily Mail. “I didn't rip, tear, destruct, destroy, or harm in any way, any part of the reflecting pool.”

He admitted to touching a “loose flap of coating” on the basin but insisted it was out of concern as a citizen.

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., cautioned against vandalizing government property during an appearance on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing.

“If there are more serious products that are put into the reflecting pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we’ll consider more serious charges,” she stated.

“But make no mistake, making D.C. beautiful is a priority, and if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted,” Pirro added.

Trump indicated that repairs would likely necessitate draining the pool. Reports suggest renovations have already cost his administration over $14 million.

The Reflecting Pool is just one of several high-profile projects initiated by Trump around Washington, D.C.

He has demolished the East Wing of the White House to construct an extravagant ballroom and paved over the Rose Garden for a Mar-a-Lago-style patio.

Additionally, Trump has proposed erecting a 250-foot arch at Arlington Memorial Bridge’s end, opposite the Lincoln Memorial. This massive structure will feature a golden winged figure flanked by two gilded eagles.

“Our country is about beauty, cleanliness, safety, great people. Not a filthy capital,” Trump asserted last month while defending the ornamental Reflecting Pool project amid rising gas prices during the Iran war.