Trump's $14 Million Reflecting Pool Disaster: Blue Paint Peels Off Like Bad Wallpaper

Blue paint is peeling off the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a shocking sight captured in viral videos.

President Donald Trump’s $14 million renovation has already backfired, with footage showing the paint flaking away just days after application.

Algae growth has exploded in the pool since it was refilled post-renovation. National Park Service crews are scrambling to dredge and chemically treat the water to combat the outbreak.

A significant portion of blue paint is visibly breaking free from the pool's floor, rising to the surface like a bad omen.

The pool, now featuring an "American flag blue" base, has turned a murky chartreuse due to rampant algal blooms. Park service workers are racing against time to address the issue, which emerged shortly after the $14 million-plus overhaul was completed.

While the Washington Monument reflects in the water, Trump’s vision of a pristine azure stretch between iconic landmarks is marred by the harsh realities of chemistry and biology. The pool dwarfs 10 Olympic-sized pools, and its water source is the notoriously murky Tidal Basin.

Algae has plagued this site for over a century, but Trump aimed to tackle it as part of his beautification drive ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary. Contracts totaling at least $14.8 million were awarded for this project, spurred by complaints from a friend who found the pool “dark and disgusting.”

Shortly after renovations, algae took over the reflecting pool.

National Park Service crews and contractors are deploying chemicals and ozone nanobubbles to control the algae, echoing previous cleaning attempts before Trump’s renovation began.