Trump Orders Immediate Repairs to Washington’s Reflecting Pool Amid Booming Vandalism

Former U.S. president Donald Trump announced that the repair work on the historic Reflecting Pool would begin “immediately” after inspecting it via helicopter on his return from Camp David. This comes after a surge of vandalism incidents that have damaged the freshly painted blue facade.

The pool, stretching 2,030 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, was recently renovated for roughly $13 million. Despite the new paint and updated infrastructure, the water has turned bright green due to algae and has suffered leaks and other structural failures. Officials say the pool might be drained and refilled again this month.

Vandalism has intensified in the weeks leading up to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. independence day. Trump claims routine patrols have caught five arrests and five citations in the National Mall area. The U.S. Attorney for Washington, DC, Jeanine Pirro, has pledged to prosecute anyone who damages the pool.

Recently, a former Olympic athlete was detained for allegedly vandalising paint, while a champion canoeist named Davey Hearn was arrested after claiming he had only touched the peeling paint. Police have filed 14 reports, including one describing a 250‑foot–long gash made with a blade.

Scientists confirm the green algae in the pool is a harmless type called Desmodesmus and advise that wildlife, especially birds, could introduce harmful bacteria. A dead duckling was found in the pool during the weekend, raising questions about the safety of surrounding wildlife.

More on this story: BBC News – Former Olympian denies vandalising Reflecting Pool after arrest.