Trump called the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool “filthy” back in April, blamed Biden for its condition, and spent the next two months turning the cleanup into one of his favorite beautification projects. What began as a $1.8 million effort eventually grew into a $14.2 million renovation. The pool was finally refilled on Tuesday and presented as a success story.
By Wednesday, however, cameras captured a worker standing in the water, scraping algae from the surface. CNN obtained video of the cleanup and reached out to the Interior Department for an explanation.
At first, the department appeared unsure whether algae was even the issue. It was later settled on a more detailed response. “What you are seeing is residual algae from the supply lines, which have been sitting dormant for eight weeks while construction has been taking place. It’s part of the normal startup process. We are removing the algae, and the nanobubblers will maintain the pool and keep it algae-free.”
Algae cleanup at the Reflecting Pool this morning. Interior Dept says it’s “residual algae from the supply lines which have been sitting dormant for 8 weeks. It’s part of the normal startup process. We are removing the algae, and the nanobubblers will maintain the pool and keep… pic.twitter.com/4jebIPutqH
— Kit Maher (@KitMaherCNN) June 10, 2026
Along with the explanation, the department credited Trump as “an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good, unlike the failed and extremely costly attempt by Obama and Biden.”
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That explanation did little to slow the story down. Once the images began circulating online, the cleanup itself became the headline.
Brian Krassenstein shared the footage with the caption: “HOLY CRAP: Trump’s $10 million renovation of the reflecting pool is already filled with algae just days after it opened. Is this what you all voted for?”
HOLY CRAP: Trump’s $10 million renovation of the reflecting pool is already filled with algae just days after it opened.
Is this what you all voted for? pic.twitter.com/1xq9C7vKu2
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) June 11, 2026
The Washington Post offered a less dramatic version of the same timeline. “A few days after the $14 million renovation was completed, along came the algae in the D.C. heat.”
Unfortunately for the administration, the reflecting pool was not the only issue emerging on the National Mall this week.
By Thursday, the numbers “8647” had appeared in a patch of dead grass near the World War II Memorial. The markings were large enough to be photographed from the top of the Washington Monument, and EarthCam footage showed them gradually emerging over several days before attracting widespread notice.
The numbers carry political baggage. “86” is commonly used as slang for getting rid of something, while Trump is the 47th president.
U.S. Park Police responded with a relatively cautious statement. “The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined. Grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.”
The Interior Department took a far less restrained approach.
“The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated. Any threat against the president is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable.”
Interior Dept on 8647 graffiti on Mall: “The deranged vandalism on our National Mall will not be tolerated. Any threat against the President is taken very seriously by the Department, and our U.S. Park Police will investigate this incident and hold those responsible accountable” pic.twitter.com/OfDWlRIOCt
— Josh Cradduck (@JoshNBCTV) June 11, 2026
The controversy also arrives with some recent history attached to it.
Back in April, former FBI Director James Comey was indicted after posting an Instagram photo showing seashells arranged to spell “8647” on a beach. Comey later removed the image and apologized, writing that it never occurred to him that the numbers could be interpreted as a threat and emphasizing that he opposed violence in any form.
Featured image via X screengrab
