Donald Trump’s team blames Obama for algae still plaguing the reflecting pool — after a $14 million renovation failed to fix it

The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool cost an estimated $14 million and was supposed to deal with the algae problem which has been affecting the landmark for years. However, despite the pool being drained, the bottom of the pool recoated, and a nanobubbler filtration system installed, the green algae has already returned.

Visitors to the Washington D.C. landmark have noted that the water is noticeably green merely days after the pool was re-opened to the public. It was supposed to be “American flag blue” Plenty of people shared photos and videos showing the swamp-looking water, “It is greener than the grass and the trees,” influencer “_rxntz_” (AKA Brad) stated in a video posted to Instagram. He shared photos he swears are unedited which show the hue of the water.

Meanwhile MAGA influencer Grant Stinchfield stated in a video shared on Instagram that he felt like the latest algal bloom was “sabotage” or “vandalism.” He questions if the saboteurs are “pumping something into this,” although he does not elaborate further on his theory.

The Trump administration points the finger

In a statement obtained by the New York Post a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior claimed that “The nanobubbler technology has successfully destroyed the algae bloom that has plagued every pool reopening since 1922.” They added a comment about “the Obama pool reopening that resulted in massive algae clumps taking over the pool’s surface,” which they referred to as infamous.

The spokesperson assured doubters that the nanobubbler technology had destroyed the algae blooms and it was just a matter of vacuuming it up claiming they were “actually maintaining” the Reflecting Pool “versus previous administrations.” They told the New York Post that, prior to the Trump administration’s refurbishments, the pool supposedly leaked 16 million gallons of water every year.

Communications Director Katie Martin spoke with CNN and claimed that the algae in the water had been lying dormant for the last eight weeks while construction was underway. She said that the sudden bloom was a “part of the normal start-up process.” This week, photos and videos emerged showing crews pouring bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the pool in order to deal with the algae. Workers were also seen wading into the pool in order to remove clumps of algae.

After weeks of people speculating over whether the Trump administration’s renovations of the Reflecting Pool would fix the issue many now believe that the $14 million spent on the fixes and resurfacing were a waste. While the administration insists that the algae issue will be fixed many are convinced the pool is beyond saving.