Trump wanted the Reflecting Pool to be ‘American Flag Blue.’ Algae is turning it green.

Key Points:

• The Trump administration spent over $10 million renovating the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, repainting it "American flag blue" ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, but the water quickly turned dark green due to algae growth.
• Despite the algae bloom, Interior Department officials defended the project, highlighting the use of advanced nanobubble ozone technology and hydrogen peroxide treatments to combat algae without harming the environment.
• Shallow, sun-exposed pools like the Reflecting Pool are prone to algae because of nutrient runoff from animal waste and fertilizers, which fueled the rapid color change shortly after the repainting was completed.
• The renovation faced significant controversy, including a no-bid $13 million contract awarded to a company linked to Trump’s golf club and a lawsuit from the Cultural Landscape Foundation opposing the repainting as inconsistent with the pool’s original design.
• The Reflecting Pool project is part of broader, contentious efforts by President Trump to reshape Washington, D.C., including restoring other landmarks and undertaking the controversial White House East Wing ballroom demolition, which has drawn criticism and legal challenges.