Trump vs algae: Viral reactions as fencing goes up around Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The Trump administration has been losing a war with algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Critics think it’s the perfect metaphor for Trump’s tenure as president, and the latest move to cover up the embarrassment has sent the internet into meltdown.
Published on 24/06/2026 - 13:08 GMT+2
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool debacle has become an unwelcome distraction for Donald Trump, and his latest move has sparked online critism - with several reactions going viral.
Trump’s $14 million project to resurface the 2,000-foot pool in Washington D.C., which was supposed to make the water appear an “American flag blue” for the US’ 250th birthday, has not gone to plan.
Instead of turning a vibrant blue, the pool turned green with algae blooming in the water within a matter of days after work was completed.
Workers began pumping materials into the pool in an attempt to treat the algae. However, to make matters worse, the paint in the pool started to peel.
Trump has attempted to blame the problems on “vandals” and suggested that someone had cut a 300-foot-long gash in the pool lining - despite there being no evidence of this.
He took to Truth Social, ranting about “Radical Left Lunatics” and “Dumocrats”, writing: “We’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool, which sits between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial. Just three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed.”
Legendary horror author Stephen King reacted to Trump’s comments by writing on X: “Nobody is vandalizing the Reflecting Pool, and Trump knows it. This is a visible example of his corruption--a no-bid contract to some crony followed by sky-high cost overruns, and shoddy construction to boot. Classic Trump: I didn't fuck up, it was my enemies.”
Now, the latest tactic to save face?
Deploy the National Guard to stop people from taking photos, and erect fencing around the Reflecting Pool.
Indeed, workers have been putting up a chain-link barrier around sections of the landmark after Trump hits out at “Pro-Algae Protesters”.
This has sparked many reactions online, with several going viral: "All this because a 80 year old man can’t admit that he screwed up.”
Check out some of the reactions below:
The "cover-up" is also reminiscent of another literal one, as the tarp sheathing the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is still up.
Last week, Trump’s name was removed from the Kennedy Center, following a court order to do so. Tarpaulin was erected to cover up the humiliating moment and it has not been taken down.
However, some critics got creative...
A group known as The Lincoln Project Advocacy saw the potential in having a cover-up and started using it as a projector screen.
Clips of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto the sheet, as well as images of Trump scrunching up pages marked ‘Epstein Files’ and eating them.
Check out the footage below:
As of writing, there is no indication of how much longer the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool fencing and the tarp covering the facade of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will stand.
