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Reflecting Pool Turns Green

Trump's team is using peroxide and bubbles to battle algae in the Reflecting Pool.

June 16, 2026 · Updated Jun 16, 7:35pm ET

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Left · 6

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Center · 4

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Pano rates the coverage Mostly Left.

What happened

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned bright green from an algae bloom just days after the Trump administration completed a costly renovation meant to give it an “American flag blue” bottom ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Crews responded by pouring hydrogen peroxide into the 6.5 million-gallon pool and using bubbling equipment in an effort to beat back a problem that has plagued the landmark for decades. The project, reported at more than $14 million, drew fresh scrutiny because President Donald Trump had publicly promoted the refurbishment as a transformation of what he called a dirty and leaking site. Officials face both practical and political pressure as heat and persistent algae undercut the newly finished work.