A dead duck was found floating in Washington’s Reflecting Pool after federal workers were seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water days earlier. Graphic images posted online sparked renewed anger over the Trump administration’s $14 million renovation, as
A dead duck was found floating in Washington’s Reflecting Pool on Sunday, its eye still open as it drifted along the walls of the basin. The image quickly spread online, with political journalist Rob Crilly posting two graphic photos to his X account.
Crilly said he had spoken with an expert who suggested the pool “could have signs of cyanobacteria.” Cyanobacteria is blue-green algae that is harmless in small quantities, but can become toxic to animals in “blooms” when the bacteria multiply rapidly.
Crilly also cautioned that the duck’s death wasn’t definitively linked to cyanobacteria. “We don’t know if this duck was killed by cyanobacteria or died from another cause. ” he wrote. while adding that the discovery was feeding a wave of online resentment aimed at the Trump administration’s $14 million Reflecting Pool renovation.
The renewed scrutiny comes days after federal government employees were seen dumping hydrogen peroxide into the reflecting pool to try to clean up algae growing in it. At the center of the controversy is how the pool looks now: a fresh liner that is already peeling off the bottom of the basin has fueled criticism that the project is falling short of the administration’s stated vision for an “American Flag Blue” oasis.
With the dead duck circulating and the peroxide episode still fresh. attention is likely to intensify as people press for answers. The administration’s response has not yet been outlined. but Crilly’s posts and the images themselves are already ratcheting up the story around what happened in the water—and what went wrong with the renovation.
Reflecting Pool dead duck hydrogen peroxide cyanobacteria Trump administration $14 million renovation algae online resentment American Flag Blue
So sad… why are they dumping chemicals in a public pool.
I saw the peroxide part and immediately thought that’s what killed it. Like why would anyone pour that stuff into water where birds are just flying around. Also the liner peeling? Come on, $14 million for that??
They keep saying cyanobacteria is harmless but toxic blooms?? That sounds like a contradiction to me. Either way, if the duck’s eye is still open that means it didn’t just die naturally, right? Idk maybe the peroxide made it worse then the algae did the rest. I just don’t believe any of it was handled “correctly.”
Ok but hydrogen peroxide is literally used for cleaning, like hair bleaching, so how is that shocking? Seems like everyone wants to blame the Trump admin for everything even when we don’t know. The “American Flag Blue” thing sounds like political branding more than science, and now people are gonna spiral. That peeling liner though… that part at least sounds real bad. Wonder if the duck was sick before.