President Donald Trump’s Sunday Truth Social post blamed “criminally made algae” on vandals tied to problems at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—despite no evidence that vandalism caused the algae bloom that followed a $14 million renovation.
For the third day in a row, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being talked about like it’s a crime scene.
On Sunday afternoon. President Donald Trump didn’t just address the peeling paint and a massive algae bloom that began almost immediately after he announced the completion of a $14 million renovation. He went further—through a long Truth Social rant that critics say turned the situation absurdly personal.
In the middle of a 589-word post. three words landed like a flare: “criminally made algae.” Trump used the phrase while referring to the Reflecting Pool. which began showing trouble right after the renovation was unveiled. The president then returned to a familiar claim—without evidence—that the pool’s problems were the work of “Criminal. Radical Left Vandals.”.
“The Reflecting Pool is now in full use after suffering great damage from Criminal, Radical Left Vandals, people that truly hate our Country,” Trump wrote.
The post comes as several people have been arrested connected to the Reflecting Pool. But there is no evidence, in the public record described here, that vandalism led to the algae bloom or the paint issues.
One person arrested, three-time Olympic canoeist David Hearn, told ABC that he stuck his hands in the water and touched a loose piece of the blue bottom. “I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool,” Hearn said.
Trump’s own earlier boasting about the new blue bottom now sits uneasily beside his Sunday story. In a brag posted only last month. he said the new bottom was like “powerful rubber” and couldn’t be cut with a knife. Yet in Sunday’s lengthy post. Trump claimed vandals had “butchered a 350 foot long strip” and “put their hands underneath the surface. and ripped it.”.
His account also carried a timeline and a threat of sorts. Trump said the pool would be drained again after July 4 “to treat the damage caused by these ‘animals.’” In the meantime. he added. “it is working well. the criminally made algae is gone. and the grass. which was destroyed. is being replaced shortly.”.
Experts have said the renovation’s materials may have played a role in the algae growth. They pointed to the “American flag blue” bottom Trump installed, saying it may have, ironically, helped the algae thrive. Even with that scientific backdrop, Trump continued to place blame on vandals.
Critics on social media reacted with disbelief at the phrase they said defied explanation, with one post arguing that “criminally made algae” was “an instant classic.” Another asked simply: “It’s too long to read but what the heck is ‘criminally made algae?’”
Some also framed the problem as something the president should be held responsible for. One commenter wrote. “Trump will never take responsibility for his part in this crime awarding his pool guy w/ a no bid contract. ” adding that a company that “never had a govt contract before” had “failed to do a good job” and “made us a world wide embarrassment. ” while “demand[ing] a refund.”.
Others focused less on the renovation contract and more on the biology. One social media response said. “Potomac River is rich in algae. ” describing it as the source of the Tidal Basin water and noting it is also rich in phosphates that act “as a liquid fertilizer for algae.” That same post argued that Trump referring to algae as “criminally made” showed “severe mental illness.”.
The central contradiction—what critics are zeroing in on—is stark: an algae bloom and peeling paint that began almost immediately after a renovation Trump said was complete. paired with a president’s insistence that vandals caused it. despite a lack of evidence tying vandalism to the pool’s problems.
In his Sunday telling. the Reflecting Pool’s condition becomes a test of intent: Trump paints the damage as deliberate and political. and he promises more treatment after July 4. But the facts presented here—an algae-heavy river ecosystem. experts linking the “American flag blue” bottom to thriving conditions. and the absence of evidence that vandals caused the algae—leave his explanation hanging in the air.
For visitors coming past the fence and the memorial’s quiet geometry, the argument is now playing out in the open. What should be a restoration story has turned into a blame story—one driven by three words—“criminally made algae”—that critics say never matched the evidence.
Donald Trump Truth Social Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Reflecting Pool renovation algae bloom vandalism peeling paint American flag blue bottom David Hearn Olympics July 4
Criminally made algae?? lol what.
So basically he thinks someone vandalized the algae? Like algae just shows up because someone hates America. That’s what I’m hearing anyway.
I don’t get how they arrested people but also “no evidence” it caused the bloom. Could be the renovation chemicals?? Or maybe the paint was already messed up and Trump just needed a villain. Also that pool was “in full use” so why is it a crime scene three days in a row?
This is so on brand, like blaming “radical left vandals” for literally anything. Algae blooms happen because of weather/chemicals/water conditions, not because some random person stole a piece of the bottom. But I guess if you’re the president you gotta make it personal. Also $14 million renovation and it starts peeling and turning green immediately… that seems like a contractor issue not “vandals,” unless the vandals are the workers or something.