Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday that the algae-damaged reflecting pool on the National Mall may not be ready by Independence Day, threatening to complicate the centerpiece of what he has billed as America's most ambitious 250th birthday celebration.
The iconic pool, which the Trump administration began renovating at a cost of $14.2 million to achieve what officials described as an "American flag" blue color, has deteriorated significantly since work began. Trump attributed the damage to vandals, claiming without evidence that someone used a sharp knife to create a 350-foot gash across the pool's interior surface.
"We will drain some of the water, either immediately before or after the Fourth of July, to do the permanent repair," Trump said in a statement on social media. He also claimed that six people have been arrested and seven cited for the damage.
The president's account of the vandalism differs sharply from recent observations. The gash and slashes Trump described have not been visible to reporters who have visited the pool in recent days. The scale of damage he outlined would require sustained, deliberate work in what is a heavily monitored public space near the Lincoln Memorial, where police regularly patrol.
The reflecting pool's problems emerged after the renovation began. Instead of the intended blue hue, the water developed algae blooms and paint began peeling from surfaces. Trump has repeatedly blamed malicious actors for these conditions, though the underlying cause of the deterioration remains unclear.
A separate incident added to concerns about the pool's ecosystem. The Washington Post reported that a dead duck was found floating in the reflecting pool over the weekend, with two additional duck carcasses discovered in a nearby pond at Constitution Gardens, about 250 feet away. An animal rescue group retrieved the two carcasses found at Constitution Gardens for necropsy. The cause of the deaths has not been determined.
The troubled renovation sits within Trump's broader initiative to refurbish monuments and public spaces across Washington ahead of the semiquincentennial celebration. The White House has announced plans for a major speech on the National Mall and a fireworks display that officials claim will be the largest ever staged.
Democrats have criticized the spending as wasteful and misplaced, pointing to economic concerns they say the administration should be addressing instead. The criticism has extended to Trump's simultaneous push to construct a ballroom in the demolished East Wing of the White House and efforts to redirect taxpayer funds to a project he promised would be privately financed.
Author James Rodriguez: "The pool fiasco is vintage Trump, promising grandeur while delivering delays and deflection. Whether vandalism or poor planning, the reflecting pool won't reflect anything but incompetence by July 4th."
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