Trump, 80, Unravels Over Botched Vanity Project in Morning Meltdown
The president made unhinged claims that his disastrous $14 million pool renovation was targeted by vandals.
Photo Illustration by Eric Faison/The Daily Beast/Getty Images/Reuters
President Donald Trump spent Monday morning freaking out about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after his renovations turned into a debacle with algae and peeling paint ahead of July 4 celebrations.
The president took to Truth Social to post unhinged threats and accusations after the massive pool on the National Mall has become a mess following his repeated bragging about how good he was at fixing pools.
Signs of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's ongoing woes are visible as algae blooms and peeling blue paint chips mar the water.
Reuters
“Of the MANY Statues and Fountains that we rebuilt, renovated, cleaned, and fixed, the only one that was Vandalized was the Reflecting Pool, which is being taken care of, ASAP!” Trump wrote.
Trump claimed it had been “given a 300 foot long gash, chemicals have been illegally placed in the water, and the beautiful new grass field has been destroyed with a gigantic 86 47 chemically carved into it (Probably inspired by Dirty Cop, James Comey!).”
Trump claimed the pool was vandalized before Watters backed him up.
Truth Social
“The Please remember that there is a 10 year prison sentence for the destruction, or even the attempted destruction, of such things—Which will be fully enforced!” Trump wrote.
Members of the National Guard patrol the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
Just days after the $14 million renovations were completed and the pool refilled, massive blooms of algae turned the 2,000-foot-long pool bright green, in sharp contrast with the “American flag blue” it had been painted.
Crews with the National Park Service could be spotted furiously pouring in hydrogen peroxide in the pool and vacuuming up dead algae in a desperate attempt to remedy the situation.
Chipped paint and algae are visible in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 21, 2026.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
Throughout the renovation project, the president had bragged constantly in public and on social media about how he was fixing the Reflecting Pool and would accomplish what previous administrations had failed to do since the pool was first built in the 1920s.
Reporters and photographers record a small section of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool newly installed liner measuring about 3x3 feet which was visibly detached and floating with one end still adhered to the pool located at the middle portion of the north side of the reflecting pool.
Jack Gruber/Reuters
Instead, large pieces of the “American Flag Blue” paint began peeling off the bottom of the pool after the hydrogen peroxide was poured in and could be spotted floating in it.
On Sunday, a dead duckling was found floating in it. It was unclear what killed it, but it happened just days after the Interior Department insisted that the hydrogen peroxide was not harmful to wildlife.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Trump has claimed the pool had been vandalized and attacked “SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE!” for it. His top officials vowed to prosecute anyone who vandalizes it. Trump also said that the work to fix it would begin immediately.
Workers vacuum algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
“What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly,” Trump rambled in a Saturday post. “We met with contractors today, will probably be forced to release and drain much of the water in order to do the necessary repairs, but will have them done as quickly as possible.”
Trump’s allegation that the mysterious “8647” message that appeared on the grass on the National Mall nearly two weeks ago was inspired by the former FBI director was unsubstantiated. However, the numbers are at the heart of the criminal case against Comey.
A protester carries a ‘Team Algae’ poster past the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
The investigation into the message on the National Mall is underway, but Comey was indicted in April after the Justice Department claimed he had threatened Trump’s life by posting a photo on Instagram of seashells arranged in the message “8647″ last year.
The remnants of markings depicting the numbers 8647 near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after recent renovations following a directive from U.S. President Donald Trump to paint it blue ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 19, 2026.
Aaron Schwartz/Reuters
Comey almost immediately deleted the post and said afterward that he was not aware that it would be interpreted as a call for violence.
The term “86 it” is lingo for a restaurant item that has run out and needs to be taken off the menu in the service industry. Trump critics have used “86″ in calling for the president to be removed from office.
Comey has said he is innocent on all charges and accused the Trump administration of a vindictive prosecution.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Unlock a year of full access to The Looker and The Daily Beast for $35.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Looker and The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.
Sign in
Login dialog
Sign in or create an account
Login dialog
Loading comments…