US3 min(s) read
Published 12:23 22 Jun 2026 GMT
A young duckling found dead in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has sparked controversy.
US President Donald Trump has long bragged about the sheer amount of money he is throwing into the renovation of landmarks around Washington, D.C.
He has spoken about White House renovations during his second term in office, as he looks to leave his Presidential legacy behind.
He has even created the ‘Board of Peace’ and named the Kennedy Center after himself, a move which officials have since rejected.
Trump has also redecorated the White House, adding more gold to its interior, while notably splashing out millions of dollars on a new expensive ballroom.
But it seems like the money might not be getting put to good use, as the $20,000,000 splashed out on DC's Reflecting Pools has resulted in algae and dead wildlife floating around.
The government recently announced that it would work to fixing leaks in the pool’s granite foundation, by coating it with "American flag blue" paint as the 250th anniversary of the US’ independence approaches.
The National Park Service could be seen working to remove algae from the still water, with paint seen lifting from the bottom of the pool and floating around.
Despite Trump claiming that there is no algae growth in the pool, workers were seen pouring high-strength hydrogen peroxide into the water.
The body of a duckling was spotted floating in the water, raising more questions about the pool's condition, with it remaining unclear if the duck's death was linked to the bleaching or other issues with the pool.
While he has long boasted about the renovation to his pool, the Trump administration acknowledged the algae and provided an update last week.
They said: "The algae is dead and being vacuumed up as we speak. We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good."
Whether it will be pristine in time for the fourth of July, is yet to be seen.
David Hearn, a three-time Olympian, stopped by the Lincoln Memorial on Friday (June 19) to see the new Pools, before being arrested.
The government has stated that they will prosecute anyone who is found "vandalising" the pool, and Hearn was apprehended for touching part of the blue liner, which detached from the bottom.
He claimed he was simply reaching into the water to see what it felt like, and was cuffed and charged with destruction of government property.
Footage of the viral moment circulated online, as Hearn told the Washington Post: "I didn’t vandalise anything. I didn’t destroy, break, or peel anything. By the time I realized what was going on, I was being put in handcuffs."
Trump then took to Truth Social, claiming: "Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool.
"It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work.
"Ours worked perfectly, including the mirror like finish, perfectly reflecting the two Great Monuments, which it never had before!
"What these terrible Vandals have done is a true affront to both Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and should be dealt with accordingly."
