Reflecting Pool problems persist as Trump looks for a do-over due to algae and coating issues

(22 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Washington - 22 June 2026 1. Police officer on horseback patrols Reflecting Pool 2. Washington monument reflected in pool 3. National Park Service staff standing next to pool 4. Wide of Lincoln Memorial 5. National Guard officers film a couple's proposal by the pool 6. Ducks swimming in the Reflecting Pool 7. Algae floating on pool 8. Pan of algae in pool 9. Wide of ozone nanobubble machines next to pool 10. Tubes inside pool 11. Close of machines 12. Bubbles rising from pool water 13. Pan from people walking to algae 14. National guard walking 15. leaf in pool 16. Pan of pool 17. Wide of ozone nanobubble systems in pool 18. Zoom of pool to Lincoln Memorial 19. Various of blue paint fragment inside pool 20. Reflection of Lincoln Memorial on pool STORYLINE: National Guard service members and U.S. Park Police were patrolling the deck around the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday, as Donald Trump's administration faces a self-imposed deadline to fix a botched renovation and cleaning efforts ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. The patrols come two days after Trump said authorities had made “multiple arrests” of people he insisted were responsible for damage to the peeling coating after an algae bloom occurred. The liner was installed as part of his $14 million-plus project. The president has confirmed the problems likely require draining the pool again for liner repairs, and he promised a quick fix. But the timeline was not clear Monday, and the administration did not immediately respond to questions about a new round of work. Contractors and federal workers in recent days have been using chemicals and ozone nanobubbles to combat the algae. Trump pitched the original improvements as intended to clean, beautify and reinforce an iconic site that he said had become dilapidated and dirty because of previous presidents' neglect. Algae has plagued the pool for a century, and Trump insisted that a newly installed ‘American flag blue’ coating, which he selected himself, would turn the pool into a gleaming expanse along the National Mall. Yet within weeks of Trump declaring the rehabilitation completed in time for Independence Day, the water was plagued by a vivid green algae bloom that clouded the pool's coating. An approximately 4 foot-square piece of the liner was observed last Friday to be partially floating in the pool. The Associated Press observed additional pieces in the water Monday. (AP video by Nathan Ellgren) =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...