Trump administration uses hydrogen peroxide and microbubbles against algae in Reflecting Pool (AP)
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (local time) that several arrests have been made in connection with the alleged vandalism of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Vandals allegedly caused extensive damage to the recently renovated pool, claiming a 250-foot gash was drilled in the newly installed liner and corrosive chemicals were poured into the water.
“Several additional people have been arrested in connection 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. Our work was done to perfection, including the mirror-like finish, perfectly reflecting the great memorials, which never existed before!” he said in a post on Truth Social.Describing the incident, he said: “They took some form of knife or blade and made a 250-foot gash in the beautiful facade of what took so much work, efficiency and money to build and complete.
They also poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the pool. The reflecting pool was not as beautiful as it was just a week ago, even dating back to 1922 when it opened.”
Trump had criticized previous administrations for allowing the reflecting pool to deteriorate into an algae-covered green color, and said he would renovate it with a “blue American flag” lining to improve its appearance and enhance the reflections of the Washington Monument.
However, shortly after the renovated pool was unveiled, the water took on a green color again due to algae growth. While workers used chemical treatments to address the problem, the newly painted blue lining at the bottom of the pool reportedly began to peel. According to the Washington Post, U.S. Park Police arrested Olympic cyclist David Hearn on Friday on a misdemeanor charge of destruction of government property following an incident at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Hearn reportedly stopped at the memorial after completing a 52-mile bike ride around Hains Point and noticed that part of the pool’s recently installed “blue American flag” liner had come loose at the bottom.Hearn told authorities he got into the water to examine the separated substance. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter as he prepared to leave the area and is scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on July 9, The Washington Post reported. The arrest comes days after Trump claimed vandals damaged parts of the recently renovated reflecting pool and surrounding areas.
