Trump blames ABC reporter and vandals for peeling Reflecting Pool and algae growth
President Donald Trump criticized ABC journalist Jonathan karl and vandals for causing damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which recently underwent a $15 million renovation during his management. The pool turned bright green due to an algae bloom after the installation of a blue coating at its bottom. Efforts by the National Park Service to eliminate the algae using hydrogen peroxide led to peeling of the blue paint. Trump attributed the vandalism to both external trespassers and Karl, who allegedly damaged the pool while demonstrating its condition on camera. He also mentioned that the algae is mostly gone and the damage will be repaired soon. The article notes that the contractor responsible for installing the nanobubbler cleaner in the pool was owned by a Trump supporter with a history of legal issues, and it highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the pool’s condition and maintenance.
President Donald Trump blamed ABC reporter Jonathan Karl and vandals for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s peeling seal and algae growth after the Trump administration’s $15 million renovation.
The pool turned bright green from an algae bloom following the installation of “American flag blue” coating at the bottom of the pool. In an effort to combat the algae growth, National Park Service workers dumped bottles of hydrogen peroxide into the water. Shortly after, the coating at the bottom of the pool began to peel.
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“We’ve had some real problems with Vandalism at the beautiful Reflecting Pool, which sits between The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside of the Pool, they’ve also done everything possible to hurt the inside surface that was just installed. No different than the chemicals that were used on the National Mall, they used something similar in the Reflecting Pool to try to destroy and demean our beautiful work.”
The president then mentioned a specific reporter he had in mind.
“Lightweight ABC Reporter, Jonathan Karl, was seen sticking his hand into the Pool, and trying to rip the rubber off of the surface,” Trump continued. “The algae is 75% gone, and the condition will soon be completely remedied, and the area that was vandalized, fortunately, is just a small area of damage, and will be fixed early next week.”
The president may be referring to a video report Karl recorded for ABC News, where the journalist grabbed the peeling coating and moved it back and forth to demonstrate the pool’s condition.
The company that won the $1.7 million contract to install a “nanobubbler” cleaner into the pool during the renovation is owned by Trump donor John Cafaro, with one of his donations reaching $250,000 to the Trump Victory fundraising committee in 2020, a CBS News report found. Cafaro pled guilty to conspiring to bribe Rep. James Traficant (D-OH) in 2002, and pled guilty again a decade later to campaign finance violations in 2010 related to his daughter’s congressional campaign. The businessman also lives less than a mile from Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago.
‘AMERICAN FLAG BLUE’ COATING APPARENTLY PEELING OFF IN LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING POOL
The Interior Department told the Washington Examiner that the hydrogen peroxide dumped into the pool was being used to treat the algae bloom along with the “nanobubble technology.” The department did not comment on the peeling seal.
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