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US: Trump threatens prison for Reflecting Pool 'vandalism'

DW English · Jun 23, 2026, 4:30 AM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • The Trump administration spent $14.7 million repainting the pool "American flag blue" ahead of US' 250th anniversary celebrations.
  • However, soon after the completion of the renovations, the paint started to peel off and the water in the pool turned green due to algae.
  • The 2,000-foot-long (609-meter) rectangular pool will now be drained and re-renovated by the repair company as part of the warranty, officials said on Monday.

Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.

The Trump administration spent $14.7 million repainting the pool "American flag blue" ahead of US' 250th anniversary celebrations. Weeks later, the paint is peeling off and algae has turned the water green.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Fs XTTrump's makeover of the 609-meter pool is one of his several controversial renovation projects in DCImage: Kylie Cooper/REUTERSAdvertisement US President Donald Trump threatened a "10 year prison sentence" to anyone caught vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC after the recently renovated structure lost its blue color within weeks of renovation.

The Trump administration had awarded a $14.7 million (€12.87 million) no-bid contract to Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings to ‌recoat the pool "American flag blue" before the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations next month.

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