Algae thwarts Trump’s $14.2m attempt to turn reflecting pool ‘American flag blue’
Key takeaways
- Algae in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on 15 June 2026 in Washington DC.
- Prefer the Guardian on GoogleDonald Trump’s $14.2m bid to turn the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool from what the US president described as a “filthy” and “dirty” site into a “beautiful” monument has encountered a hitch.
- Days after the renovation was finished, algae has frustrated Trump’s attempt to transform the shade of the pool to “American flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Algae in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on 15 June 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters View image in fullscreen Algae in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on 15 June 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Jessica Koscielniak/Reuters US news Algae thwarts Trump’s $14.2m attempt to turn reflecting pool ‘American flag blue’Administration had claimed algae at Lincoln Memorial pool would be cleared after the renovation, but it has proliferated amid warm weather
Prefer the Guardian on GoogleDonald Trump’s $14.2m bid to turn the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool from what the US president described as a “filthy” and “dirty” site into a “beautiful” monument has encountered a hitch.
Days after the renovation was finished, algae has frustrated Trump’s attempt to transform the shade of the pool to “American flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday.