- Trump says he has "inspected" the Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, and that "work will begin immediately" to repair the American landmark.
- Despite a recent multi-million dollar renovation, the historic structure continues to face issues, most prominently algae turning the water a bright shade of green.
- The pool may need to be drained and refilled for a second time this month, according to Trump, who flew over the site in a helicopter on Sunday.
- US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro has vowed to aggressively prosecute anyone found to have damaged the pool.
- "Anyone who is in a position of vandalising or attempting to vandalise will face the criminal justice system in DC," she told Fox News on Sunday.
- According to a senior Trump administration official, five people have been arrested for vandalism and five more were issued with citations by police on Saturday night.
- A total of 14 police reports have been filed, including one person who Trump claimed had used a blade to put a 250 foot long gash into the beautiful facade.
- The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and stretching 2,030ft (619m) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has long been beset by leaks, structural deterioration, faulty pipes, algae growth and bird droppings.
- But despite the makeover, which cost an estimated $13m, the pool has continued to be plagued by algae and more recently paint problems.
- Officials have been using chemicals, including reportedly hydrogen peroxide, to clean a green algae bloom which has taken hold in the pool since it was re-filled following a paint job earlier this month.
- Rosalina Stancheva Christova, a professor of aquatic ecology, confirmed that the green algae inside is a species called Desmodesmus, which is "absolutely harmless" to people or animals.
President Trump has pledged immediate repairs to the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., which has been plagued by algae and vandalism. Despite a recent $13 million renovation, the pool's issues persist, prompting law enforcement to take action against vandalism.129
Trump, who inspected the site via helicopter, stated that the pool may need to be drained and refilled again this month due to ongoing algae problems. The algae, identified as Desmodesmus, is harmless but has turned the water a bright green, raising concerns among visitors and officials alike.311
In response to the vandalism, US Attorney for Washington DC Jeanine Pirro has vowed to prosecute offenders aggressively. She warned, "Anyone who is in a position of vandalising or attempting to vandalise will face the criminal justice system in DC."45
Recent reports indicate that five individuals were arrested for vandalism, with five others receiving citations. The Reflecting Pool, stretching 2,030ft (619m) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has faced ongoing structural issues, including leaks and faulty pipes, despite its recent renovation.8
Officials have been using chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide, to combat the algae bloom that has emerged since the pool was refilled after its paint job earlier this month.10
“Trump has announced that repairs to the Reflecting Pool will start immediately due to ongoing algae issues. This follows recent vandalism incidents, with multiple arrests made.”
BBC