Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 24

Kelsey Grammer Defends Trump's $14.8 Million Reflecting Pool Project, Urges Unity Before 250th Anniversary

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 24

Kelsey Grammer Defends Trump's $14.8 Million Reflecting Pool Project, Urges Unity Before 250th Anniversary

Q: Did the new 'American flag blue' paint color unintentionally cause the pool's severe algae problem?

Yes—experts say the new dark “American flag blue” paint likely helped worsen the algae bloom, though it was not the only cause. Specialists cited in reporting said a darker pool surface absorbs more sunlight, which warms the shallow water and makes conditions more favorable for algae. One pool expert said the darker interior would “lead to more prolific algae growth.” That means the repaint may have unintentionally contributed to the severity of the problem. But experts also say the paint alone did not create the bloom. The Reflecting Pool is a large, shallow, slow-moving body of water in strong summer sun, and it has a long history of algae and maintenance problems. Environmental and pool experts described algae blooms there as a common, natural risk, especially after renovation work and refilling, sometimes called “new pond syndrome.” Those same experts largely rejected claims that vandalism caused the widespread algae outbreak, saying that explanation does not fit how blooms develop in a pool of that size. They pointed instead to heat, stagnant water, sunlight, nutrient conditions, and the pool’s design and maintenance limits. So the best-supported answer is that the new blue paint probably made an existing algae-prone situation worse by warming the water, but the severe bloom resulted from several factors, not the paint alone.

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 24

Kelsey Grammer said critics fixated on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool should reject hatred and "find a decent sentiment" about the country and its leaders.
The comments came as Trump's $14.8 million restoration faces scrutiny over algae and peeling paint, while Trump has blamed vandalism and said six people were arrested.
Grammer tied his appeal to the 2026 World Cup, saying foreign visitors' positive views of U.S. hospitality and culture should encourage more Americans to embrace patriotism.
Ahead of America's 250th anniversary, Grammer said he plans to be in Washington and is building a nonprofit, American Revelation, to help people "fall in love" with the country.
He also used the appearance to promote Fox Nation's six-part "The Patriot War," a Revolutionary War series with new episodes premiering Sunday.