Trump Faces Pressure to Prove 350-Foot Lincoln Pool Sabotage Claim Amid $14.7 Million Renovation Fallout
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 24
Trump Faces Pressure to Prove 350-Foot Lincoln Pool Sabotage Claim Amid $14.7 Million Renovation Fallout
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 24
Summary
Richard Blumenthal demanded records Wednesday after Trump and the Interior Department still had not released the promised photos or video backing claims that vandals caused a 350-foot gash in the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
Government documents reviewed by the New York Times reportedly showed no sign the peeling coating and algae bloom were intentional, deepening scrutiny of a project Trump declared complete on June 6.
The $14.7 million overhaul has instead produced green water, peeling liner and dead ducks ahead of the July 4 and 250th-anniversary celebrations, with crews erecting fencing and authorities patrolling the site.
Workers are treating the seven-acre pool with hydrogen peroxide and nanobubble ozone, while experts say Trump’s dark “American flag blue” lining likely warmed the water and worsened algae growth.
The contractor says the damaged area is only about 4 square feet and can be repaired under warranty once the pool is drained again, but the scope and cost of permanent fixes remain unclear.