Repair and restoration work continues at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on June 24, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
Not that long ago, “reflecting pool” just meant reflecting pool. Now, thanks to President Trump, it’s quickly become synonymous with terms like “debacle,” “fiasco,” and “hilarious never-ending shit show.” Who’s to blame for this epic ongoing green and American Flag Blue mess? Definitely not Donald Trump or his administration, according to Donald Trump and his administration. Below is a guide to who or what they can blame, and in some cases already have.
Soon after the Trump administration deemed its multimillion dollar renovation of the reflecting pool complete, observers noticed pieces of the pool’s Trump-approved “American Flag Blue” colored coating were beginning to peel away. So much for those no-bid contracts!
Experts say the new darker color Trump chose for coating the bottom of the reflecting pool may also be making the water warmer and thus more susceptible to algae growth. And if you visit the reflecting pool and see a piece of peel, don’t touch it or you might end up facing federal charges.
The American Flag Blue coating is a triple threat.
