John Oliver likened the current condition of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. to “sex with the Grinch” on Sunday’s Last Week Tonight.
“Another of Trump‘s pet projects continues to unravel,” the host said of the pool’s $15 million renovation, which hasn’t gone as planned. The upgrades included fixing leaks, adding a blue lining and installing something called “nanobubblers” that were aimed at preventing algae. However, the pool has recently been affected by peeling paint and a resurface in algae.
On Sunday, Trump blamed vandals for the issues. “The Reflecting Pool is now in full use after suffering great damage from Criminal, Radical Left Vandals, people that truly hate our Country,” he posted on Truth Social. “They cut the lower surface of a very expensive and strong waterproof padding, in the color of American Flag Blue, and put their hands underneath the surface, and ripped it. Likewise, they cut and butchered a 350 foot long strip, with many 1 and 2 foot individual cuts, creating great damage to this beautiful piece of art that was, last week, 100% free of leaks, and any of the other problems it has had since its building in 1922. It never worked properly until last week and, right after July 4th, when we will drain the water to treat the damage caused by these ‘animals,’ it will again be in perfect shape.”
