NewsUS NewsDonald TrumpDonald Trump says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is now working well and 'back in full use' after 'criminally made algae' was removed from the structure08:05, 29 Jun 2026Updated 08:30, 29 Jun 2026Donald Trump says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is back "in full use" after "criminally made algae" was removed from the tourist attraction over the weekend.‌The US president claimed vandals were to blame for damage to the structure, which has been plagued by problems since undergoing a multimillion-dollar overhaul.‌While it remains fenced off with plans to drain and resurface it around the July 4 holiday, Trump gloated on Truth Social that the pool was now working well, adding that the "criminally made algae is gone."‌"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," he said.Trump's claim that the algae bloom was a result of criminal damage comes as a senior National Park Service (NPS) official said a liner along the bottom of the attraction was "cut with a sharp knife or razor" after its installation.‌Plans to re-drain the pool and reinstall the blue coating on the bottom have caused renovation costs to surge past Trump's initial estimate of $2 million (around £1.5 million).His administration now estimates that work to prevent leaks and achieve the darker-blue look the president was hoping for will cost around $16 million (£12.1 million).In recent weeks, the pool has appeared lime green at times due to the algae, with chunks of blue coating and dead ducklings seen floating in the water.‌Trump previously said in a post on Truth Social that there had been a "350 foot gash" in the new paintwork - which was supposed to turn the pool an "American flag blue"."It was purposefully and criminally done, and somebody had to work very hard, probably in the dark of night, to create such a condition," Trump previously wrote.Article continues below"Likewise, the small area at the bottom of the Pool was cut and powerfully lifted off the surface, leaving very jagged, uneven edges," he added.According to a filing by the National Park Service, damage to the structure includes "a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material", with "approximately 70 fence post tops [...] thrown” into the water."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Breaking NewsDonald Trump