The Trump administration’s investigation into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool drama is getting so cartoonishly unhinged that we wouldn’t be surprised if its next move is to interrogate the pond’s resident ducks for more information. A duck swims in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after algae began to bloom June 14 in Washington, D.C. Tasos Katopodis via Getty ImagesThe New York Times snapped some photos around the National Mall on Wednesday — and noticed a pretty interesting detail about some of the people surveying the now-drained and fenced-off body of water. According to the newspaper, some were wearing “F.B.I. insignia” on their clothing.It added that these apparent agents were documenting the scene with “laser-scanning and measuring equipment.”A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed to the Times that the agency sent an evidence team to assist “the U.S. Park Police in investigating damage to the pool.”Surveyors work Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall.ALEX WROBLEWSKI via Getty ImagesThe FBI’s involvement in the ongoing Reflecting Pool saga occurred just days after President Donald Trump insisted — yet again — on his social media platform Truth Social that “vandals” were responsible for the “American flag blue” waterproof coating he had installed peeling off in chunks while algae turned the water a toxic-looking shade of green.The president has clung to his beliefs that vandals not only threw algae into the pool but also cut a large gash into the coating with a knife or box cutter. View of the fenced-off Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.ALEX WROBLEWSKI via Getty ImagesDespite presenting zero evidence on either front, Trump’s claims have had consequences — most notably for several people who have been arrested over recent damage to the pool. One includes a cyclist and former Olympic canoe racer who said he touched a piece of the peeled-off paint but denies damaging the site. In June, The New York Times also published a report that the no-bid contract awarded to Virginia firm Atlantic Industrial Coatings to do a rush job ahead of America’s 250th birthday likely wouldn’t fix the pool’s longstanding algae problem.National Park Service employees clean up algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool following the completion of renovations June 14. Tasos Katopodis via Getty ImagesAccording to the Times report, the Park Services told Trump during his first term that “the only solution” to the pond scum issue “was to replace thousands of feet of pipe” — which wasn’t done in the latest renovation.Considering these factors, the FBI’s involvement in what went wrong with the pool seems like a pretty dramatic escalation — and some X users had thoughts about the agency’s new involvement.Trying to manufacture “evidence” to send innocent people to jail and perpetuate the vandalism lies.— Robyn J Leader 🇺🇦🌻 (@RobynJLeader) July 16, 2026The fact that their sending law enforcement rather than a group of engineers, scientists or coating experts tells you all you need to know about how this clown organization of an administration works. 🤷♂️— Humpty Drumpf (@HumptyDrumpf) July 16, 2026RelatedDonald TrumpFBIreflecting pool