Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
President Trump has said his $14.2 million repair project for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was meant to fix its longtime problems — leaks and algae blooms — and turn it "American-flag blue," as Trump called it.
But days after it was completed, the algae was back. On Thursday, about half of its water remained green. And now, parts of the pool’s new layer of blue waterproofing appear to have detached from the bottom and floated to the surface.
Read our exclusive story about how the $1.7 million, no-bid contract that was meant to keep the water clean went to a business tied to a longtime Trump supporter — and what the National Park Service says is next for the iconic pool: https://nyti.ms/4xGthnl
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More from The New York Times Video: nytimes.com/video
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Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.
President Trump has said his $14.2 million repair project for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was meant to fix its longtime problems — leaks and algae blooms — and turn it "American-flag blue," as Trump called it.
But days after it was completed, the algae was back. On Thursday, about half of its water remained green. And now, parts of the pool’s new layer of blue waterproofing appear to have detached from the bottom and floated to the surface.
Read our exclusive story about how the $1.7 million, no-bid contract that was meant to keep the water clean went to a business tied to a longtime Trump supporter — and what the National Park Service says is next for the iconic pool: https://nyti.ms/4xGthnl
Subscribe: bit.ly/U8Ys7n
More from The New York Times Video: nytimes.com/video
----------
Whether it's reporting on conflicts abroad and political divisions at home, or covering the latest style trends and scientific developments, New York Times video journalists provide a revealing and unforgettable view of the world. It's all the news that's fit to watch.
