Trump’s $14.2m Reflecting Pool fiasco deepens as ‘American flag blue’ paint PEELS OFF… and president has a stark theory why

Donald Trump’s controversial renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has been dealt another blow as the ‘American flag blue’ began to peel from the bottom.

The historic pool was drained and re-finished under a no-bid contract this year as part of the president’s sweeping plans to beautify Washington, D.C.

The lower part of the monument was repainted dark blue as part of a $14.2 million renovation that Trump announced was completed on June 6.

However, images just a few weeks later show that the paint is already cracked and peeling.

Trump took to Truth Social on Friday to blame liberal vandals for the damage.

‘Just like three days ago, they destroyed the grass outside the Pool, they also did everything possible to damage the newly installed interior surface,’ he wrote.

Trump said those who oppose him are trying to “destroy and demean our good work.”

comes later workers were forced pour hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat algae blooms that have turned it green instead of the expected dark blue.

Workers had begun pouring hydrogen peroxide into the pool to combat algae growth that was turning the pool green.

Trump said on Friday that 75 percent of the algae had been destroyed and that the situation would soon be fully resolved, and that the destroyed area was fortunately only a minor area of ​​damage and would be repaired early next week.

While he called out ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for sticking his hand in the pool and “trying to rip the tire off the surface,” he added that law enforcement is investigating the issues and “hopefully they’ll fix it soon.” The Daily Mail has reached out to Karl for comment.

“It’s a shame that the Radical Left Crazies, most likely the Dumocats, who spend their lives destroying our country, are free to do so,” Trump added.

The president later posted a photo of what appeared to be a protester wearing a T-shirt that read ‘MOW TEAM’.

The National Park Service, which operates the National Mall where the pool is located, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which performed the renovations, also did not immediately respond. The Daily Mail has reached out to local police for comment.

Earlier this month, the president announced the completion of the project on Truth Social, boasting that the renovation was “very complex but powerful” and adding that clean water had been added to the pool.

‘It was first opened in 1922 but never functioned properly; It works now!’ Trump said.

On Friday, Trump used the Truth Social account to blame liberal vandals for the damage

The president later posted a photo of a protester wearing a T-shirt that read ‘MOW TEAM’ on it.

‘Thank you President Trump, thank you Department of the Interior — AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME with the Trump Promenade at the Lincoln Memorial and the Triumphal Arch, which will be Washington’s Largest Structure along with the White House Ballroom when completed.’

But just a few weeks after the victory announcement, the water in the Reflecting Pool turned a sickening lime green.

On Tuesday, crews were seen pouring hydrogen peroxide into the water to prevent algae growth.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which supervises the project, said in a statement to media organizations that ‘nanobubble technology’ was installed to prevent algae formation.

“Unlike the Obama and Biden administrations, the National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool,” a spokesperson for the department told the Daily Mail.

‘We use high-tech nanobubble ozone technology to keep the water in the Reflecting Pool not only crystal clear but also clean.’

The technology kills algae, pathogens and contaminants that have long plagued the pool, the department added.

The Trump administration later accused former President Barack Obama of failing to keep up with the renovations.

The DOI confirmed that hydrogen peroxide was used to treat the pool but claimed it had no harmful side effects to the environment or marine life.

Crews continue to work to remove algae from the Reflecting Pool

The lower part of the monument was repainted in dark blue as part of a $14.2 million renovation

The administration paid Green Water Solutions LLC more than $1.7 million for the ‘nano balloon’ last April, according to government spending filings.

Nanobubbles are microscopic gas bubbles. They remain suspended in water, increasing dissolved oxygen levels and changing the chemistry of the water.

The gas bubbles damage and break down the algae cells, preventing the water from turning green.

DOI said the nanobubbler technology has been tested and validated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ohio State University and the University of Florida.

The Reflecting Pool had troubled previous administrations because algae growth often prevented water from properly reflecting the monument as designed.

The Obama administration spent more than $35 million on a repair job, but the green tint returned within a month.

Trump initially embarked on the project, predicting that the renovations would cost $2 million and take a week to complete.

The project cost $14 million and took two months to complete. Atlantic Industrial Coating received a no-bid contract after management bypassed bureaucratic procedures. New York Times reported.

Despite numerous renovation projects from previous administrations, the structure of the Reflecting Pool made it difficult to keep open

Trump announced work on the Reflecting Pool was done just two weeks ago

Trump said he personally selected the company after working on a pool at his golf club in Virginia, but later said he did not know the contractor.

Asked about the Times report, a spokesperson for the DOI told the Daily Mail: ‘The company selected was the only one with the expertise, staff and materials required to complete the project in time for major celebrations ahead of our 250th anniversary.’

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Atlantic announced that they were awarded the contract after being recommended by the selected product supplier.

“We have never done business for President Trump, his companies, or anyone affiliated with him,” a spokesperson for the company said.

‘We covered the pool with polyurea, not paint. We have nothing to do with the water, we just signed a contract to have the pool lined, making it waterproof to stop leaks.’

The starting price to cover the pool is $13.1 million, the spokesman added, and two other product suppliers also submitted bids.

The White House referred all questions to DOI when asked about the contract with the company.

Earlier this month, the White House shared photos of the Reflecting Pool appearing clear and blue.

The Reflecting Pool had troubled previous administrations because algae growth often prevented water from properly reflecting the monument as designed.

Ducks swim among the algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

‘The water is ON, the Reflecting Pool is reflective, and DC looks better than ever,’ management said.

But after a few days the algae started to appear again. A DOI spokesperson said: CNN at that time the algae were ‘leftover’.

‘This is part of the normal startup process. “We remove the algae and the nanobubbles will maintain the pool and keep it free of algae,” they added.

People familiar with the project told the Times they were concerned that the renovations did not address frequently leaking buried pipes.

Trump has faced criticism for expediting past planning processes in an effort to preserve carefully designed appearances in Washington’s renovation program; has faced criticism from its administration as partisan sniping while praising the real estate developer’s design acumen.

Lawmakers also raised questions about the decision to accept a $400 million plane from Qatar into service as Air Force One, carrying the president, his staff, security guards and journalists on trips around the country and the world.

Security experts have warned that retrofitting the aircraft would require extensive security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping and missile defense capabilities, all of which would take time and money to install.

Trump’s other plans to beautify Washington include demolishing the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom and building a massive arch near Arlington National Cemetery commemorating the nation’s war dead and other prominent Americans.