The new photos were taken weeks after federal prosecutors said flaws in the pool's installation, rather than vandalism, caused much of the damage that sparked a high-profile political dispute. The condition of the Reflecting Pool has become the center of an ongoing controversy after the Trump administration rushed to reopen the site ahead of July Fourth celebrations. While Trump has continued to argue that vandalism contributed to the damage, he has also acknowledged that "some contractor error" occurred during the renovation work.
Court filings and statements from federal prosecutors have said the peeling liner and related problems stemmed from a flawed installation by contractors, leading authorities to drop criminal charges against former Olympian David Hearn, who had been accused of damaging the pool. When reached for comment, the White House referred Newsweek to the National Park Service. Newsweek reached out to the National Park Service through an online contact form for comment.
Trump has said his goal is to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to a cleaner and more visually appealing condition. The effort included applying a new blue coating to the bottom of the Reflecting Pool called "American flag blue" and combating the persistent algae blooms that have long affected the site. The renovation quickly encountered setbacks.
Within days of completion, algae returned to the Reflecting Pool, turning the water green and murky despite efforts to eliminate the growth. Officials said they used hydrogen peroxide treatments and nanobubble ozone technology to clear the water and remove algae that had settled on the bottom of the pool, ABC News reported. In addition to the algae problem, Trump claimed that vandals had caused a roughly 300-foot gash in the Reflecting Pool's newly applied blue liner, which became a focal point of the controversy surrounding the renovation, as critics alleged that Trump might have caused the damage himself after driving his motorcade over the newly completed project in late May.
The project, which Trump initially suggested could be completed quickly and at relatively low cost, ultimately grew into a renovation effort costing more than $15 million, according to reports. Taken on Tuesday, Newsweek's photographs offer a new look at the project as repair work continues and crews work to restore one of Washington's most recognizable landmarks. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has faced a series of problems following its recent renovation, including widespread algae growth and sections of the newly installed blue coating peeling away from the pool floor and walls.
The peeling emerged just days after the multimillion-dollar refurbishment was completed, prompting questions about whether the coating properly adhered during installation. While Trump and administration officials have blamed vandalism for some of the damage, federal prosecutors said the peeling resulted from improper installation. Crews have continued working on repairs as the high-profile project faces scrutiny over its cost and durability.
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