Trump Celebrated 'BEAUTIFUL' Water Going In New Reflecting Pool — And It's Looking 'Quite Green'

Donald Trump recently gushed about his $14 million makeover of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, claiming that it would be filled with “CLEAN, BEAUTIFUL WATER” that will “SPARKLE magnificently” upon completion.

But the president’s talk doesn’t appear to be submerged in reality just yet as several snaps and a video, captured and shared on X by photographer Andrew Leyden, show the pool was looking “quite green” on Sunday morning.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is quite green this morning. For @Bloomberg photos. https://t.co/gvvHTLzpOP pic.twitter.com/V4kkjGxT0R

— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) June 14, 2026

In recent months, Trump has complained about the “garbage”-filled pool drawing “dirt, grime and decay” in an apparent effort to justify the renovations ― and to attack his predecessors over algae thriving in the water during their administrations.

And while algae reportedly resurfaced in the wake of a $34 million, Obama-era renovation on the pool back in 2012, it seems the long issue of the plant-like organisms blooming in the pool continues to haunt Trump and his administration, even as the president claims to have already “fixed” it.

An Interior Department spokesperson told The Washington Post that the algae is “residual” from supply lines that sat dormant for weeks during construction, adding that it was “part of the normal startup process.”

“We are removing the algae, and the nanobubblers will maintain the pool and keep it algae-free,” the spokesperson added.

Check out Leyden’s algae-laden snaps below.

Critics on social media teased Trump over the pool, including one user on X who quipped it was emitting “Iranian flag green,” a nod to Trump claiming the pool would be resurfaced in an “American flag blue” color.

Another user used the look to sarcastically celebrate the president’s big day on Sunday, writing, “Happy Birthday Donald. You’ve renewed and invigorated the Swamp.”

Iranian flag green https://t.co/Ciy0XuUd1d

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) June 14, 2026

Happy Birthday Donald.

You’ve renewed and invigorated the Swamp. https://t.co/LNmAHqASpW

— EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check (@emptywheel) June 14, 2026

Photosynthesis is bipartisan….😎 https://t.co/EWuWuMaiwd

— Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres) June 14, 2026

And it only cost $14 Million of your tax dollars. https://t.co/gbHe3Pssm0

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 14, 2026

I’ve lived in and around DC since 1993. I’ve photographed the Reflecting Pool but have never seen it look this bad. Bravo, Trump. My photos are from Obama era. https://t.co/VVPROM9PiI pic.twitter.com/Qxg8jWssuq

— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) June 14, 2026

How many Scaramuccis did that last? https://t.co/rNfGWMzwcd

— dalton (@indaltonwetrvst) June 14, 2026

$13 million paint job so ducks can paddle around in puke green water. ALL HAIL DEAR LEADER 🙄 https://t.co/eojAsak18m

— scary lawyerguy (@scarylawyerguy) June 14, 2026

$14 million dollars for Mountain Dew color water https://t.co/YQlZw23Cv9

— Ky (@_k_pn) June 14, 2026

And then the Lord visited upon Pharaoh a plague of algae. https://t.co/GkjYIfOEki

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— Lagarto Rodriguez (@BBudsky) June 14, 2026