The floor of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall is seen in Washington, DC, on August 19, 2026. US President Donald Trump had made the renovation of the reflecting pool a national drama by repeatedly discussing plans and providing regular updates of the expedited work ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebrations earlier this summer. When the pool liner began peeling off and algae grew quickly despite the application of chemicals, Trump blamed vandalism for the damage while providing no meaningful evidence. The US Justice Department on August 1 dropped its case against a former Olympian accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, saying the hurried renovations ordered by President Donald Trump had been botched. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images)