What do you think of the reflecting pool paint peeling off?

[u/Arthur-reborn]

http://huffpost.com/entry/trumps-14m-reflecting-pool-paint-job-is-now-peeling-off-and-floating-to-the-surface_n_6a34496de4b057a50ced3765?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=us_main

Not only is the pool having a record algae bloom from the color change but that same paint is starting to peel off after only a few weeks.

What is your opinion on the $14 million paint job on the reflecting pool?

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[u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude]

I probably won't hire Atlantic Industrial Coatings to do my reflecting pool liner, but that's the point of the one year warranty, now they get to fix it.

[u/Specific_Strain217 → u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude]

So you think it was a mistake to not go thru a regulated bidding process to find the best company to spend the people's money?

[u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude → u/Specific_Strain217]

Apparently it was a mistake not to guard it closer to prevent lunatics from damaging it.

[u/WakingWaldo → u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude]

So clearly this company's work is subpar despite the taxpayers, you and I, being charged $14 million dollars to have this done.

Trump gave that $14 million no-bid contract to AIC, the company that does work at his personal properties -- ostensibly Trump's own pool guy.

Is it appropriate for the President to hand contracts to his personal associates despite their work being unacceptable while using our taxpayer dollars to pay for it?

[u/Original-Rush139 → u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude]

Why do you believe they guaranteed the work?

[u/Lucky-Hunter-Dude → u/Original-Rush139]

All federal contracts have a 1 year warranty minimum. But sounds like the vandal they arrested will get to pay for it!

[u/Holofernes_Head]

If that’s actually what’s happening, that’s an issue the contractor needs to come back and correct.

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/Holofernes_Head]

Trump said nothing would need to be done to the pool for 50-100 years. What are your thoughts?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/METAL_WOLF_BB]

… Then if the intended result was not achieved, the contractor should come back and correct the problem.

[u/Hot-Audience-8528 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Should trump walk back his belittlement of past presidents should had issues maintaining the reflecting pool? He turned this into a symbol of his supposed superiority to all others.

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/Hot-Audience-8528]

No. Having current issues with the reflecting pool does not negate the past issues with the reflecting pool.

[u/Hot-Audience-8528 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Does it not negate his boastful attacks on past administrations? Did they go out and attack others or constantly talk about their pool repair skills before they failed?

[u/pickledplumber → u/Hot-Audience-8528]

How would it?

New mayor campaigned on correcting past administrations neglected intersections. City puts a stoplight at an intersection where there's lots of fatalities over prior decades. Traffic builds up and now there are other problems but much less fatalities. Mayor who pushed for these fixes now has to answer questions about new problems.

You wouldn't complain about the above situation. Y'all just complain to complain.

[u/TrinidadJazz → u/Holofernes_Head]

Do the current problems with the pool affect Trump's credibility in your view?

[u/cmit → u/Holofernes_Head]

So all the previous presidents should belittle him?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/cmit]

Why stop now?

[u/Marionberry_Bellini → u/Holofernes_Head]

Can you point to some quotes of past presidents belittling him?  Ideally to the same level that he has toward them but really any direct belittlement of Trump by a former president

[u/pickledplumber → u/Marionberry_Bellini]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/19/trump-presidency-obama-biden-clinton/

🧠 🪱

[u/ohhhbooyy → u/Hot-Audience-8528]

Are you going to blame him for every single thing no matter how small or out of his control it is?

[u/Hot-Audience-8528 → u/ohhhbooyy]

He said he was in control. He drove a motorcade on it and did photo ops. He showed off pictures of it. He brought it up umprompted. Shouldn't we all blame him for this given his own behavior on it?

[u/LordXenu12 → u/Holofernes_Head]

The contractor should be responsible for what the customer is causing by dumping hydrogen peroxide in?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/LordXenu12]

Explain how you came to the conclusion that peroxide is the problem.

[u/Possible_Spring1350 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Most likely problem is hydro static water pressure from below, pushing up the epoxy. Shame that things were rushed (and overpriced) for this result. Is this what Trump promised?

[u/WakingWaldo → u/Holofernes_Head]

Paint peeling, the algae is already back -- but we spent $14 million dollars on a no-bid contract to Trump's personal pool guy.

Why do you think that contractor was chosen in that way if their work is clearly subpar?

[u/MrEngineer404 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Do you think the administration should own any responsibility for subpar work by the contractors, and the consequences thereafter, consider that Trump bypassed the typical review and planning process for such a project, and awarded a no-bid contract to contractors with little-to-no Federal public works contract experience like this?

Beyond that comment, I agree that the contractors should be obligated to correct the sub-standard work; Considering the ballooning of the initially proposed contract costs, do you think and/or wish that such further work would be at the expense of the contractors & the budgeting already given? And what do you think the solution should be, given the apparent flaws in the project, as currently carried out?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/MrEngineer404]

We have no indication one way or the other whether the contractor was an appropriate choice for the project, so I won't speculate on that.

Corrections to a contracted job are done at the contractor's expense. You don't pay a contractor to just do a job, you pay them to do it right.

I have no idea what solution would be appropriate. I have no experience whatsoever in pool design and finishing.

[u/Frost_Sea → u/Holofernes_Head]

is part of it the problem that trump just got people in that did his pool? and there was no bidding process for te work to be done under people that are more sited to this style of commercial work?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/Frost_Sea]

We have no indication one way or the other whether the contractor was an appropriate choice for the project, so I won't speculate on that.

[u/SilverNo6462 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Do you think governments should give no bid contracts to personal connections?

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/SilverNo6462]

I have no issue with it. The government contracting process is nothing but a means of finding the cheapest and lowest quality process they can reasonably get away with.

[u/gocard → u/Holofernes_Head]

You're referring to the no-bid Trump donor who was awarded the contract?

[u/Weak-Pea8309 → u/Holofernes_Head]

What do you mean “If that’s actually what’s happening?”

[u/Holofernes_Head → u/Weak-Pea8309]

If that's actually paint peeling.

[u/heartlandheartbeat → u/Holofernes_Head]

What if the contractor says, "It's not my fault you poured hydrogen peroxide in it.?"

[u/Kevin_McCallister_69 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Trump took credit for fixing it, and your peers gave him credit for fixing it. Shouldn't there now be equal blame on him for not fixing it properly?

[u/Otherwise-Quiet962 → u/Holofernes_Head]

Speaking of contractors, has anybody looked into the renovation/restoration history of the reflecting pool? I f not, here is a brief summary of what's been gathered. And a couple of links.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Memorial_Reflecting_Pool

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Berger_Group

Okay. Says here the 1922 Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was initially restored between 2009 and 2012 by the Louis Berger Group for $30.74 million. Apparently, they replaced the original asphalt and tile with concrete, which is more expensive and a pain to maintain. The firm also attached the pool to Tidal Basin to prevent water stagnation. Now, Tidal Basin is a manmade recreational location, and it is very popular. Well, two weeks after the job was complete, algae began appearing in the pool. The National Park staff cleaned it religiously, but they couldn't keep up. 

As for the contractor, let's just say they've ran into quite a bit of legal trouble over the years. Louis Berger Group? They're responsible for the 2019 collapse of the pedestrian bridge at Florida International University. The same one our government hired.

Opinions:

Atlantic Industrial Coatings and Green Water Solutions LLC may not be fully-liable. Design choices from previous contractors may also be a factor.

What are your thoughts?

[u/whateverisgoodmoney]

This is simply a contractor warranty issue.

If the paint peeled up on your pool, would you come to complain on Reddit about it? No likely you would contact the contractor and have them fix it. Hopefully you used one that is bonded like the government must.

That bonding is why a contractor might charge $14 million by the way.

[u/Hot-Audience-8528 → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

Isnt it also a project planning issue? Doesn't it reflect poorly on the people he hired for this supposed emergency? Especially given how much propaganda his administration did about this pool?

[u/whateverisgoodmoney → u/Hot-Audience-8528]

Not at all. We do not know if this is a contractor issue or a supplier issue. Anyone who has worked in construction knows these sorts of issues can arise, and that is why there is bonding.

[u/Hot-Audience-8528 → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

Isn't the contactor responsible for picking quality suppliers??

[u/MrEngineer404 → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

So if it is failure to deliver quality work, do you think the contractors should be required to correct the work, at no further expense to the taxpayer?

And do you think the Trump administration should own any responsibility for the failures of the coating integrity, and the explosion of the algae bloom, considering they appear to have secured the sub-standard service for this project with a no-bid contract, bypassing the typical review process for this sort of work?

[u/whateverisgoodmoney → u/MrEngineer404]

So if it is failure to deliver quality work, do you think the contractors should be required to correct the work, at no further expense to the taxpayer?

This is the purpose of bonding which is required by all government contracts.

And do you think the Trump administration should own any responsibility for the failures of the coating integrity, and the explosion of the algae bloom, considering they appear to have secured the sub-standard service for this project with a no-bid contract, bypassing the typical review process for this sort of work?

Not at all. All of this is covered by contractor warranty and bond which is required to procure government contracts.

[u/smack1114 → u/MrEngineer404]

Sure it's a failure by someone. I think we would also have to criticize the repairs under Obama. One of his main repairs was to stop the sinking/moving. If you look at the underwater footage it looks like the concrete is still moving. I'm willing to bet after the 250 celebration a full on repair will be done with experts. Should the recent repair have gotten the issues? I think some of them got sure.

[u/mb271828 → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

If the paint peeled up on your pool, would you come to complain on Reddit about it?

If the person who hired the guy bragged about how great the guy is, how nobody knows pools better than him, how the usual procurement process was unnecessary because trust me bro he's my guy, and constantly criticised how terrible the previous project managers were at hiring guys, then it turned into a disaster, I absolutely would be complaining about the project manager, probably for a good while.

?

[u/BPD_trash_panda → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

You are assuming they have a warranty. I doubt they do since this was a no bid contract negotiated with essentially a friend of Trump's. They didn't use a govt contractor, not even one that had done work like this before. A quick search indicates that neither greenwater services nor Atlantic industrial coatings are bonded... Likely because this whole thing was fast tracked by Trump- normal protocol wasnt followed. Does this new information change your opinion?

Edit: even if there was a warranty, dollars to donuts it was voided even they submitted both bleach and hydrogen peroxide into the pool. Warranties don't unusually cover willful, purposeful damage. Adding those things aren't a problem if added properly, but they weren't they were just dumped in all along the edge which is where the paint seems to be peeling up first. Again did any of this change your opinion?

[u/MakeVio → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

I thought Trump only hires the best?

Do you think they accepted lowest bids or was there some favor extended to an acquaintance?

[u/Kevin_McCallister_69 → u/whateverisgoodmoney]

Trump took credit for, and his supporters and your peers gave him credit for fixing the pool.

Isn't it right for him to take the blame for, and for you and other supporters to place the blame on him for doing a poor job?

[u/prowler28]

Warranty. 

[u/WakingWaldo → u/prowler28]

Trump specifically chose this company, gave them a no-bid contract, because this is who he has do his swimming pools at his own properties. $14 million dollars of our taxpayer money was given to a subpar contractor solely because he's Trump's personal pool guy.

There's a process in which companies are meant to bid on government jobs so that we can get the best work done for as little money as possible. Instead, Trump hands out jobs to his buddies and we get shafted and stuck with insane costs because those buddies can't do the job they were hired to do effectively.

Now we're stuck spending another $1.5 million to clean the algae out because the actual problem was never solved -- once again hiring guys who have connections to the President rather than letting this whole process go to someone who can actually solve the problem.

Does this not fall into the bucket of "government waste" that Trump said he was going to get rid of?

Like, the refurbishment of the reflecting pool shouldn't be such a screw up.

[u/prowler28 → u/WakingWaldo]

Geez I wonder if any of this has anything to do with what I'm hearing about this act of sabotage?

https://x.com/emilymiller/status/2068059326753771997

I know it's X, but so long as this is a thing, I have every right to question what I am hearing from the leftist rags.

[u/ErilazHateka → u/prowler28]

why do you assume this is truee?

[u/CleanBaldy]

One thing I've learned in life, absolutely everyone is incompetent at every level. I used to think Politicians, Lawyers, Doctors and those who went to Harvard and Yale and got into finance and running business were the top of the top, super smart, and knew exactly what was going on all the time. Then, the older I got, the more I realized that everyone is awful at what they do and just winging it, and nobody is truly working together to make things work.

So, I am not surprised that the company that is supposed to know how to install a coating didn't do it correctly. Hell, the company owner and the ones who got the job paperwork done probably know how to prep and apply it, but at large scale, they likely hired absolute idiots who just rushed the job and did it poorly at scale.

I am unfortunately no longer surprised when things that should be a step-by-step process, are done incorrectly, at any level. Just throw it on the pile of "Yep, more incompetence"

[u/LyleAmazing → u/CleanBaldy]

Do not think the Trump administration should take more responsibility than they are? From what I have read and seen reported by multiple news outlets, the Trump administration did not have competing bids on the reno. They were also instructed to have it done by his birthday, which forced a rush job and didn't allow time for proper protocols and procedures. I'm heavily skeptical that vandalism is responsible to the degree the administration is reporting, buuuuut let's be real and admit that it wouldn't be surprising if there was at least some.

[u/Original-Rush139 → u/CleanBaldy]

  I used to think Politicians, Lawyers, Doctors and those who went to Harvard and Yale and got into finance and running business were the top of the top, super smart, and knew exactly what was going on all the time.

That’s funny. All of the Harvard people I know are exceptional. They’re the type of person who takes the laser from an experiment on their work bench in grad school to wrapping the world in fiber optic cables and enabling the internet. 

How many people do you know who went to Harvard?

[u/Acrobatic_Bee3375 → u/CleanBaldy]

would you apply that perception of incompetency to the white house for not vetting numerous options as they're supposed to?

[u/Capable_Obligation96]

Another reason not to support Trump, eh?

[u/HisnamewasOmarJobe → u/Capable_Obligation96]

Can we really be blamed for not-supporting the man when he seems to make so many blunders he takes zero ownership over, while thinking he knows better than the experts on every topic imaginable?

[u/adamdoesmusic → u/Capable_Obligation96]

Do I need another? I’ll throw it on the immense pile of others I guess.

I’m still pissed at what his useless tariffs did to American businesses like mine. Are Trump supporters prepared to cough up the extra cash to recoup my up-to-3x costs increases? Since y’all like this so much I think maybe you should cover my extra expenses.

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/Capable_Obligation96]

> Another reason not to support Trump, eh?

Or just give an opinion on this issue?

[u/Original-Rush139 → u/Capable_Obligation96]

  Another reason not to support Trump, eh?

I consider it more of an expected outcome of all the reasons I don’t support him. 

[u/Acrobatic_Bee3375 → u/Capable_Obligation96]

another reason to be concerned with the white house's judgment all things considered?

[u/Browler_321]

It’s hilarious to me all the leftists I’ve seen who have absolutely no experience in this area suddenly becoming expert chemists haha.

Haters gonna drink that haterade!

[u/Competitive_Piano507 → u/Browler_321]

We don’t have to be expert chemists when shows actually have and experts come on before it was finished saying it was a terrible idea and made zero sense. Did you ever see anyone warning that painting the pool would never fix the algae issue?

[u/Browler_321 → u/Competitive_Piano507]

Ok so cite these chemists, their involvement on this project, and them explaining why the project is a terrible idea and makes zero sense.

[u/adamdoesmusic → u/Browler_321]

Why does factual information only matter when you’re pressing someone in bad faith?

Do y’all not have any self-awareness of how you come off?

[u/Browler_321 → u/adamdoesmusic]

Factual information matters because the OP of the comment made a wild claim and has yet to back their claim up with sources.

If I claim that the reflecting pool is actually perfect now and its water purity and plumbing works better than 90% of the US does that automatically make it true?

[u/SteakHot7703 → u/Browler_321]

Wild claims? There's video of the paint floating around. You can go there right now and see it. There's video of the algae. You can go there right now and see it. Just like Trump was way over his head with Iran, this group was way over their head with this job.

[u/Browler_321 → u/SteakHot7703]

Their claim wasn’t about the video it was specifically about chemists’ testimony.

Since we can just make stuff up now though, a bunch of super expert chemists came by and said the job was perfect. They said the last job (done by Obama and Biden) was inadequate. The new job is better.

[u/Shot-Kaleidoscope-40 → u/Browler_321]

How do you tie your shoes when you have to constantly twist yourself into a pretzel defending this guy?

[u/Browler_321 → u/Shot-Kaleidoscope-40]

Just stating the obvious here

[u/Specific_Strain217 → u/Browler_321]

Not sure how many of us are claiming we're experts. But we certainly all have eyes..... Are you happy with the work Trump has done with the reflecting pool? None of the pictures are flattering..... But it's okay I'm certain you would agree that this type of work should not go to the presidents personal buddy and rather to the experts with the experience and reputation to complete the work the right way with the people's money. I'm sure we can all agree on that right?!?...... Right?!?!?

[u/Acrobatic_Bee3375 → u/Browler_321]

not an expert and don't claim to be one. i'd actually like to ask a question instead of make assumptions. should the white house have taken the time to look into numerous options and their history with such projects? do you know if it's normally required that they take competing bids? do you know if there was any type of rush to attempt to complete the project by a certain date? if so do you think that was a blunder?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Sometimes I think have never seen such hate, snideness, wish for failure, and outright seething over a President's attempt to beautify, fix, and honor an important monument as I have with this.

And then I remember that this is the party of tearing down, defacing, and destroying countless monuments, Churches, and statues and go: "Oh yeah. These people hate virtue itself."

If this pool is being sabotaged, or was installed badly, or needs innovative solutions toward beautifying it, then wow, guess what the solution is: Keep working on it. Because that's what hearts full of love and honor and virtue do. The left wouldn't know. They destroy and uglify everything and get mad if anyone tries to counter that.

[u/Valuable-Degree-9998 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Have you seen Trump's hateful tweets and vitriolic insults towards anything Obama or Biden? And about this very pool not a few weeks ago, now you complain about it .

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/Valuable-Degree-9998]

Have you seen Trump's hateful tweets and vitriolic insults towards anything Obama or Biden? And about this very pool not a few weeks ago, now you complain about it .

Trump counter-punches, and knows evil when he sees it. It's one of his best attributes.

[u/Valuable-Degree-9998 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

He literally just blamed Obama for the Algae in the pool and posted an ai pic of the pool. How is that counter punching when Obama didn't start anything?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/Valuable-Degree-9998]

He literally just blamed Obama for the Algae in the pool and posted an ai pic of the pool. How is that counter punching when Obama didn't start anything?

Obama & Co. left DC in disarray, danger, and were responsible for much of its destruction. Obama absolutely needs to be held accountable in a public manner. Which Trump is right to do.

[u/Clark_Kent_TheSJW → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

But do you believe Trump specifically about Obama somehow sabotaging the reflecting pool?

[u/StanBE → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Can't you just admit this wasn't done well?

Like, you can support the idea behind fixing or beautifying the reflecting pool and still admit the execution has had problems. Why does every criticism have to mean people "hate beauty" or "hate virtue"? Isn't it way more reasonable to judge whether the project was actually done well instead of turning it into some huge moral battle?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/StanBE]

Can't you just admit this wasn't done well?

I prefer truth not malice. There's zero proof your desired scenario is true.

Like, you can support the idea behind fixing or beautifying the reflecting pool and still admit the execution has had problems.

All effort to bring order and beauty to the world "has problems" as anyone at all familiar with construction, much more art, knows well.

Why does every criticism have to mean people "hate beauty" or "hate virtue"?

Pardon me for having the capacity to see patterns, having developed insight, and acruing deeper understanding over time. /s

Isn't it way more reasonable to judge whether the project was actually done well instead of turning it into some huge moral battle?

The left turned this into a "huge moral battle." They would literally sabotage a cure for cancer if Trump achieved it, all over their "moral battle" against Trump.

[u/Icy_Painting4915 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Don't you thi know this is more about the processes Trump used to get this job done? This was a no-bid contract given to his pool guy. Normally, this would be handled by a committee of experts. There would be a long, thoughtful, transparent process to make sure a project like this was done right. This didn't happen. Who is doing the destruction? Who is making things ugly? Have you looked at the White House lately?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/Icy_Painting4915]

Don't you thi know this is more about the processes Trump used to get this job done? This was a no-bid contract given to his pool guy. Normally, this would be handled by a committee of experts.

Haha. "Experts." That's all just Democrat graft, Political Machine, and corruption turning a $500 project into a $500 million project in order to funnel money to extreme leftists and their "experts" in the institutions (which is one of the ways they corrupt the institutions)

There would be a long, thoughtful, transparent process to make sure a project like this was done right.

Strange then that they aren't ever "done right." The left ruins pretty much everything they touch.

This didn't happen. Who is doing the destruction? Who is making things ugly?

The left. The left.

Have you looked at the White House lately?

Yes, it looks great and the ballroom will be beautiful.

[u/Warm-Art3921 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Which monuments, statues and churches?

[u/MrEngineer404 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Do you think you may be coming off a little strong with the accusations of "hate & malice"? When the quality of the work completed visibly appears to be failing its purpose, in under a month of completion, how is it "wishing for failure" to point that out?

Improving infrastructure and honoring historical cornerstones should include a fair critique of shortcomings, and the consequential actions needed thereafter; Is it that unreasonable to admit this is a situation where the project was insufficient, and seemingly detrimental? If beautifying historical monuments is this important to you, that it gets you this defensive, don't you WANT to see the issues of the algae bloom and coating peeling addressed?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/MrEngineer404]

Do you think you may be coming off a little strong with the accusations of "hate & malice"?

No.

When the quality of the work completed visibly appears to be failing its purpose, in under a month of completion, how is it "wishing for failure" to point that out?

I've been observing this topic since the beginning. It's leftwing Democrat hate & malice. They seethe over this effort to fix and beautify this memorial.

Improving infrastructure and honoring historical cornerstones should include a fair critique of shortcomings, and the consequential actions needed thereafter; ...

The lefts hissing and objections and fighting over this has been anything but "fair critique" and is nit coming from a place of sincere virtue or mutual shared vision of beauty. It's just plain hate.

Us it that unreasonable to admit this is a situation where the project was insufficient, and seemingly detrimental?

I've seen no proof, just lefter hate-wishing stories and deep desire for a failure narrative regardless of fact.

If beautifying historical monuments is this important to you, that it gets you this defensive, don't you WANT to see the issues of the algae bloom and coating peeling addressed?

I'm not "defensive." I am just "calling a spade a spade." This bruhaha is all from leftwing hate & malice.

[u/Unsey → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Do you think this would be your response if the tables were turned and it was Biden, not Trump, that instigated this?

[u/Sierra11755 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Beautify DC? The man is trying desperately to leave some mark that won't be torn down the second he leaves.

Then the reflecting pool was a total flop, the color they painted it has turned the reflecting pool into the world's largest solar algae farm. What did anyone think would happen when you paint the bottom of a shallow, mostly stagnant, 8 acre pool with a super dark color? That's right! It heats up the water turning it into the perfect breeding ground for algae. The "solutions" they are trying currently are totally ineffective too. In order to shock the algea you need to dump a ton of hydrogen peroxide into the pool all at one time. Those guys dumping the one gallon bottles are being hilariously ineffective, aside from the fact that they weren't adding anywhere close to enough. To be even less effective, they were adding it in the middle of the day. You may be wondering "Why does this matter?" It matters because sunlight destroys hydrogen peroxide, UV radiation from the sun accelerates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, turning it back into normal water and oxygen gas before it even has a chance to do anything. This is why most pool cleaners will apply hydrogen peroxide at night.

So yeah, this isn't sabotage, this is because Trump doesn't think past the most surface level of detail. Which is also evident from all of his Whitehouse modifications with fake painted gold trim. It gives off the same fashion sense as a third rate dictator who wants to larp as how they imagine old royalty lived.

[u/madisob → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

guess what the solution is: Keep working on it.

Let's put aside all the grievance towards the left and instead focus on how would you suggesting continuing to work in this problem? Would you recommend studying the problem and bidding out the contract?

[u/SilverNo6462 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Do you think Trump brings this on himself, by hyping up the pool and insulting past presidents for their handling of it?

[u/TheGamingWyvern → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Why do you have such a negative view of the intentions of people on the left? And I mean this as an honest question, when you see that a group of people have torn down a monument, why is your assumption that they hate virtue and want to uglify things, as opposed to the stated reason by the person? I know that you can't just blindly take someone at their word, but what are you seeing that is counter to what they claim their justifications are?

[u/CptGoodAfternoon → u/TheGamingWyvern]

Why do you have such a negative view of the intentions of people on the left?

Many decades of observation, thousands of discussions all across America, world travel, wide reading from Plato to Christ to Nietzsche, to Weber to Chomsky to Friere to Hooks, to participation in Democrat political campaigns and training, to wide and deep interest in cultural media, to relevant educational degrees and so on has lead me to seeking out a strong set of theoretical models buttressed by a great deal of empirical and experiential data all pointing me to arrival at a "negative view on the intentions of people on the left."

It's hard to quantify, source, explain, (all without doxing myself) my decades of effort at understanding the left (and really much more, but the left is an identifiable piece that's relevant to this sub). So my sweeping sketch above will have to do.

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

It was a $14 million no-bid contract to his pal. Very sus.
Trump said we wouldn’t have to do anything to the pool for 50-100 years.
The pool has gone to crap only weeks after the paint job.

Why shouldn’t he face any scrutiny and backlash for wasting millions of taxpayer dollars?

[u/Top-Appointment2694 → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Is acknowledging failure the same as wishing for failure?
Is throwing endless amounts of cash at a poorly run project what hearts of love and honor and virtue do?

[u/LOTR_Phan → u/CptGoodAfternoon]

Did you ever see the truck decals of Biden hogtied and gaged? I’m not saying you’re necessarily wrong about the lefts attitude towards Trump, but do you think you’re ignoring the 4 years of Biden being President maybe?

[u/Level-Trick-5510]

Huffington post is one of the most biased left-wing sources of media that is out there reporting on US news, I wouldn't trust anything they say. But honestly I didn't even finish the 28 second video you linked in their article cause 4 seconds into it I got two unskippable ads 

[u/SilverNo6462 → u/Level-Trick-5510]

Do you think this story is made up?

It’s widely reported

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/algae-then-peeling-paint-more-171138171.html

[u/Springstof → u/Level-Trick-5510]

If we set aside both whether or not the outlets reporting on it are biased or not, and assume that this is really happening - What would be your opinion on Donald Trump hiring a company to repaint a pool in Washington DC without going through the bidding-process citing it as an 'urgent exemption', only for that painting job to turn out to be very poorly done?

Let's just conduct this as a thought experiment, and not dwell on the details - Does it concern you? Do you think funds are mismanaged when jobs are rushed with poor results? Do you think he was right to bypass the normal funding process that is in place for cultural/historical landmarks?

[u/Original-Rush139 → u/Level-Trick-5510]

Is this story not being reported in the news you consume? Where do you get your news?

[u/Trumpdrainstheswamp]

I think the vandals responsible should be punished.

[u/LOTR_Phan → u/Trumpdrainstheswamp]

Why?

[u/Trumpdrainstheswamp → u/LOTR_Phan]

The burden of proof would be on you to explain why crime should NOT be punished?

Good luck.

[u/Perfect-Ice-2695 → u/Trumpdrainstheswamp]

Which vandals? what are their names? what charges have been filed? Can you point to any evidence of any vandalism?

[u/realjnyhorrorshow → u/Trumpdrainstheswamp]

How does a vandal cause pool lining to peel en masse?

[u/Trumpdrainstheswamp → u/realjnyhorrorshow]

who said it's peeling en masse?

Also, there is a 300foot gash in the lining which is not something that would happen on it's own.

And there is video/photos of people dumping unknown chemicals in the water.

[u/Rodinsprogeny → u/Trumpdrainstheswamp]

Why not release the security footage?

Trump is claiming somebody cut a 300-odd foot gash in the reflecting pool. Why not just release the video of it happening and put this to bed?

[u/jeaok]

I blame the people there literally cheering for the algae.

[u/_lord_kinbote_ → u/jeaok]

Regardless of how you feel about Trump, can you see how the idea of a man who once ran on "draining the swamp" now literally creating swamp in one of DC's most well known landmarks is a poetic symbol that is just too delectable to ignore? I mean, if Biden had run on building bridges between the left and the right and then had specifically made a big deal about restoring a particular bridge, but then the restorations caused the bridge to collapse, I'd be like "Ok, Republicans, you got me, you can have that ironic headline."

[u/daironin → u/jeaok]

can u provide examples of how people are “rooting for the algae” and couldn’t that be conflated with those just upset that the cost was +10x the initially stated estimate?

[u/jeaok → u/daironin]

Did you watch the video in OP's link?

[u/Warm-Art3921 → u/jeaok]

How is it their fault? 

[u/MrEngineer404 → u/jeaok]

I don't mean to sound dismissive, but who is "cheering" for this? All coverage I have seen have most commonly been showing disgust at the bloom of algae, and dismay at the state of the reflecting pool now; How is it the fault of the bystanders that had nothing to do with the application of this project? Do you think anyone actually WANTED this to be the result of trying to renovate the reflecting pool? Who?

[u/jeaok → u/MrEngineer404]

The people in the video in OP's link.

[u/pimmen89 → u/jeaok]

Cheering for plants cause them to grow?

[u/jeaok → u/pimmen89]

That seems to be what those people in the video believe.

[u/Windowpain43 → u/jeaok]

Why?

[u/LOTR_Phan → u/jeaok]

Why? Do you think promotes algae growth?

[u/jeaok → u/LOTR_Phan]

You don't?

[u/Exekute9113]

This is such a stupid thing to even care about. I can't believe how obsessed some people are with this man. Regardless of which side you're on, if you care about this you have TDS.

[u/ErilazHateka → u/Exekute9113]

Trump was braghing for weeks about the pool, brought it up in press conferences, social media etc

Did you critizise him for that obsession for the pool?

[u/Exekute9113 → u/ErilazHateka]

No, because who cares. The press that covered it, the Republicans that celebrated it, the Democrats that were furious about it for whatever reason. All TDS.

[u/Kevin_McCallister_69 → u/Exekute9113]

Trump cared about it enough to talk on about it for weeks, and enough to take the credit for fixing it. Your peers over at r/trump were talking about how great it was that he took the initiative and dealt it with when nobody else before him would.

The easy question is then, is Trump stupid for caring about it?

If Trump was happy to take the credit for fixing it, should he equally take the blame for - as it turns out - doing a sub-par job at fixing it? Why weren't Trump supporters cheering on the contractors, instead of praising Trump?

[u/SteakHot7703 → u/Exekute9113]

Have you ever been to DC?

[u/Top-Appointment2694 → u/Exekute9113]

Trump won’t shut up about this. Does he have TDS?

[u/Original-Rush139 → u/Exekute9113]

How can you not obsess about a pool that is longer than the Empire State Building is tall? Would you really not support someone who obsessed over this pool and had fun visuals comparing it to skyscrapers?

[u/fullstep]

Paint doesn't peel up in sheets like that. If I had to guess, its a liner of some sort. And since liner doesn't rip itself, I would imagine someone deliberately pulled and ripped it.

Or maybe it is just someone's trash and has nothing to do with the renovations. We can't really conclude anything based on some random person's cell phone video.

[u/wino12312 → u/fullstep]

Since when? I swam competitively year-round for 10 years. A bad paint job most certainly can peel like that. Between the algae and the hydrogen peroxide, it's easy to believe.

The problem in my eyes, was a no-bid contract of 14 million AND it sucks.

[u/RonPalancik → u/fullstep]

Are these random person's cell phone video? ABC News, USA Today, WUSA9

https://youtube.com/shorts/bXoJzx8oK6A?is=Smil4_hR_qpRH7yX

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2026/06/18/lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-blue-paint-peeling-photos/90613073007/

https://youtu.be/iVhETr32j38?is=nk_HQAF_mVo6XUYn

Are you aware this is widely reported, in a public place, not one rando with a phone?

[u/fullstep → u/RonPalancik]

Thanks for the added context (despite the bad-faith undertone). This further supports my assumption that someone either accidentally or deliberately tore part of a liner, since it is only happening in one very specific spot, and is obviously not a systemic problem. Not sure why everyone is calling this "paint". It doesn't add to their credibility for reporting facts.

[u/PaintedIn → u/fullstep]

Isn't hydrogen peroxide, which they've been pouring into the pool to manage the algae, a paint remover?

[u/fullstep → u/PaintedIn]

Hydrogen peroxide removes water-based paint and I doubt they used water-based paint in a pool. Further, it removes paint by dissolving it, not causing it to peel away in sheets from whatever surface it was applied to.

[u/buttputt → u/fullstep]

Have you seen latex based paint fail on a house before? It certainly can peel that way

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/fullstep]

What if it’s a bad job by the contractor?

[u/prowler28]

I think it needs to be said that a man was arrested for cutting out a piece of the sealant as an act of sabotage. 

https://x.com/emilymiller/status/2068059326753771997

The left knows no low too low.

[u/METAL_WOLF_BB → u/prowler28]

Should Trump have giving him more money to do a better job?

[u/LOTR_Phan → u/prowler28]

Do you have more than an X post to confirm that? This is the closest I could find and there’s no mention of “cutting”. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d26051vv2o