Trump administration compares reflecting pool algae battle to Iran war

The Guardian World Thursday 18 June 2026, 20:44 UTC By Callum Jones and Rachel Leingang in Washington 1 min read

Key Points

Interior department insists water at Washington landmark is ‘crystal clear’ as witnesses report murky green poolUS federal government workers continue take on the green hue that has swept across Washington’s reflecting pool, an increasingly fiendish battle the Trump administration compared to its war with Iran. After Donald Trump ordered a $14.2m refurbishment to turn the monument “American Flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations, the administration encountered a...

Interior department insists water at Washington landmark is ‘crystal clear’ as witnesses report murky green pool

US federal government workers continue take on the green hue that has swept across Washington’s reflecting pool, an increasingly fiendish battle the Trump administration compared to its war with Iran.

After Donald Trump ordered a $14.2m refurbishment to turn the monument “American Flag blue” in time for the country’s 250th birthday celebrations, the administration encountered a formidable foe: algae.

Trump (ORG) Iran (LOCATION) Interior (ORG) Washington (LOCATION) Donald Trump (PERSON)

Originally published by The Guardian World Read original →

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Trump administration compares reflecting pool algae battle to Iran war

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