John Oliver Just Shared His Thoughts On Trump's Reflecting Pool Debacle

US president Donald Trump’s restoration of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has cost millions so far this year.

But there have been recent reports of “flaking” paint and what appear to be recurring algae blooms.

Indeed, when HuffPost’s Jen Bendery visited the site, she found the new paint lifting in “chunks”. 

The pool, built in the 1920s, has a long history of algae blooms, leaks, and other issues. But its recent paint job has been linked to more favourable conditions for algae, an expert told the LA Times.

Last Week Tonight’s host, UK comedian John Oliver, has since shared his thoughts on the condition of the memorial at the moment.

“Another of Trump‘s pet projects continues to unravel,” he said on the show. And after showing NBC Today footage of a woman describing the body of water as green and smelly, he joked: “It’s never a great sign when the feedback for your national monument sounds exactly like a review for sex with the Grinch: green, smelly, good communicator though – three stars”. 

For his part, Trump claimed that the damage to the pool is due to vandalism comprising a “300 foot long gash” and pouring fertiliser into the water. He said he’d provide evidence for this in court. 

The US Park Police have said there have been multiple arrests linked to the Reflecting Pool.

The pool will reportedly be drained again to clear and clean any damage it’s sustained.

It’s been cut off from the public since, though the US Department of the Interior told The Independent this wasn’t linked to the algae or paint. 

“The Reflecting Pool was always set to be fenced off ahead of the 4th of July,” they said, adding: “As in years prior, one of the launch pads for the fireworks is around the pool so fencing is put up to ensure public safety. With the increase in vandalism by leftist activists, the fencing is going up earlier than originally planned to ensure no more damage is done to this historic site.”

For his part, Oliver compared the shutting down of the Pool to “a Chipotle that the health department shut down after finding a dead mouse in the guac”.