# Trump blamed predecessors for algae in $14m Lincoln Memorial pool overhaul

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/election-week-in-trumpland-algae-space-proclamations-and-a-deflection-of-blame/
- Published: 2026-11-04T12:37:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T13:12:14+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/04/election-week-in-trumpland-algae-space-proclamations-and-a-deflection-of-blame
- Topics: Elections, Politics, Space, Technology, World

## Key points

- Trump promoted the troubled $14m reflecting-pool renovation before the midterms.
- He blamed predecessors for algae and criticised Fox News coverage.
- Democrats won decisively despite his focus on other priorities.

## Summary

Donald Trump spent the final day before the midterm elections promoting a troubled renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and blaming previous administrations for its algae. The article presents the event, alongside his other campaign-week declarations and attacks on Fox News, as evidence that he was focused on issues that did not match voters’ concerns; Democrats went on to win decisively.

Trump had promised to make the pool “American flag blue”, but algae turned it green, and the renovation was reported to have cost $14m. During election week he also issued a declaration about freedom in space, proclaimed “Anti-Communism Week” and said US military aid to Israel, which he put at $4bn, would end at year’s end, citing criticism from Democrats as a political burden. As polls closed, he blamed Fox News for poor ratings and unfavourable polling.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.