Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Trump's $14 million Reflecting Pool renovation covered in algae; conservative media blamed sabotage — The Trump administration's $14 million no-bid contract to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted in the pool becoming covered in green algae. The renovation painted the pool bottom blue but failed to address filtration and circulation problems, accelerating the algae problem. Conservative media personality Grant Stinchfield declared the algae a result of sabotage by the left, calling it vandalism by people who "can't stand Trump, American greatness and his quest to make DC beautiful again." The post received 3.2 million views. The actual cause was stagnant water with poor filtration, a basic scientific problem.
• National Park Service dumps hydrogen peroxide into Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool — National Park Service workers dumped bottles of hydrogen peroxide directly into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the morning of June 16 in an attempt to mitigate an algae bloom caused by recent renovations. Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst captured foam floating on the surface. Dr. Michael O'Brien questioned on social media whether the approach was scientifically sound, noting that at least 8,000 liters of 12% hydrogen peroxide would be needed to reach minimum concentration to kill algae.
• Trump administration awards no-bid contract for Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool renovation — The Trump administration awarded a $14.2 million no-bid contract to Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings to renovate the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, intending to turn it "American flag blue" for the nation's 250th birthday. The contractor had previously worked on a swimming pool at one of Trump's golf clubs. Days after completion, algae proliferated in warm weather, forcing National Park Service workers to use skimmers and hydrogen peroxide to address the bloom. The administration claims a "nanobubbler technology" water treatment system will resolve the issue.
• Reflecting Pool renovation cost $16 million instead of stated $1.5 million — Federal contracting records revealed that Trump's renovation of the Reflecting Pool by the Lincoln Memorial cost approximately $16 million, not the $1.5 million Trump had publicly stated. The pool is now fouled with green algae. Trump and Interior Department officials claimed the project was a success and reposted articles praising the renovation despite the cost overrun and visible algae contamination.
• Workers treated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with hydrogen peroxide to address algae bloom — Workers poured hydrogen peroxide into the Reflecting Pool by the Lincoln Memorial to attempt to kill an algae bloom that had turned the pool bright green. The algae bloom resulted from Trump's renovation of the pool, which included dark paint on the pool floor. The dark paint caused the sun to heat the water faster than before, creating conditions that accelerated algae growth, an outcome experts had warned about.
• U.S. Park Police arrested cyclist for touching peeling pool material — On Friday, June 18, former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn, 67, was arrested by U.S. Park Police for destruction of government property, a misdemeanor, after he reached into the reflecting pool to feel the detached blue epoxy material while on a 52-mile bike ride. Hearn denied vandalizing anything, stating he was unaware of what was happening before being handcuffed. The arrest occurred as the pool's coating was actively peeling and floating in algae-filled water.
• Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool develops severe algae bloom after $14 million renovation — Days after completion of a $14 million renovation, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool developed an algae bloom more severe than any recorded in June for at least five years. Trump had promised in April to clean up the "filthy" and "disgusting" water and resurface the basin to eliminate leaking and paint it "American flag blue." After refilling began on June 4, Trump praised the "clean, beautiful water." However, satellite analysis by University of Virginia environmental scientist Alana Menendez detected more algae in the pool in an image taken the week after reopening than in any June images from 2021 onward. The Interior Department began treating the pool with hydrogen peroxide and nanobubble ozone technology, but the hydrogen peroxide is causing the new blue paint to peel, as documented in social media posts.

Supporting reports

• Federal agencies and UFC invested $60 million in White House cage fight event — Federal agencies and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) are investing at least $60 million toward a White House cage fight event scheduled for Trump's 80th birthday on Sunday, June 14, 2026. The funding has paid for a fighting arena on the South Lawn of the White House and approximately 900 workers since May 20, 2026. Trump owns significant stock in TKO Holding Group, the parent company of UFC.

Supporting reports

• National park entrance fees diverted to Trump D.C. renovation projects — The New York Times reported that the Trump administration has diverted at least $67 million in entrance fees paid by the American people to national parks to fund Trump's renovation projects in Washington, D.C. The diverted funds include a multi-million dollar contract to repaint the Reflecting Pool, awarded to a MAGA-connected contractor. The diversion represents a misappropriation of public funds collected for park maintenance and operations.
• National Park Service diverts $67 million in entrance fees for DC beautification — The National Park Service is using at least $67 million in park entrance fees to fund beautification projects in Washington, D.C., ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. The projects were directed by Trump and include a $7 million paint job on the Reflecting Pool. The Interior Department is spending at least $95 million in total taxpayer funds on DC beautification projects, all initiated between December 2025 and April 2026. The funds come from entrance fees that would normally support park operations and maintenance nationwide.

Supporting reports

• Interior Secretary announced renovation of public golf course with Trump-tied contractor — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced plans to renovate East Potomac Golf Links, a public golf course, into a championship facility. The contract was awarded to Fazio Design, a firm with longstanding ties to Trump. The accompanying map contains cartographic errors, including an incorrectly positioned Washington Monument.

Supporting reports

• Representative Chip Roy pushed for taxpayer funding of White House ballroom — According to reporting by Meidas reporter Pablo Manriquez, Representative Chip Roy advocated for using taxpayer funds to pay for the White House ballroom construction. When Manriquez asked Senator Ron Johnson if he would support Roy's push for public funding, Johnson responded affirmatively, stating "Sure" when asked if he would vote for public funds to be used for the ballroom.
• House Republicans propose $400 million taxpayer funding for Trump ballroom — Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham, announced plans to introduce legislation authorizing $400 million in taxpayer funding to build a ballroom at the White House, to be offset by customs fees. Trump originally claimed in February 2025 the ballroom would be paid entirely from his own pocket, then shifted to donor funding, and now seeks public money. Rep. Lauren Boebert cited national security as justification. Multiple Democratic representatives criticized the proposal as grift and misplaced priorities given infrastructure and healthcare needs. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene sarcastically criticized the spending in the context of broader foreign policy and budget priorities.
• Senate Republicans introduced legislation to fund Trump ballroom with $400 million — A group of Senate Republicans introduced legislation authorizing $400 million in federal spending to build a ballroom at a Trump property. The proposal uses public funds for a private commercial facility, exemplifying the blending of public resources and private business interests.

Supporting reports

• Trump administration awards no-bid contract to ballroom builder for fountain repairs — The Trump administration secretly awarded a no-bid $17.4 million contract to Clark Construction, the company building the White House ballroom, to repair two ornamental fountains in Lafayette Park. The Biden administration had estimated the same work at $3.3 million in 2022. The Trump administration justified the cost increase by adding 27% inflation, then 24% additional inflation, then 50% more for expedited completion. The contract should have been open for competitive bidding, but the administration cited an "urgency" exception meant for war or natural disasters to bypass normal procurement procedures. The government will pay for the repairs while Trump claims private donations will fund the ballroom.

Supporting reports

• Trump promotes $TRUMP meme coin via Truth Social, boosting price temporarily — On March 23, 2025, President Trump used his Truth Social platform to promote $TRUMP, an eponymous meme coin in which he holds an 80% stake (800 million coins) through Fight Fight Fight LLC. The post spiked the coin's price by over $1 in minutes, though gains were largely reversed by afternoon. Trump stands to profit substantially once coins unlock in mid-April; at $10 per coin, his stake represents an $8 billion potential windfall. The coin has already generated $86–$100 million in trading fees for Trump-controlled entities.
• Coinbase listed and promoted $TRUMP meme coin days after announcement — Within days of $TRUMP's announcement, Coinbase and other major trading platforms listed the meme coin and took the "extraordinary step" of promoting it to their user base. This rapid listing conferred legitimacy on $TRUMP and made it available to millions of retail investors. Major platforms typically hesitate to list meme coins because most are scams; the speed and promotional effort for $TRUMP stand out as unusual.
• Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) stock plummeted despite Trump's increased profile — Trump Media & Technology Group, the publicly traded parent of Truth Social, lost over $400 million on just $3.6 million in revenue in 2024, down from $4.1 million in 2023 despite Trump's increased public profile following his 2024 election victory. TMTG's stock price has lost more than 40% of its value in 2025. The company's market cap of over $4 billion is driven primarily by sentiment around Trump rather than economic performance, making it a "meme stock."