Dead duckling found in reflecting pool as Trump's Justice Department goes on the hunt for vandals following arrest of former Olympian

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 06:35, 22 June 2026 | Updated: 06:56, 22 June 2026 A dead duckling in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was tragically discovered following President Donald Trump's costly efforts to beautify the site ahead of America's 250th birthday.  The saddening sight was revealed on Sunday after photos of the duckling showed the creature floating in the waters, which have turned a stomach-churning shade of green following Trump's $16 million renovation to the Washington landmark. Images of the dead animal have sparked outrage online as many pointed to the algae-tackling chemicals that are being dumped in the waters.  Just days ago, crews were seen dumping hydrogen peroxide into the water to curb algal growth.  The Department of the Interior, which is overseeing the project, said in a statement to media outlets that 'nanobubbler technology' had been installed to address the buildup of algae.  'Unlike under Obama and Biden, the National Park Service is actually maintaining the beautifully completed Reflecting Pool,' a spokesperson for the department said in a statement to the Daily Mail. 'To keep the water in the Reflecting Pool not only crystal clear but also clean, we are deploying high-tech nanobubble ozone technology.' The department added that the technology kills algae, pathogens and contaminants that have long plagued the pool.  A dead duckling in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was tragically discovered on Sunday following President Donald Trump's costly efforts to beautify the site ahead of America's 250th birthday The Department of the Interior, which is overseeing the project, said in a statement to media outlets that 'nanobubbler technology' had been installed to address the buildup of algae National Park Service workers vacuum pumps to clean algae off the bottom of the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, DC  The DOI confirmed that hydrogen peroxide was being used to treat the pool, but claimed there were no harmful side effects to the environment or marine life.   The administration paid over $1.7million to Green Water Solutions LLC last April for a 'nano bubble,' according to government spending files.  Nanobubblers are microscopic gas bubbles. They suspend in water, increasing dissolved oxygen levels and altering the water chemistry. The gas bubbles damage algae cells and break them apart, preventing the water from turning green.  The ducklings tragic death comes after a former US Olympian was placed in handcuffs for allegedly vandalizing the pool.  David Hearn, 62, told the Daily Mail his arrest and the charges were a farce intended to boost a false narrative as he shared an image of the pool's damaged facade.  'It's a completely unfounded accusation. It's a lie,' Hearn said over the phone. 'I didn't rip, tear, destruct, destroy, or harm in any way, any part of the reflecting pool.'  Hearn admitted to touching a 'loose flap of coating,' but claimed he did so purely because he was 'curious as a concerned citizen.'  The DOI confirmed that hydrogen peroxide was being used to treat the pool, but claimed there were no harmful side effects to the environment or marine life David Hearn, 62, is a former Olympian who was arrested on Friday for allegedly vandalizing the recently renovated Reflecting Pool in Washington DC  Hearn is pictured getting arrested by the Reflecting Pool on Friday 'They clearly wanted a news story that they could promote that was centered around vandals damaging the reflecting pool,' Hearn said, adamant he did nothing wrong. 'Officers were ready to arrest me and other people they found who they could have some contrived basis of charges on to accuse them of vandalism,' Hearn said.  Hearn added that he had taken a photo of the peeling paint shortly before he was arrested and shared the picture with the Daily Mail.  Video of Hearn's arrest showed the Olympian standing by the Reflecting Pool with his bike before getting approached by two National Guard soldiers. The video then shows him walking over to four police officers and a third National Guard soldier. A fifth officer dressed in a white shirt – identified by Hearn as Lieutenant Stone – can then be seen talking to the Olympian, whose hands were cuffed behind his back. Hearn said Stone 'seemed to be the driving force behind the arrest.'  The White House did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on Hearn's claims.   On Saturday, Trump made a series of posts on Truth Social blaming the reflecting pool's green water and peeling paint on vandalism.  Trump claimed without evidence that people had 'poured corrosive and destructive chemicals into the Pool' and said that US Park Police 'arrested multiple individuals for vandalizing our Nations magnificent Reflecting Pool.' On Saturday, Trump made a series of posts on Truth Social blaming the reflecting pool's green water and peeling paint on vandalism A company with ties to a Trump donor was offered a no-bid contract to install a water-purification system in the Reflecting Pool, which has experienced algae blooms since the renovation was completed  The president also wrote: 'Who would do such a thing? These are very serious crimes having to do with the destruction of National Monuments.' A couple hours earlier, he made another post sharing an article about Hearn's arrest.  Hearn claimed he did not go into the water at all 'other than the tips of my fingers,' and that he touched the coating for less than a minute before he was approached by a National Park Service employee and arrested shortly thereafter.  'We've already heard many lies from this administration,' Hearn said. 'That's just another lie.'  Hearn also shockingly claimed that he was never read his Miranda rights when he was arrested. The Olympian said he was placed in 'very tight handcuffs' behind his back before he was placed in a jail cell for five hours.  He said the cell was 'fairly clean,' but it was a 'scary' experience because 'with the government that we're under and right now, there have been many unlawful detentions.'  'I was happy I wasn't in ICE custody, and I was happy I wasn't being sent to El Salvador, but there was a high degree of uncertainty over when I was going to be released,' Hearn added over the phone.  The Olympian claimed that during his five-hour stay behind bars he was not allowed to make a phone call, was not offered food or water and was told his imprisonment 'was an open-ended detention,' which meant he was not told when he would be released. 'The conditions of the jail were physically good, but mentally difficult,' Hearn told the Daily Mail. Hearn claimed he did not go into the water at all 'other than the tips of my fingers,' and that he touched the coating for less than a minute before he was approached by a National Park Service employee and arrested shortly thereafter The Reflecting Pool was drained in April and refinished in 'American Flag Blue,' a color hand-selected by Trump Hearn said that in theory, he was pleased with the effort to renovate parks and national monuments in Washington DC, but he emphasized that the projects would be 'more well received' without 'a sort of a baggage of corruption to it.'  Hearn was an accomplished canoeist who competed in the sport competitively from the late 1970s to the early 2000s.  The Reflecting Pool was drained in April and refinished in 'American Flag Blue,' a color hand-selected by Trump. The president initially said that the cost of renovation would be around $1.8 million, but in late May, the government agreed to pay $13.1 million for the project.  The final price tag ballooned yet again, to about $16.4 million, a more than eight-fold increase from the initially-stated sum. The pool was recoated and painted by Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, which was offered a $14.7 million no-bid contract with a 20 percent profit margin.  Federal construction project contracts typically offer profit margins of between six percent and 12 percent, according to a federal Park Service contracting specialist analysis reviewed by the New York Times.  Greenwater Services of Brookfield, the company with ties to a Trump donor, was offered a $1.7 million no-bid contract to install a water-purification system in the reflecting pool, which has experienced algae blooms since the renovation was completed. Trump also spent the weekend raging at 'liberal lunatics' who allegedly vandalized the pool, including ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, who he claimed tried 'to rip rubber off the surface' of it. Trump spent the weekend raging at 'liberal lunatics' who allegedly vandalized the pool, including ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, who he claimed tried 'to rip rubber off the surface' of it Jeanine Pirro, the former Fox News star turned US Attorney for DC, refused to rule out including Karl among others arrested for destroying the pool in an interview Sunday. 'Anyone who is in a position of vandalizing or attempting to vandalize the reflecting pool will face the criminal justice system,' Pirro said. 'There are several citations that have been handed out to individuals, and these are cases that will be prosecuted to the full extent.' Karl filed multiple reports from the reflecting pool this week where he investigated what the Trump administration's fix had done to it.  Trump, who has often antagonized Karl in the past, wrote a lengthy Truth Social post excoriating him for his alleged behavior. 'Lightweight ABC Reporter, Jonathan Karl, was seen sticking his hand into the Pool, and trying to rip the rubber off of the surface,' he claimed.  The President continued to rail against the destruction of the pool on Truth Social Sunday. He wrote: 'Work will begin immediately on fixing the seriously vandalized Reflecting Pool. I just inspected it, and could only say to myself, and those gathered around me, WOW, who would do such a thing? SICK, DERANGED PEOPLE! We will fix it.'  The Daily Mail reached out to the White House for comment.   The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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