In a week that entailed a supposed ceasefire in a far off war, some major Supreme Court decisions on immigration authority, and passage of a bipartisan housing bill (that the President failed to sign) it should be surprising that the most reported story of the week was about the Lincoln Reflecting Pool. More importantly, the state of the reflecting pool after a multi-million dollar renovation. The pool was appearing more and more discolored by algae blooms and portions of the paint on the bottom of the pool was peeling off and floating in the water. Needless to say, this attracted curious visitors who quickly found themselves in handcuffs for noticing the American-flag-blue sealant peeling and wishing to take it out of the pool. While the reporting was seemingly about a high profile infrastructure project, it became apparent that the events concerning the pool were more of a metaphor for the Trump Administration than a curious news story.

Favoritism over Merit

Like so much that occurs in this administration, the pool renovation began as a pet priority of the President (as it did not arise in any polling of the public regarding the most important issues to them!). He crowed that he could fix the century-old reflecting pool easily and cheaply (much like he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day). The contracts were let without a bidding process to parties with connections to the President (including a friend who pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a corrupt congressman). Instead of a system of merit choosing the lowest cost bidder with the most experience, the President chooses the loyal and those who donate money to him. Thus we got Kristi Noem, the DHS barbie, who repeatedly flouted judicial rulings and whose most glaring achievement was producing TV ads that she could star in. We have a commerce secretary that has managed to do nothing to increase exports and or rebuild the manufacturing sector of the country, but has been identified as a friend of Jeffrey Epstein. And we have a Health and Human Services secretary that makes demonstrably false statements to Congress about healthcare matters (COVID, autism, tylenol, etc). But as long as they credit and complement their boss, that is the only qualification that matters.

Image over Substance

The Administration has continually focused on areas that are intended to gain approbation for the President (personally), policies that are ‘red meat’ for their supporters, and systemic changes to enhance or retain power. Celebratory coins with the President’s image, buildings with the President’s name, or conversations about the Nobel Peace Prize have little to do with governance. Nor did the DOGE efforts that were supposed to ID waste, fraud and abuse – and did nothing (but the administration did neuter the inspector general offices that actually identify waste and fraud). Gerrymandering was never at the top of any poll as a public priority, but the President has spent an inordinate amount of time convincing state houses to disenfranchise voters in upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the national debt has soared, inflation is up at a rate exceeding wage growth, and our nation’s infrastructure is crumbling – with the administration focused on a new coat of paint on a pool on the mall.

Clarity vs. Swamp

There is irony that the goal of the reflecting pool project is to improve the pool’s clarity and transparency. Little about the Trump Administration is transparent. Listening to congressional testimony by administration officials either illustrates their ignorance or obfuscation. Even when required to release internal papers, like the Epstein Files, they appear to only demonstrate the ability to black out large segments of text to protect the implicated. On something so simple as the President’s health, the administration tries to blow smoke about his ‘excellent’ health despite the clearly visible deterioration. Just as the performance of the administration becomes murky, so does the reflecting pool. The President deflects blame about the reflecting pool in the same way as he deflected blame about American citizens killed by ICE agents. Perhaps his motorcade’s own actions of driving over the reflecting pool cracked the new sealant, resulting in the floating chunks. But accountability is not in the offing.

The President campaigned on the idea that he would drain the swamp, but like the increasing algae in the reflecting pool, he just filled it with more swamp. Because a darker bottom on a stagnant pool will absorb more heat and attract more algae growth. Just as the administration attracts more incompetent, corrupt players whose only desire is to use the government and taxpayer money for personal gain. Ultimately, this administration’s swamp only grows more swamp.

And the national disgrace continues…