Trump blew $14 million in taxpayer money to make Washington’s famed Reflecting Pool blue (as in the flag) instead of green (as in green energy). But within days, the pool was green again, with resurgent algae.
Chemicals were poured in to fight that, but then chunks of the pool’s painted blue lining started breaking off.
Trump on social media blamed vandals, saying “multiple individuals” were arrested for “very serious crimes” at the pool (which he initially misspelled “poll”).
News media reported, actually, a single arrest. “Did he piss in the pool?” my wife asked, when I mentioned it. No; former Olympian David Hearn’s “very serious crime” was touching the deteriorating coating. Admonished by a park worker, he desisted. He has a court date next month.
Vandalism? Standard Trump lying of course. Here’s an alternate theory: the $14 million pool job was done incompetently. Was it perchance, with no bid, by a crappy contracting company crony of this corrupt kingpin? The “master builder” — or master grifter.
Trump took time out from lying about the pool on social media to lie about Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (misspelling her name “Gigorgia”). Meloni, leading a party rooted in fascism, was the one European leader seen as a Trump buddy. But not after he’s now gratuitously slammed her, claiming she’d repeatedly begged him at the G7 for a joint photo, and dissing her as “doing poorly in Italy with her level of popularity,” and not doing his bidding in the Iran war. Meloni shot back, “these constant unprovoked attacks are senseless,” saying her popularity wasn’t helped by friendship with Trump, and disputing his silly photo story. Italy’s foreign minister then cancelled a planned trip to Washington.
But maybe because the reflecting pool is no longer a great attraction.
Meanwhile — when he found time for Iran — Trump said Iranians called President Obama “a stupid son of a bitch” for unfreezing $1.7 billion of their assets as a “bribe” in their nuclear deal. While Trump’s own Iran deal contemplates a $300 billion gift to that regime. Though it’s not even a deal at all, just an agreement to negotiate further. And while Trump trumpets Iranians now renouncing nuclear weapons, that’s exactly what they said in the Obama deal. Which Trump tore up.
His own Iran deal, if it ever does jell, is plainly worse for us. A massive defeat in this damaging war he needlessly blundered into, as the world shakes its head at what a dumbass nation he makes us.
Maybe Trump should just stick to his Reflecting Pool — its mess a perfect reflection of him.
