The White House is in damage control mode this morning. Not over a diplomatic gaffe or a cabinet leak. Over algae.
President Trump has personally ordered emergency repairs to the Washington Reflecting Pool after a bloom of green slime turned the iconic landmark into a 'swamp' for the cameras. The optics were terrible. Fox News, the networks, and every phone camera in the National Mall captured the murky, foul-smelling mess.
A White House insider tells me the president was 'furious' when he saw the footage. He demanded immediate action. 'Drain the swamp' took on a literal meaning.
The National Park Service has been scrambling. They are now pumping in thousands of gallons of fresh water and adding chemicals to kill the algae. The repair bill is expected to be substantial.
But the real cost is political. This is a gift for cartoonists and late-night hosts. The administration is spinning it as proactive maintenance.
Democrats are calling it a 'perfect metaphor' for the administration. All eyes now on whether the pool will be crystal clear by the weekend photo-ops. Watch this space.
