'Deranged leftists': Karoline Leavitt returns to TV, blasts Reflecting Pool protesters
WASHINGTON, DC: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt appeared on television after a long break to lash out at people protesting the damage to the Reflecting Pool.
Karoline Leavitt, who recently gave birth to a baby girl named Viviana, is currently on maternity leave and spending time with family.
Karoline Leavitt dismisses Reflecting Pool critics as ridiculous
Although Leavitt has yet to resume her duties in the White House Briefing Room, she did appear on Fox News' 'Hannity' to talk about the newest addition to her family and discuss the administration's key policies, foreign relations, and domestic updates.
The interview also touched on President Trump’s controversial effort to restore the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The project came under scrutiny after algae appeared in the pool shortly after the renovation was completed.
Leavitt dismissed criticism of the Reflecting Pool project as “completely ridiculous,” taking aim at protesters she described as “deranged leftists” for wearing algae-themed costumes and promoting “Team Algae.”
“It's unbelievable to see these people, these deranged leftists, in algae costumes with ‘team algae’ on their backs. What does that even mean?” Leavitt said.
"This is what the American people elected President Trump to do."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 23, 2026
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt joined @seanhannity and blasted the so-called "pro-algae" protesters who gathered near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, dismissing the demonstration as another… pic.twitter.com/5O5ANwrq44
She argued that the backlash reflected broader opposition to President Trump’s efforts to restore and beautify the nation’s capital, saying the project fulfilled a campaign promise to make Washington "safe and beautiful again."
Algae controversy fuels Reflecting Pool debate
When algae resurfaced in the Reflecting Pool shortly after renovation work, the Trump administration accused critics of deliberately sabotaging the project.
President Donald Trump said on Friday, June 19, that recent problems affecting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were the result of vandalism and that law enforcement authorities are investigating the matter.
Many additional people have been arrested having to do with the disgraceful Vandalism of our beautiful Reflecting Pool. It hasn’t looked or worked like this since 1922, when it was originally built, but even then, it leaked badly, and didn’t work. Ours worked perfectly, including… pic.twitter.com/yMDEGC5QxC
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) June 21, 2026
Several people have been arrested for their involvement in the vandalism, with President Trump pledging long jail terms for them.
Amidst all the discourse, some visitors and protesters are ironically "supporting" the algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, allegedly to poke fun at the situation and the failed multi-million-dollar renovation.
The Reflecting Pool has drawn attention in recent days after visitors reported that sections of the newly installed surface were peeling away and that the water was developing a green hue from algae.
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post on Saturday, announced that the Reflecting Pool might soon be drained for fresh restoration work.
