Karoline Leavitt says Trump fears Potomac River will ‘smell like poop’ during America250 celebrations

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is concerned that the Potomac River could continue to emit a foul odor when America250 celebrations begin this summer, following a massive sewage leak that released millions of gallons of raw waste into the waterway bordering the nation’s capital.

The concern was confirmed on Wednesday, February 18, during a White House press briefing, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the president’s worries as federal and local officials continue to clash over responsibility for the spill.

Potomac River sewage spill sparks odor concerns

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy raised the issue while questioning Leavitt about preparations for upcoming America250 events.

"There are a lot of events coming up for America 250," Doocy said. "The president wants people from all over to come to the nation's capital. Is he worried that by the summer, the Potomac River will still smell like poop?"

Leavitt replied, "Yeah, he is worried about that. Which is why the federal government wants to fix it. And we hope that the local authorities will cooperate with us in doing so."

The sewage spill stems from the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor, a six-foot-wide pipe that ruptured in January between Clara Barton Parkway and the C&O Canal in Cabin John, Maryland. The break released an estimated 240 million gallons of untreated sewage into the river.

Trump has criticized Maryland Gov Wes Moore and other regional leaders, alleging that neglect and mismanagement contributed to the infrastructure failure.

Stafford Act push amid Potomac sewage crisis

Leavitt called on Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, officials to formally request federal intervention under the Stafford Act.

"Step forward and to ask the federal government for help and to ask for the Stafford Act to be implemented here so that the federal government can go and take control of this local infrastructure that has been abandoned and neglected by Governor Moore in Maryland for far too long," she said. "It's no secret that Maryland's water and infrastructure have been in dire need of repair," Leavitt added.

"Their infrastructure has received a nearly failing grade in the 2025 report card from the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is the same grade they've received, five years earlier. There has been no improvement under the leadership of Governor Moore. He's clearly shown he's incapable of fixing this problem, which is why President Trump and the federal government are standing by to step in."

Moore’s office has rejected the administration’s claims, arguing that oversight of the Potomac Interceptor falls under federal authority.

"Since the last century, the federal government has been responsible for the Potomac Interceptor, which is the origin of the sewage leak. For the last four weeks, the Trump Administration has failed to act, shirking its responsibility and putting people's health at risk," a representative from Moore’s office said on February 16. "Notably, the president’s own EPA explicitly refused to participate in the major legislative hearing about the cleanup last Friday."

EPA signals readiness in Potomac sewage spill

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said that DC Water is leading the cleanup, while Maryland is providing regulatory oversight tied to water quality standards and unauthorized wastewater discharges.

He noted that local authorities had not formally requested assistance from the EPA.

"This mess must be completely addressed as fast as humanly possible, and the Trump EPA stands ready, motivated, and highly capable to assist in any way possible to fulfill President Trump’s strong desire to END this disaster," Zeldin wrote on X.

Leavitt also appealed to environmental advocates, urging state leaders to seek federal support.

"For all of the environmentalists in the room and across the District of Columbia, let's all hope and pray that this governor does the right thing and ask President Trump to get involved, because it will be an ecological and environmental disaster if the federal government does not step in to help," she said. "But of course, we need the state and local jurisdictions to make that formal request."