The Potomac Smells Like Washington Policies and Trump Wants It Fixed Before America’s 250th Anniversary

President Donald Trump is concerned the Potomac River could smell like the policies that come out of Washington when the United States marks its 250th anniversary, and he wants the problem fixed before millions of visitors arrive. The White House press secretary said Trump raised the issue during a briefing, pointing to the river as a central backdrop for America 250 events and warning that decades of neglect are now impossible to hide.

The smell in the Potomac River is widely linked to infrastructure decisions made by politicians over many years. Aging sewer systems remain in place because upgrades were delayed or underfunded. When heavy rain hits the region, those systems overflow and send untreated sewage into the river, producing the foul odors residents complain about during warmer months.

Policy choices also allowed unchecked development and weak stormwater controls, increasing runoff from streets, lawns, and wastewater systems. That runoff feeds algae blooms in the river. When the algae die, oxygen levels drop and gases are released that smell like sewage, especially along the shoreline where parades, celebrations, and public gatherings are expected for America 250.

According to the White House, Trump’s concern is straightforward. If Washington wants to host the world for the country’s 250th birthday, it should not do it next to a river that smells like political failure. Officials say he is pushing agencies to speed up cleanup efforts and infrastructure fixes so the Potomac does not become an embarrassment during a milestone celebration.

If Washington cannot even fix the infrastructure it has ignored for decades, what does that say about the priorities coming out of the capital?