Before-and-after photos: Trump’s $14.2m makeover delivers … a blue pool
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Donald Trump completed a $14.2 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool, featuring a new nanobubbler filtration system intended to prevent algae growth.
- Early public reactions are mixed, with some visitors unimpressed by the pool's color and others noting algae presence shortly after refilling, which officials attribute to normal startup processes.
- The project’s cost vastly exceeded Trump’s initial $1.8 million estimate, raising questions about spending and the selection of contractors through a no-bid process linked to Trump’s personal connections.
- Supporters praise the renovation as a lasting improvement, while critics doubt the value and transparency of the project, with some saying the pool looks largely unchanged.
- Trump claims the materials and workmanship will preserve the pool for 100 years, dismissing previous refurbishment attempts by former presidents as failures.