Trump says he'll renovate 'filthy' reflecting pool on National Mall
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- President Donald Trump announced plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by coating it in an "American flag blue" hue, aiming to improve its appearance ahead of the country's 250th anniversary.
- Trump cited a friend's criticism of the pool's dirty and decaying condition as motivation for the project and shared details of the renovation during a White House event on drug prices.
- Instead of a costly $300 million granite replacement, Trump opted for a $1.5 to $2 million cleaning and recoating process using private contractors, expected to be completed before July 4.
- The renovation involves scrubbing and grouting the existing granite from 1922, followed by applying an industrial-grade swimming pool topping to create a cleaner, more attractive surface.
- The Reflecting Pool, a historic site last renovated in 2012, is located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, and Trump has previously expressed commitment to its overhaul.
