Trump says he'll resurface the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, turning it blue
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump announced plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by applying a new "industrial-grade" surface colored "American flag blue" atop its existing stone flooring, estimating the project will cost about $1.5 million and take roughly a week.
- The Reflecting Pool, built in the 1920s and last comprehensively renovated in 2012 with Obama-era stimulus funds, has been periodically maintained by the National Park Service, but Trump criticized its current condition as "terrible."
- Trump drew on his real estate experience, likening the pool surface to a swimming pool and rejecting a turquoise color in favor of a patriotic blue, emphasizing the project's goal to beautify the historic landmark.
- Since returning to the presidency, Trump has pursued multiple renovation projects around Washington, D.C., including plans to alter the White House, Kennedy Center, and other landmarks, sparking criticism from preservation groups and Democrats over unilateral changes and funding methods.
- Critics have raised concerns about the lack of public and congressional input on these projects, as well as controversies surrounding private funding and naming rights, particularly regarding the White House ballroom and Kennedy Center renovations.
