President Trump said his administration will resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with a swimming-pool-style "industrial-grade" coating in what he called "American flag blue." He estimated the project will take about a week and cost roughly $1.5 million, and said contractors have already begun prep work. The pool — more than 300,000 square feet and last comprehensively renovated in 2012 with about $34 million in stimulus funding — periodically undergoes maintenance by the National Park Service. Preservation groups and Democrats have criticized Mr. Trump's broader plans for reshaping Washington landmarks and raised questions about oversight and funding.
Trump Proposes ‘American Flag Blue’ Surface for Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
President Trump holds an image of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during an event on health care affordability in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, April 23, 2026, in Washington. / Credit: Mark Schiefelbein / AP
President Donald Trump announced plans to resurface the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool with a swimming-pool-style coating he described as an "industrial-grade" material in "American flag blue." He told reporters the work will be quick — roughly a week — and estimated the cost at about $1.5 million, saying contractors had already begun preparatory work on the stone edges.
Background and Scope
Built in the 1920s, the Reflecting Pool and its surrounding landscape underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2012 financed by roughly $34 million in federal stimulus funds. The National Park Service performs ongoing maintenance and periodically drains the basin to remove algae, trash, goose droppings and other debris.
What Trump Said
Speaking at an Oval Office event on drug prices, Mr. Trump called the pool's condition "terrible" and said the new coating would deliver a "beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool, the way it's supposed to be." He described the material as similar to a swimming-pool surface and said he drew on his past experience as a New York real-estate developer, claiming to have built more than 100 swimming pools.
"You're going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool, the way it's supposed to be," Mr. Trump said while showing photos of the work. He added that a contractor persuaded him not to choose a Bahamas-style turquoise and instead opt for what he called "American flag blue."
Size, Timing and Cost
By Mr. Trump's account, the basin measures more than 300,000 square feet and is roughly the combined length of a dozen Olympic-sized pools. He estimated the resurfacing would take about a week and cost roughly $1.5 million.
Context: Broader Renovation Push and Criticism
Since returning to the presidency, Mr. Trump has proposed several high-profile changes to Washington landmarks, including a White House ballroom that would replace the East Wing, a "Presidential Walk of Fame" near the West Wing, an overhaul of the Kennedy Center, a proposed triumphal arch across the Potomac and repainting the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He has framed those projects as efforts to beautify the capital and address maintenance needs.
Preservation groups and congressional Democrats have criticized some proposals as unilateral alterations to iconic public spaces without adequate public or congressional input. Critics have also raised concerns about funding mechanisms — notably, plans to finance the White House ballroom with hundreds of millions in private donations — and about other decisions such as adding Mr. Trump's name to the Kennedy Center.
Previous Comments
Mr. Trump has previously publicized the Reflecting Pool's condition on social media, posting a video last November showing litter near the basin and promising to address the issue. Earlier this month he said he and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum would repair the pool "at a fraction of the cost" initially quoted.
What Remains Unclear: The details of the coating's long-term durability, planned preservation oversight, and any required approvals from federal preservation bodies were not disclosed. The National Park Service and independent preservation organizations typically play a role in major alterations to historic sites.
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