Trump Announces Blue Coating Renovation for Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, April 23, 2026, that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being coated in a swimming pool surface colored “American flag blue” as part of a renovation project he described as long overdue.

The president made the announcement during an Oval Office event, stating that work had already begun on the project. He said he was inspired to act after a friend visiting from Germany criticized the pool’s condition, calling it “filthy” and “disgusting.”

Trump said the pool’s granite base had been “leaking like a sieve” and would accept years to replace through traditional methods. Instead, his administration opted for a faster solution: applying an industrial-grade, swimming pool-style surface over the existing stone flooring.

The Reflecting Pool, located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, is one of the most iconic sites in the nation’s capital. It was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington and has hosted numerous other historic events.

Built in the 1920s, the pool underwent a major renovation in 2012 funded by $34 million in Obama-era stimulus money. The National Park Service has maintained it since, including periodic draining to remove algae, garbage, and goose droppings.

Trump estimated the current renovation would take about a week and cost roughly $1.5 million. He said contractors had already started preparing the stones and laying down the new surface.

“You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool, the way it’s supposed to be,” Trump said, adding that the result would be “much better than it ever was, actually.” He compared the project to his experience as a New York real estate developer, noting he had built more than 100 swimming pools and viewed the Reflecting Pool renovation as “essentially a pool surface.”

The president showed reporters photos of the construction process and held up an image of the pool during the Oval Office event.

This project is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to renovate and reshape landmarks in Washington, D.C., following earlier initiatives such as the demolition of the White House East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.