DC residents slam Trump's $14M Lincoln Reflecting Pool makeover as 'an incredible waste of money'
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is drawing mixed reactions from visitors in the nation's capital, with some praising the project while others say they preferred the landmark's previous appearance.
The debate played out publicly after MS NOW aired interviews with several Washington-area visitors who were asked to weigh in on the nearly completed renovation.
The project, which Trump has strongly defended in recent days, is expected to conclude as water begins flowing back into the iconic pool.
Visitors divided over Trump's Reflecting Pool renovation
During the segment, MS NOW featured four individuals who shared their thoughts on the updated Reflecting Pool. Not everyone was critical of the project.
One visitor wearing a blue T-shirt featuring the American flag and a bucket hat commemorating America's 250th anniversary praised the renovation.
"I think it looks great," he said. The visitor also expressed excitement about the project nearing completion.
"I'm glad it's getting filled up now so that the tourists can start to see it," he added. Others, however, were less enthusiastic.
An older man wearing a Minnesota Gophers hat said he would have preferred the landmark to remain unchanged. "I would've preferred to keep it like it was," he said.
A woman interviewed during the segment also expressed disappointment with the redesign. "I think it's horrible," she said.
"The color I've seen on the news is disgusting to me, as opposed to how beautiful it was in the past." Another visitor criticized the cost of the project and questioned whether it was necessary.
"I think it's an incredible waste of money. I think it's an incredibly stupid idea," he said.
Trump defends Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation
The reactions came just one day after Trump publicly celebrated the project's progress and defended the decision to renovate the historic site.
The president argued that previous efforts to address problems at the Reflecting Pool had fallen short.
Trump specifically criticized former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, claiming that both administrations spent large sums of money without solving long-standing issues.
According to Trump, the project was nearing a major milestone.
"The pool gets completed at four o'clock and the water will start to flow in and it won't leak because it's done properly and it's going to be beautiful," he said.
Trump also revealed that the renovated pool would feature a distinct appearance. "It's going to be American flag blue. It's the color we picked and I think it'll be something amazing," he added.
The president has repeatedly described the renovation as a practical fix rather than merely an aesthetic upgrade.
Trump blames leaks for pool renovation
A major part of Trump's defense of the project centers on his claim that the Reflecting Pool has struggled with leaks for years. According to the president, the original design created maintenance challenges that were never fully resolved.
"It's never worked," Trump said. "A great concept that never worked because it always leaked."
Trump argued that the materials used in earlier versions of the pool were part of the problem. "They used stone originally and the stone leaks because it's got a lot of crevices," he explained.
The president said the new renovation uses different materials designed to prevent those issues from returning. "We have a very special material that we use and we'll do this for a tiny fraction," Trump said.
