Elizabeth Warren mocks Trump for 'showing off his pool' as Americans face rising costs

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted President Donald Trump over his celebration of renovations to Washington's historic Reflecting Pool, accusing him of focusing on a cosmetic project while Americans struggle with higher prices for gasoline, groceries, and healthcare.

The Massachusetts Democrat's criticism came after Trump announced that the "final coat of protection" had been applied to the Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Elizabeth Warren criticizes Trump's Reflecting Pool celebration

While Trump hailed the project as a restoration success, Warren argued it highlighted what she sees as misplaced priorities inside the White House.

She sharply criticized President Donald Trump's economic priorities Wednesday, accusing him of promoting a costly pool makeover while families face higher gasoline, grocery and health care costs.

"Gas prices are up. Food prices are up. Health care costs are up. And Donald Trump is showing off his pool," Warren, D-Mass., wrote on X.

Her post came after Trump said renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool were completed after workers cleaned it and repainted it "American flag blue."

The president said water would begin flowing into the pool shortly after workers finished applying the final protective coating.

Trump has repeatedly promoted the makeover, describing it as a long-overdue improvement to one of Washington's most recognizable monuments.

The criticism adds to a long-running feud between Warren and Trump, with the senator frequently accusing the administration of failing to address affordability concerns facing middle-class families.

Rising costs fuel Warren's criticism of Trump

Warren's remarks focused on the broader economic picture as Americans continue to navigate elevated living costs.

Recent data show food prices have risen over the past year, while gasoline prices remain significantly higher than they were a year ago.

Recent data broadly support Warren on gas and food, while health care is more mixed. AAA listed regular gasoline at $4.261 per gallon on June 3, up from $3.138 per gallon a year earlier, an increase of about 35.8%. Prices had eased from the previous week and month.

The Reflecting Pool project cost $13.1 million and was partially funded by National Park Service visitation fees collected at 80 sites nationwide.

It has faced opposition from the Cultural Landscape Foundation, whose founder, Charles Birnbaum, has filed suit to stop it, saying the blue coating is "changing the historic character" with no authority.

Trump has defended the work as a necessary update to the 2,028-foot-long Reflecting Pool, designed by architect Henry Bacon. He said it would be the first time since 1922 that the pool "worked wonderfully." However, the pool has received several renovations since its dedication that year.

Warren has repeatedly accused Trump of misplaced priorities, saying he has not delivered on promises to lower costs "on day one." She has also linked the Iran conflict to oil-price pressure and higher essential costs.