'Bigger than skyscrapers': Trump reveals how Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could look after restoration

Donald Trump, 79, showed up for his first public appearance in days by opening an executive order signing ceremony. Trump displayed a chart titled "Our Pool Is Bigger Than Skyscrapers" to illustrate the size of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The comparison placed the landmark alongside some of the country's best-known buildings, including New York City's Empire State Building, as he argued that the project deserves the same attention as major construction efforts elsewhere.

Before work began, the Reflecting Pool faced a lot of maintenance challenges, including leaks, water loss and recurring algae blooms, the president had shared. Trump said the century-old pool had required constant repairs since opening in 1922, making it a priority project ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.

Recent construction images show crews repairing and resurfacing sections of the Reflecting Pool. The project is designed to address long-standing structural issues while improving the appearance and durability of the landmark, which sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Trump praised the "very special material" used for the pool renovation. The pool is set to reopen before the July 4 holiday, which will also mark the 250th anniversary of US independence.

One of the most visible changes is the pool's newly coated floor, which Trump described as "American flag blue." This color most commonly refers to the dark navy blue officially designated as "Old Glory Blue" in the canton of the US flag. Officials say the updated surface is intended to improve the pool's appearance while helping protect it from future deterioration and water-related damage. The renovation included a no-bid contract given to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a company based in Virginia.

Showing images of the finished project, Trump said the restoration is part of a broader effort to prepare the nation's capital for America's 250th birthday. He also highlighted the Reflecting Pool's place in American history as the backdrop to Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech and argued the transformation in the nation's capital should reflect America's values of beauty, cleanliness and safety.