Trump blasts NYT over Mall repairs, says he can fix Reflecting Pool for ‘tiny fraction’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald J. Trump has launched a blistering attack on the media and previous administrations over the state of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, declaring that he has personally stepped in to fix the "unsightly and unsanitary" landmark.
In a lengthy statement released on social media, the President claimed that while past efforts under Presidents Obama and Biden were "expensively botched," he has developed a plan to deliver a far superior result in a matter of weeks rather than years.
The President's intervention comes amid ongoing criticism of the National Mall's infrastructure.
Trump alleged that previous administrations "squandered at least 55 Million Dollars" in a "hapless" attempt to repair the pool, which he described as an embarrassment to the country that remained leaking and smelling for years.
Now, the President claims he is ready to oversee a total reconstruction for a "tiny fraction" of the standard government estimates.
Previous renovation efforts labeled total mess
Trump did not hold back in his assessment of the work performed before his current term, labeling the results an "ode to both of their failed Administrations."
He stated that despite the vast sums of money spent by his predecessors, the pool never functioned correctly and was cosmetically a "total mess" for the public to see.
This infrastructure failure, according to the President, was a direct result of a lack of success in basic construction management.
The President specifically targeted the New York Times for its coverage of the issue, accusing the publication of trying to justify the "botched" historical attempts at fixing the pool.
He linked this perceived media bias to what he calls inaccurate reporting of his "Landslide 2024 Presidential Election Victory," asserting that the press continues to make major mistakes regarding his administration's efficiency and architectural goals.
Reimagining Mall landmark as swimming pool
In a move that highlights his roots as a real estate developer, Trump explained that he worked directly with the Department of the Interior to change the fundamental engineering approach to the project.
He argued that the landmark should be viewed as a "highly sophisticated swimming pool" rather than a "dilapidated facade" of a building.
By treating the structure with modern pool technology rather than traditional masonry, the President believes the common issues of leaking and joint failure can be permanently resolved.
Trump rejected claims from media reporters that the project was merely a "paint job," describing the effort instead as a "deeply complicated work of smart and beautiful construction."
He promised that under this new technical direction, the water feature will "shine" and remain a point of pride for Washington, DC, for decades to come without the technical failures that plagued it in the past.
Taxpayer savings exceed three hundred million
The most striking aspect of the President's claim involves the drastic reduction in both time and budget.
Trump asserted that traditional government plans would have cost $400 million and taken four years to complete.
By contrast, he claims his administration can finish the superior reflecting pool for just $5 or $6 million, saving taxpayers more than $390 million.
Furthermore, the President set an aggressive timeline, stating the project could be finished in just two weeks.
He noted that this rapid pace would save the city from "four years of no 'mess'" and ongoing construction delays.
Trump emphasized that he is receiving no credit for these massive projected savings from the "biased" media, even as he streamlines the Department of the Interior's operations.
Interior Department manages new contractor selection
Addressing potential concerns about cronyism, the President clarified that he did not personally hand out the contract for the project.
Instead, he stated that the "now strong" Department of the Interior handled the procurement process.
Trump noted that the contract went to a provider he does not know and has never used in his private business dealings before.
The President concluded his remarks by reaffirming his commitment to fixing the capital's broken infrastructure through superior construction methods.
As the two-week timeline begins, the focus shifts to whether the Department of the Interior can deliver on the "tiny fraction" budget and if the pool will finally stop leaking as promised.
