Trump claims $1.5M 'American Flag Blue' revamp of Lincoln Memorial pool would cost cut $300M
President Donald J. Trump is making D.C. beautiful again! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wHBtPowefr
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, April 23, unveiled the massive restoration project for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, describing the revamp as "a story in business" that slashed a $300 million estimate down to just $1.5 million.
The project replaces a three-year plan for expensive stone replacement with a two-week "industrial-grade" resurfacing, personally directed by the President to fix the landmark he claimed had been "filthy" and leaking "like a sieve" for years.
Trump slashes budget for Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
President Trump detailed how he took a personal interest in the site after learning "it was in terrible shape, it was filthy, dirty. And it leaked like a sieve. For many years."
He informed that upon reviewing the initial plans provided by the Department of the Interior, which involved an extensive granite replacement, Trump decided to intervene directly using his background in private development.
"I said, No, there's a better way of doing it," Trump explained, recounting his decision to call on contractors he had worked with in the past.
"I'm gonna call all three of these people that have worked for me in the past doing swimming pools. That's all they can do is a swimming pool. And I say, give me a good price. We can do it for maybe a million and a half to $2 million, as opposed to $300 million."
Now I know why this is the first year the empty Lincoln reflecting pool was behind fences. Thank you, Mr. @POTUS, for finally fixing the leaks of this beautiful park! pic.twitter.com/qXWnfeqlB8
— emily miller (@emilymiller) April 23, 2026
Trump unveils 'American Flag Blue' finish
Rather than removing the thick granite stones installed in 1922, the new plan focused on refurbishing the existing foundation with modern, industrial-grade materials.
Trump stated that the crew "scrubbed the surface of the existing granite and then ground all of the granite, fixed it up, took about two weeks. And now we have a nice, clean surface on which we're putting an industrial-grade, swimming pool, topping."
Trump also informed that during the selection process, he chose a specific aesthetic to replace the traditional look of the water's surface.
"They said, What colour would you like, sir? It's called American Flag Blue. I said, That's the colour I want. I want American flag blue," the President stated.
He claims this new surface will last for 40 to 50 years with "no leaks" and will ultimately look "far more beautiful" than the original construction.
Trump touts unbelievable cost savings
He addressed skeptics who questioned the quality of a low-cost fix, asserting that the finished product is "a much better job for much less money" and will be "much more beautiful" than when it was first built in 1922.
"So we built it in much less time for much less money. But I don't mean much less. I mean, numbers that nobody can even believe," Trump said.
"So it's a million and a half dollars versus $300. It's two weeks versus more than three years. That's just the way it is."
