Trump turns Lincoln Memorial Pool inspection into attack on Obama-era $38M ‘construction nightmare’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump made a dramatic visit to the National Mall on Thursday, May 7, when his motorcade rolled directly into the drained Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for an up-close look at a restoration project he says is fixing a costly mistake left behind by former President Barack Obama’s administration.

Standing on the floor of the empty pool with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum beside him, Trump inspected the latest phase of renovations while taking repeated shots at the Obama-era overhaul completed more than a decade ago.

“This was a construction nightmare,” the Republican leader said while discussing the earlier restoration work.

Trump rages about Obama-era Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool work

Trump sharply criticized the Obama administration’s previous rehabilitation of the Reflecting Pool, which reportedly cost roughly $38 million and was completed in 2012 under the National Park Service.

According to him, the earlier project failed almost immediately because of leakage problems that continued after the work was finished.

Standing near workers applying a new industrial-strength sealant to the pool, Trump said his administration is now correcting what he described as a failed restoration effort.

"The color was never good because basically it had a gray stone underneath," Trump told reporters during the visit. "Now it’s going to have the great color. It’s going to last a long time, and you’ll have no leak—guaranteed."

Trump also revealed that he personally selected the new color for the surface, calling it "American Flag Blue."

The Reflecting Pool stretches more than 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in the country.

Millions of tourists visit the site every year, and it has served as the backdrop for historic speeches, protests, and presidential ceremonies for decades.

Trump highlights $1.8 million repair cost compared to earlier overhaul

A major focus of Trump’s visit was the sharp difference in cost between the current renovation and the Obama-era project.

Trump said the latest overhaul is costing around $1.8 million — far lower than the tens of millions spent during the previous rehabilitation effort.

The president also pointed to earlier National Park Service planning estimates that projected future repairs could cost as much as $355 million over several years.

Instead, Trump claimed his administration would complete the work in roughly two weeks for only a fraction of that amount.

The cost comparison quickly became part of Trump’s argument that previous administrations wasted taxpayer money while failing to properly fix the landmark.

Trump pushes broader ‘beautification’ plan for DC

The Reflecting Pool renovation is part of a larger “beautification” effort Trump says is aimed at improving the appearance and safety of the nation’s capital.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the administration has already cleared more than 1,000 graffiti sites and removed 82 homeless camps throughout DC in recent months under Trump’s direction. 

“We’ve never had a president who has cared more, invested more, or put more time and attention into everything about the Mall,” Burgum said during the tour.

Trump also previewed additional projects tied to the makeover effort, including planned improvements to the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft and a proposed Triumphal Arc.