By Blessing Nweke
President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled plans to transform the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool by coating it in what he described as an “American flag blue” hue, part of a broader push to reshape prominent federal landmarks in Washington, D.C.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the idea was sparked by a visiting friend from Germany who criticized the pool’s condition as “filthy” and unrepresentative of the United States. In a video posted on Truth Social, Trump detailed recent work on the more than 2,000-foot-long site, which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
“Right now, it’s got no water in it because it was in terrible shape,” Trump said, adding that the pool had long suffered from leaks and deterioration. Initial proposals to replace the granite lining were abandoned due to an estimated $300 million cost and a timeline exceeding three years.
Instead, Trump said his team used private contractors to clean and repair the existing structure. The process involved scrubbing and grouting the original granite, installed in 1922, before applying an industrial-grade coating. He estimated the revamped project would cost between $1.5 million and $2 million and be completed ahead of July 4 celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The reflecting pool holds deep historical significance, notably serving as the backdrop for Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Its last major renovation was completed in 2012 at a cost of $34 million.
Trump’s proposal is part of a wider series of construction initiatives, including planned upgrades to the White House and the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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