President Donald Trump made an unannounced trip to the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday to inspect the Reflecting Pool after he ordered it coated in a shade he calls 'American flag blue.' The Republican president didn't just observe the work—he had his SUV drive across the new coating before stepping out to address reporters and answer questions as the sun set.
The blue coating is designed to cover the pool's gray stone, a color Trump described as 'never good.' The project cost nearly $2 million, according to the president. 'It never had the color people wanted, but now it's going to have the great color,' he said, standing in the pool surrounded by Cabinet secretaries including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Trump's fixation on aesthetics extends beyond the Reflecting Pool. He has similarly criticized the gray granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House, calling it a 'really bad color' last year. The president wants to paint that building white, and two federal agencies are reviewing his proposal. The latest move is another way Trump is leaving his mark on the capital, following his demolition of the White House East Wing to build a large ballroom.
The president said he is also working on improvements to the Lincoln Memorial itself, though he offered no specifics, only stating that 'we have a beautiful plan' in mind. Work has been underway at the memorial for several years on an underground visitors' center scheduled to open in June.
Trump first announced the Reflecting Pool renovation last month during an unrelated Oval Office appearance. He said he was inspired by complaints from a friend visiting from Germany, who told him the water in the pool was dark, filthy, and looked disgusting. The project is the latest in a series of pet projects that have drawn criticism from opponents who argue Trump is spending too much time and attention on cosmetic fixes rather than addressing voter concerns like the cost of living ahead of the November elections. Some have joked that he wants the Reflecting Pool to resemble an actual swimming pool.
When a reporter pressed Trump on why he was focused on the Reflecting Pool given ongoing U.S. military action in Iran, the president lashed out. He noted that several truckloads of garbage had been hauled away from the pool and said, 'Our country is about beauty, cleanliness, safety, great people. Not a filthy capital.' He added, 'We're fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and you say, "Why are you fixing it up?" Because you can understand dirt maybe better than I can, but I don't allow it.'
The controversy over Trump's priorities comes amid broader debates about his presidency and its impact on conservative politics. The administration has also faced scrutiny over its handling of international affairs, including tensions with Iran, where Trump insists a ceasefire holds after new U.S. strikes. Critics have warned that war costs are soaring as Trump's delusions drive policy, while the president continues to pursue his own vision for Washington's landmarks.
