The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington D.C., a site of significant historical symbolism, has officially completed its renovation under former US President Donald Trump's direction. The project, which Trump described as 'beautiful', has now been unveiled to the public, prompting a range of reactions and raising questions about its substantial cost and the contracting process.
Originally estimated by Trump at $1.8 million, the final expenditure for the refurbishment escalated to $14.2 million. Despite Trump's claims of 'rave reviews', initial impressions from visitors have been varied. Some expressed disappointment with the pool's 'American flag blue' colour, finding it somewhat muted, while others were surprised to observe workers removing algae from the bottom just days after the 6.75 million gallons of fresh water had been added.
Katie Martin, a spokesperson for the US Department of the Interior, addressed concerns regarding the algae, explaining to CNN that it was 'residual algae from the supply lines' and a 'normal startup process'. She highlighted the purchase of a 'state of the art' nanobubbler filtration system by the National Park Service, which is responsible for the 104-year-old pool's upkeep, as a measure to prevent future algae growth. Martin also defended the project by reiterating previously debunked allegations concerning 'failed and extremely costly' refurbishment attempts by previous administrations.
Further scrutiny surrounds the selection of contractors for the project. The New York Times previously reported that Trump had directly influenced the award of a no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings Ltd. This Virginia-based company, which had no prior history of government work, had previously been employed on Trump's golf resort in the state. Trump himself reportedly stated in April, "I have a guy who’s unbelievable at doing swimming pools," and that the individual had approached him with a proposal.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that the renovation was not merely a 'paint job' but involved 'highly sophisticated material, industrial strength, that could last for 100 years'. He expressed confidence that the public would continue to admire the work for a century to come, a sentiment echoed by some visitors who praised the reflection quality, while others, like Washington D.C. resident Kyra Brown, questioned both the cost and the ultimate visual impact, stating it didn't look 'that much different'.