President Donald Trump ordered the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be coated with an "American flag blue" swimming-pool surface [1].

The project replaces the pool's original granite bottom. This move alters one of the most recognizable landmarks in Washington, D.C., located between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument [1, 4].

Trump announced the plan on Truth Social on April 9, 2024 [5]. He said the current state of the pool is "filthy" and that the makeover will make the site "much more beautiful" [1, 2].

Regarding the timeline and budget, Trump said, "We were told it was going to take YEARS to do this job, and it will take a fraction of that time, at a fraction of the cost" [2]. The project is estimated to cost $1.5 million [3].

Trump said the renovation would be completed quickly and cheaply [1, 2]. He said, "You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool" [1].

The decision has sparked a social media barrage and public backlash regarding the aesthetic change to the historic site [3]. The use of a swimming-pool coating is a departure from traditional preservation methods for the National Mall's water features [1, 3].

“"You’re going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool."”

This renovation represents a shift from historical preservation to a more stylized, branded approach to public monuments. By replacing natural granite with a synthetic blue coating, the administration is prioritizing a specific visual aesthetic over the original architectural intent of the Reflecting Pool, potentially setting a precedent for how other federal landmarks are maintained or modified.