Trump Restores a Landmark and Saves Millions of Dollars
David Manney : Apr 24, 2026
PJ Media
In Trump's telling, the reflection pool project is a case study in business acumen. The president said he scrapped plans to have the granite replaced, which he said was estimated to cost $301 million and would take at least three years. Instead, Trump said he called a few pool contractors he knows from past real estate projects ... The president went with a plan to clean the granite and lay down a new "industrial grade pool" surface for $1.5 million, he said. All told, it would take a few weeks. Trump noted it would be ready well before July 4, when the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of its independence.
[PJMedia.com] President Donald Trump has directed a major renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, giving Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum the lead on the project. The pool badly leaked and looked neglected for years. (Screengrab image: via Truth Social)
Trump chose an industrial-grade swimming pool surface in American flag blue. The coating covers the aging granite bottom and seals the leaks.
Trump announced the work on April 23 and set a clear timeline. The job costs around $1.5 million and should finish within weeks. Previous plans called for full granite replacement at roughly $301 million, stretching over many years.
That's the approach Trump rejected while selecting a faster, cheaper solution that delivers results right away. The pool sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and serves as one of the most recognized landmarks in the country. The renovation keeps it ready for national events and daily visitors.
The president announced the renovation at an Oval Office event Thursday, saying the coating had already begun. He was inspired to tackle the project after a friend visited from Germany and lamented that the water was filthy and looked disgusting, Trump said.
"And I went over there with Secret Service in tow, and I said, isn't that a shame? That's terrible," Trump said, showing reporters a photo of the site as it undergoes work.
The project is one more makeover refashioning the nation's capital to Trump's liking, following others such as the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.
Trump has focused on visible results people see without digging through reports, pointing to years of neglect that left the water dirty and the pool in poor condition. Crews have already begun work and continue moving at a steady pace. The new blue surface reflects the sky and the monuments surrounding it, giving the site a clean and finished look.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool carries deep historical weight. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech on those same steps in 1963, with the pool stretching out before him.
Generations have gathered there for moments that define the country; maintaining that space requires attention, funding, and a willingness to act when problems appear.
Trump, as is his custom, chose to act... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
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