Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool begins filling with water after renovation

5 Jun 2026 • 10:14 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool begins filling with water after renovation

  • The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has completed its renovation under Donald Trump's administration, with the basin painted "American flag blue" and water now filling it.
  • The White House announced on Thursday evening that the water had begun flowing, celebrating the project's completion.
  • Trump estimated the project's cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, but records indicate at least $14.8 million in contracts were awarded for the work.
  • Trump initiated the project after a friend complained about the pool's appearance, aiming to leave his mark on Washington, D.C.
  • The renovation drew criticism for its cost and the new color, with a nonprofit filing a lawsuit comparing the "dark grey" pool to a "theme park" before the work was declared complete.

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