President Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to the Lincoln Memorial on Thursday to inspect the newly coated Reflecting Pool, which he had painted in a color he calls 'American flag blue.' The president was driven across the fresh coating before stepping out of his SUV to address reporters gathered at the site as the sun set.
Cost and Color of the Project
The new blue coating is intended 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 alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Part of a Broader Campaign
The repairs are part of Trump's 'Safe and Beautiful' campaign to clean up parks and monuments in Washington, D.C. The president expressed similar dissatisfaction with the gray granite exterior of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which he wants to repaint white. Two federal agencies are currently reviewing that proposal.
Plans for the Lincoln Memorial
Trump also mentioned plans for the Lincoln Memorial itself, though he offered no specifics, stating only 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.
Inspiration and Criticism
Trump announced the reflecting pool renovation last month during an Oval Office appearance, saying he was inspired by complaints from a visiting German friend who described the pool water as dark, filthy, and disgusting. The project is another way for Trump to leave his mark on the city, following the demolition of the White House East Wing to build a large ballroom.
Critics argue that Trump is spending too much time on pet projects rather than addressing issues like the cost of living ahead of the November elections. Others suggest he wants the reflecting pool to resemble a swimming pool. When a reporter questioned his focus on the pool given U.S. military action in Iran, Trump responded that several truckloads of garbage had been removed from the pool and said, 'Our country is about beauty, cleanliness, safety, great people. Not a filthy capital.'
