Trump Says Reflecting Pool Is 85% Full After Months of Repairs
Trump says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is refilling after a $15 million restoration plagued by peeling sealant, algae and vandalism.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is 85% full and “looking really good” after months of costly repairs and repeated setbacks at the iconic National Mall landmark.
Trump said his administration installed cameras to deter vandalism and completely replaced damaged grass surrounding the pool. The $15 million restoration, which Trump’s administration launched in April, faced peeling sealant, algae blooms, lining damage and water discoloration, according to fox5dc.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “The Reflecting Pool is 85% full, and looking really good! It hasn’t worked properly since 1922, but will now. We have cameras set up to stop any potential Vandalism, including the grassed areas, which were destroyed by chemical poisoning with a large, and very inappropriate, phrase. The grass was completely replaced! Trump” on October 23, 2026 at 12:41 AM ET.
This is Trump’s 1st message released today, and the last post was 1 hour ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 45 of his 602 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.
The restoration project began in April 2026 when Trump told reporters his administration planned to pour a new surface onto the bottom of the pool, atop its original stone flooring, according to cbsnews. Trump said the swimming pool-style surface would carry the color “American flag blue” and consist of the “latest and greatest filament.” He estimated the resurfacing would take about a week and cost roughly $1.5 million, according to cbsnews.
Vandalism compounded the maintenance headaches. Authorities charged a former Olympic canoe racer and at least three other individuals with allegedly removing pieces of the structure, according to fox5dc. Trump addressed the vandalism on social media at the time, stating that drainage would repair “scars and damage that was done by the Vandals two weeks ago,” according to fox5dc.
The pool and its surroundings underwent a comprehensive renovation in 2012, funded by $34 million in Obama-era stimulus money, according to cbsnews. The National Park Service carried out additional work in subsequent years. Trump’s current project carried a far smaller price tag than the 2012 overhaul, though repeated setbacks pushed costs and timelines well beyond initial estimates.
Trump’s post did not specify when the pool would reach full capacity or when workers would remove fencing around the site. A definitive timeline for fully reopening the pool to the public has not emerged, according to fox5dc.
Trump told reporters he drew inspiration from his days as a New York real estate developer, during which he estimated he built more than 100 swimming pools, and instructed a contractor to “think of it as a swimming pool,” according to cbsnews. He said an unspecified contractor talked him out of picking a Bahamas-style turquoise color, arguing “American flag blue” would look more appropriate, according to cbsnews.
Zenger analysis
Photo by Zenger analysis
Protomaps / Natural Earth – Bahamas
Photo by Protomaps / Natural Earth – Bahamas
President Trump is the author of The Art of the Deal, Think Like a Billionaire, and Think Big. Analyst and Trump supporter Rod Martin points to The Art of the Deal, Trump's 1987 book, as an explanation of his deal-making philosophy: making big announcements, pivoting often in public statements and, Martin says, ultimately getting what he wanted all along. Critics contend that Trump's books were published decades ago or were aimed at making money, not shedding light. "Generally," Martin said, "critics don't read The Art of the Deal. If they did, they would understand."