Trump touts 'American Flag Blue' paint job on Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

May 10, 2026

President Trump has initiated a project to paint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool bright blue, dubbed "American Flag Blue," as part of efforts to beautify Washington DC before America's 250th anniversary celebration. The historic pool, constructed in 1922, has experienced persistent problems including leaks, structural decay, algae accumulation, and deteriorating infrastructure that Trump claims his restoration will address. Rather than pursuing the initially proposed $300 million, three-year renovation that would have replaced the original granite, Trump hired contractors from his previous swimming pool projects to apply industrial-grade pool coating for what he said would cost $1.

Who is affected

US President Donald Trump (project initiator)
Workers painting the reflecting pool
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his department
Contractors who previously worked on Trump's swimming pools
Tim Whitehouse and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (watchdog group)
Washington DC visitors and residents
American taxpayers funding the project

What action is being taken

Workers are painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool blue
Contractors are scrubbing the existing granite surface, grouting it, and applying industrial-grade swimming pool topping
The Trump administration has awarded a no-bid contract worth $6.9 million to a preferred vendor

Why it matters

This project is significant because it involves altering an iconic 102-year-old national monument that serves as a major symbol of American history and democracy. The use of emergency exemptions to bypass normal contracting procedures and award a no-bid contract raises concerns about governmental accountability and proper use of taxpayer funds, especially since the final cost ($6.9 million) far exceeded Trump's promised estimate of $1.5-2 million. Additionally, uncertainty remains about whether the cosmetic paint solution will actually resolve the underlying structural problems that have plagued the pool for decades, potentially requiring more extensive repairs in the future.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC