Trump Denies $14 Million Reflecting Pool Overhaul Was a Paint Job

3 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Jun 5

Truth Social posts on Friday showed Trump lashing out at coverage of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool project, insisting the dark-blue coating was a durable industrial material, not a simple paint job.
Workers began refilling the pool on Thursday as construction wrapped up, after weeks of applying the coating and resealing gaps to address leaks that have plagued the site for decades.
The renovation has become a fixation for Trump, who has promoted the pool repeatedly in the Oval Office even while facing pressure over the war in Iran and high U.S. living costs.
Records later showed the contract exceeded $14 million, far above Trump's earlier estimate of $1.5 million to $2 million, and the administration has already fought reports questioning whether leak tests had succeeded.
Trump first unveiled the project in April and on Thursday floated another makeover idea — a promenade behind the Lincoln Memorial down to the Potomac River.