Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(170,963 posts)
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 07:57 AM 16 hrs ago

Trump says he'll resurface the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, turning it blue

Source: CBS News

Updated on: April 23, 2026 / 8:08 PM EDT


President Trump's renovation kick has now reached the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The president told reporters Thursday that his administration is planning to pour down a new surface onto the bottom of the pool, atop its stone flooring. The swimming pool-style surface — made out of the "latest and greatest filament" — will be colored "American flag blue," he said.

Built in the 1920s, the Reflecting Pool and its surroundings were comprehensively renovated in 2012, paid for by $34 million in Obama-era stimulus funding. The National Park Service has carried out some renovations since then, and the pool is also periodically drained to scrub out algae, garbage, goose droppings and other detritus.

But during an Oval Office event on drug prices, Mr. Trump said he is disturbed by the "terrible" condition of the pool, a historic sight that featured heavily in Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 March on Washington and other major events at the Lincoln Memorial.

He estimated that renovating the pool will take about a week and cost roughly $1.5 million. He said contractors have begun working on the stones, and started laying down its new "industrial-grade" surface on Thursday. "You're going to end up with a beautiful, beautiful reflecting pool, the way it's supposed to be," he said, showing photos of the construction process. "Much better than it ever was, actually."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-resurfacing-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool-blue/



Waste. Fraud. Abuse.

He is desecrating the entire city.
65 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump says he'll resurface the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, turning it blue (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 16 hrs ago OP
Somebody remind him he's a TENENT. He doesn't OWN it. mpcamb 16 hrs ago #1
Oh, but he believes he owns it, that makes it true Walleye 16 hrs ago #3
Oh, it seems everything belongs to him now PatSeg 15 hrs ago #18
Give him a break. He has a long history of leaving things better than he found them Bristlecone 13 hrs ago #47
This is the weirdest mass murdering interior decorating president in history Blues Heron 16 hrs ago #2
As Dubya said at the 2017 inauguration, evolves 14 hrs ago #36
No doubt there will be a new sign with Trumps name on it. riversedge 16 hrs ago #4
It will be the Trump Memorial. Irish_Dem 15 hrs ago #20
Will he part the water so we can walk through it without getting wet? twodogsbarking 16 hrs ago #5
He got a promotion: He'll walk across it (nt) William Seger 7 hrs ago #63
When Biden walked on water the media said he can't swim and that was when he rescued the drowning Pope. twodogsbarking 7 hrs ago #64
I am color blind. Another Trump failure. twodogsbarking 16 hrs ago #6
Ok, that was funny. Volaris 13 hrs ago #38
It is not his property and the way it looks now is the way it was designed to look like. Botany 16 hrs ago #7
I am shocked that the gate isn't gold! radical noodle 14 hrs ago #26
The man has zero taste. Botany 14 hrs ago #30
WTF DUDE!! Hope22 16 hrs ago #8
How do you think he bankrupted his casinos? Ray Bruns 15 hrs ago #17
Same way he bankrupted #rump Shuttle William Seger 10 hrs ago #61
Make him paint it himself. Turn it into a photo op... littlemissmartypants 16 hrs ago #9
He has nothing better to do than renovate? It probably puts money in his pocket. (n/t) thesquanderer 15 hrs ago #10
It's also his comfort zone. Everything going to shit? Just ignore it and renovate something. (n/t) thesquanderer 14 hrs ago #34
He's found another place to bury the Epstein evidence. Ivana's tomb was just a trial run. Ford_Prefect 15 hrs ago #11
It's not a swimming pool! purr-rat beauty 15 hrs ago #12
ah the Simpsons have a quote for everything... Javaman 15 hrs ago #13
I can't say that's a bad idea in itself. JohnnyRingo 15 hrs ago #14
Putin must be enjoying his puppet taking a wrecking ball to the US capital. Irish_Dem 15 hrs ago #15
That games about up come january. Volaris 13 hrs ago #40
I'd prefer him lying on the bottom surface of the Lincoln pool... NNadir 15 hrs ago #16
Would someone somewhere give this idiot a job where he can actually redo places that need fixing? efhmc 15 hrs ago #19
Jeezus. WTF? This pisses me off, very bigly. Joinfortmill 14 hrs ago #21
I hope he never resurfaces Orrex 14 hrs ago #22
In Greek mythology, Narcissus is the figure who died while gazing at his own reflection in a pool of water. twodogsbarking 14 hrs ago #23
Well, if the orange pedophile is entranced by... NNadir 13 hrs ago #41
The Great Gatsby nt SSJVegeta 14 hrs ago #24
The park service just finished its annual cleaning. Historic NY 14 hrs ago #25
He probably just wants to attract kids and teens in skimpy bathing suits travelingthrulife 14 hrs ago #29
DC will look like one of his tacky casinos JBTaurus83 14 hrs ago #27
Tidy Bowl Redecorating Inc. Clouds Passing 14 hrs ago #28
Will the Reflecting Pool's surface still reflect the surrounding monuments if the bottom is lightened? sop 14 hrs ago #31
Rec'd Mossfern 14 hrs ago #35
The dark bottom probably hides and slows algae and dirt and pollutants LeftInTX 10 hrs ago #62
This is so tiresome MIButterfly 14 hrs ago #32
I'm Shocked He's Not Painting The Bottom GOLD. ColoringFool 14 hrs ago #33
I'm surprised he's not filling it in with concrete and installing gold tile on top of that! LeftInTX 13 hrs ago #46
Am I the only one who read this as "T says he'll resurface at the bottom of the reflecting pool" ? Wild blueberry 13 hrs ago #37
he has a lot of time on his hands to do useless stuff - the other time is used to destroy Democracy samsingh 13 hrs ago #39
He wants the coins. Harker 13 hrs ago #42
Let me guess,his puke kids just started a swimming pool business Bengus81 13 hrs ago #43
Word around town is trDUMP wants to put an aircraft carrier in the reflective pool,... magicarpet 13 hrs ago #44
He's done worse things...And it's better than filling it with concrete... LeftInTX 13 hrs ago #45
How much in kickbacks will he get? JoseBalow 13 hrs ago #48
I had the same thought. yellow dahlia 12 hrs ago #52
Trump is a moron fascinated by fabric swatches. Kid Berwyn 12 hrs ago #49
I'm glad! tavernier 12 hrs ago #50
It's not supposed to be blue; it's a reflecting pool, not a swimming pool. Ocelot II 12 hrs ago #51
I bet he's never been within spitting distance of the pool Bayard 12 hrs ago #53
The duck poop will contrast so nicely with the blue. greatauntoftriplets 12 hrs ago #54
Yellow and blue equals green. Nitrates equal green LeftInTX 10 hrs ago #60
I'm actually in favor... -misanthroptimist 12 hrs ago #55
This is not a renovation kick bucolic_frolic 12 hrs ago #56
The guy needs a hobby Lulu KC 12 hrs ago #57
At the least he did not tear it down. gordianot 11 hrs ago #58
And tomorrow's distraction from the EPSTEIN FILES will be what from that POS? Bengus81 10 hrs ago #59
"... Trump said he is disturbed by the "terrible" condition of the pool, Grins 3 hrs ago #65

PatSeg

(53,278 posts)
18. Oh, it seems everything belongs to him now
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:24 AM
15 hrs ago

Whenever he talks of the U.S., he is talking about Donald Trump - I, me, mine, etc. He has an emperor's mindset where it all comes under his domain.

Bristlecone

(11,146 posts)
47. Give him a break. He has a long history of leaving things better than he found them
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:19 AM
13 hrs ago

He wants to ensure that the next President in 2028 has a great ballroom, arches, colored pools, etc. After all, when had he ever destroyed anything…..



(And yes, this is deep, deep sarcasm)

twodogsbarking

(19,070 posts)
64. When Biden walked on water the media said he can't swim and that was when he rescued the drowning Pope.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 05:26 PM
7 hrs ago

Botany

(77,608 posts)
7. It is not his property and the way it looks now is the way it was designed to look like.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 08:16 AM
16 hrs ago

It is a reflecting structure not a swimming pool. The man has zero taste. He can have any cut of
meat, any piece of seafood, any baked good, any fruit or vegetable, or any drink but he likes well done
strip steaks (tough cut) with ketchup, KFC, McDonald’s, and Diet Coke. The man is devoid of taste.

And he thinks this looks “classy” too when it is a tacky eyesore. (Merde Logo gate).

radical noodle

(10,664 posts)
26. I am shocked that the gate isn't gold!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:13 AM
14 hrs ago

He needs to work on that. Maybe it'll distract him. He wants to remake the US in his image by doing things not easily undone.

Ray Bruns

(6,553 posts)
17. How do you think he bankrupted his casinos?
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:23 AM
15 hrs ago

Doing everything else but what he’s supposed to be doing.

William Seger

(12,492 posts)
61. Same way he bankrupted #rump Shuttle
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 02:00 PM
10 hrs ago

... by thinking that customers would pay extra for the #rump name.

littlemissmartypants

(34,138 posts)
9. Make him paint it himself. Turn it into a photo op...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 08:31 AM
16 hrs ago

Then leave him alone with the paint and brushes and have a nice lunch.

thesquanderer

(13,060 posts)
10. He has nothing better to do than renovate? It probably puts money in his pocket. (n/t)
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 08:47 AM
15 hrs ago

Last edited Fri Apr 24, 2026, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

thesquanderer

(13,060 posts)
34. It's also his comfort zone. Everything going to shit? Just ignore it and renovate something. (n/t)
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:37 AM
14 hrs ago

purr-rat beauty

(1,323 posts)
12. It's not a swimming pool!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:05 AM
15 hrs ago

But I can forsee jet skis in it soon if we keep this trajectory towards idiocy

JohnnyRingo

(20,940 posts)
14. I can't say that's a bad idea in itself.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:11 AM
15 hrs ago

But I'm sure there's an angle. Perhaps one of his ballroom donors will get the heavily padded contract or maybe Jared will be appointed as Chief Project Officer.

At least he should go though Congress for approval and oversight.

Irish_Dem

(81,931 posts)
15. Putin must be enjoying his puppet taking a wrecking ball to the US capital.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:18 AM
15 hrs ago

Putin is destroying the entire USA without firing a shot.

NNadir

(38,323 posts)
16. I'd prefer him lying on the bottom surface of the Lincoln pool...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:21 AM
15 hrs ago

...under water, Orrex style.

efhmc

(16,841 posts)
19. Would someone somewhere give this idiot a job where he can actually redo places that need fixing?
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:26 AM
15 hrs ago

Maybe starting with himself.

twodogsbarking

(19,070 posts)
23. In Greek mythology, Narcissus is the figure who died while gazing at his own reflection in a pool of water.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:52 AM
14 hrs ago

Entranced by his own beauty, he was unable to leave the reflection and eventually pined away or drowned, with some versions saying he fell into the water trying to reach his own image.

NNadir

(38,323 posts)
41. Well, if the orange pedophile is entranced by...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:02 AM
13 hrs ago

...his looks, we can add that to his well known lack of taste.

Historic NY

(40,097 posts)
25. The park service just finished its annual cleaning.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:09 AM
14 hrs ago

painting isn't going to help when ducks shit in it an algae grows. The water is cycled from the tidal basin which has its own pollutants. Trump thinks of new way to spend our money. Its a pond not a swimming pool

https://wtop.com/dc/2026/04/reflecting-pool-gets-a-deep-clean-in-preparation-for-america-250/]

JBTaurus83

(1,566 posts)
27. DC will look like one of his tacky casinos
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:18 AM
14 hrs ago

By the time he is finished. I’m sure this project is top of every citizens mind as prices sky rocket. I’d hope Dems capitalize on all of his redecorating in an ad with a ticker of gas prices and the national debt in the corner.

sop

(18,956 posts)
31. Will the Reflecting Pool's surface still reflect the surrounding monuments if the bottom is lightened?
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:26 AM
14 hrs ago

The dark bottom absorbs light and creates a deeper, more dramatic, mirror-like effect, a blue bottom will likely change the visual characteristics of the pool's reflections.

Mossfern

(4,735 posts)
35. Rec'd
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:38 AM
14 hrs ago

This was my first question too!
Does he know the difference between 'renovation' and 'restoration?'

LeftInTX

(34,575 posts)
62. The dark bottom probably hides and slows algae and dirt and pollutants
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 02:05 PM
10 hrs ago


At least he's not gonna fill it with concrete like he originally planned.

MIButterfly

(2,965 posts)
32. This is so tiresome
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:29 AM
14 hrs ago

DJT focusing on everything he shouldn't and destroying everything he should be focusing on. How could one human being be so inept and just plain flat-out stupid?

A president serves the PEOPLE; DJT only serves himself. He obsesses over whatever cockamanie idea comes into his empty head at any given moment, all to our detriment.

Not to mention he treats our money like it's his own personal ATM while depriving people of health care, food assistance, etc.

People actually voted for this kind of bullshit. To my dying day, I will never get it.

LeftInTX

(34,575 posts)
46. I'm surprised he's not filling it in with concrete and installing gold tile on top of that!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:10 AM
13 hrs ago

Wild blueberry

(8,344 posts)
37. Am I the only one who read this as "T says he'll resurface at the bottom of the reflecting pool" ?
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:52 AM
13 hrs ago

As in, another of his close-to-death musings.

Get your tiny mitts OFF our White House, our capital, our country! They're not yours, nor is our taxpayer money, chump.

samsingh

(18,452 posts)
39. he has a lot of time on his hands to do useless stuff - the other time is used to destroy Democracy
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 10:55 AM
13 hrs ago

and cozy up to enemies while fighting allies

magicarpet

(19,028 posts)
44. Word around town is trDUMP wants to put an aircraft carrier in the reflective pool,...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:07 AM
13 hrs ago

.... and make KKKegsbreath the admiral in charge. He wants to be certain the whole world sees the USA as the warmonger state who will backdown to no one.

Then djt can launch Tomahawk missiles at the US Capitol if he does not like how they vote on his Heritage Foundation's - Fascist Program 2025 legislation.

LeftInTX

(34,575 posts)
45. He's done worse things...And it's better than filling it with concrete...
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:08 AM
13 hrs ago

It's probably a waste of money, but at least he isn't filling it with concrete like he originally planned.

JoseBalow

(9,624 posts)
48. How much in kickbacks will he get?
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:36 AM
13 hrs ago

drumpf doesn't do anything that doesn't personally benefit himself. Nothing.

Kid Berwyn

(24,761 posts)
49. Trump is a moron fascinated by fabric swatches.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 11:57 AM
12 hrs ago
Trump, the billion-dollar loser — I was his ghostwriter and saw it happen

Charles Leerhson
Yahoo.com, May 9, 2019

EXCERPT...

I tend to see my time with him — the first part of it, anyway, before things started going bad in a hurry — as his “King Midas” period. I never said this to him; if I had, he probably would have thought I was suggesting he enter the muffler business. But there was a stretch of months when everything he touched turned into a deal. The banks seemed to accept the version of him depicted in his first book, “The Art of the Deal,” which we now know from his previous ghostwriter, Tony Schwartz, was entirely invented. They believed it over what they saw on his balance sheets or heard coming out of his mouth, and they never said no to his requests for more money. Often they came up with things he could say yes to before he could think of them himself. As a result, a failing real estate developer who had little idea of what he was doing and less interest in doing it once he’d held the all-important press conference wound up owning three New Jersey hotel-casinos, the Plaza Hotel, the Eastern Airlines Shuttle and a 281-foot yacht.

A real go-getter, right? But Trump’s portfolio did not jibe with what I saw each day — which to a surprisingly large extent was him looking at fabric swatches. Indeed, flipping through fabric swatches seemed at times to be his main occupation. Some days he would do it for hours, then take me in what he always called his “French military helicopter” to Atlantic City — where he looked at more fabric swatches or sometimes small samples of wood paneling. It was true that the carpets and drapes at his properties needed to be refreshed frequently, and the seats on the renamed Trump Shuttle required occasional reupholstering. But the main thing about fabric swatches was that they were within his comfort zone — whereas, for example, the management of hotels and airlines clearly wasn’t. One of his aides once told me that every room at the Plaza could be filled at the “rack rate” (list price) every night, and the revenue still wouldn’t cover the monthly payment of the loan he’d taken out to buy the place. In other words, he’d made a ridiculous deal. Neither he nor the banks had done the math beforehand. Or perhaps Trump knew it because someone had told him, but didn’t want to think about it. The one thing he is above-average at is compartmentalization.

Source:

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-the-billiondollar-loser-his-ghostwriter-recalls-the-king-midas-years-090000640.html

tavernier

(14,476 posts)
50. I'm glad!
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 12:11 PM
12 hrs ago

Dems should put up a sign next to it once it’s done reminding people to vote blue!

Bayard

(29,993 posts)
53. I bet he's never been within spitting distance of the pool
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 12:25 PM
12 hrs ago

He has no idea what's in it, but he just has to mess with everything.

LeftInTX

(34,575 posts)
60. Yellow and blue equals green. Nitrates equal green
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 02:00 PM
10 hrs ago

If the pool is currently painted black, it probably helps with algae control. It probably helps hide the algae

bucolic_frolic

(55,480 posts)
56. This is not a renovation kick
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 12:41 PM
12 hrs ago

It is an obsession with being right about everything and being able to dictate what happens, what style, design, architecture is, and everyone else can go shove it.

gordianot

(15,778 posts)
58. At the least he did not tear it down.
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 12:47 PM
11 hrs ago

Replace it with an orange creep sitting on a golden throne.

Grins

(9,491 posts)
65. "... Trump said he is disturbed by the "terrible" condition of the pool,
Fri Apr 24, 2026, 09:14 PM
3 hrs ago

Show me one photo of him at the pool. He has never seen it up close.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump says he'll resurfac...