President Donald Trump is taking a sledgehammer to what he sees as years of decay in Washington, DC, with a bold new project to restore the iconic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The New York Post reported that under the banner of "Make DC Beautiful Again," Trump has rolled out a revitalization effort targeting the Reflecting Pool while continuing extensive renovations at the White House, signaling a broader mission to polish the nation’s capital.
Earlier this week, crews were already hard at work, draining the Reflecting Pool and scrubbing away layers of green algae, fallen leaves, trash, and even goose droppings.
The cleanup, overseen by the National Park Service, employs a powerful "Super Scrubber" to tackle the mess, with officials noting it will take several days to refill the pool once the grime is gone.
Public notices have urged visitors to steer clear of walking in the pool during this process, a small price to pay for restoring a national treasure built back in 1923.
Trump took to Truth Social to blast the pool’s condition, declaring, "This is the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and I'll fix it" (Truth Social).
Never one to mince words, Trump added, "Study it hard because you won’t be seeing this Biden filth and incompetence much longer!" While the rhetoric is sharp, it’s hard to argue the pool hasn’t been neglected, with photos showing a sorry state of affairs at a site meant to honor greatness.
The National Mall and Memorial Parks chimed in with a lighter tone, posting on Facebook, "Just like straightening up the house before your holiday company arrives, we’re cleaning the Reflecting Pool." Their festive spin might soften the critique, but it doesn’t erase the reality of a capital landmark left to fester under prior watch.
This isn’t just a one-off project; it’s part of Trump’s larger vision since returning to office, with the White House itself undergoing a dramatic transformation at a pace unseen in his first term.
Renovations at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue include towering flagpoles on the lawns, white stone replacing the Rose Garden grass, gold leaf adorning the Oval Office, and even a “Presidential Walk of Fame” along the West Wing Colonnade.
Other changes, like re-marbling the Palm Room and overhauling the Lincoln Bedroom’s bathroom, show a commitment to grandeur, though some past East Wing updates, including a new ballroom, stirred debate among traditionalists.
Critics might call these moves flashy, but supporters see them as a much-needed injection of pride into spaces that represent American strength, especially after years of perceived stagnation.
Back at the Reflecting Pool, the cleanup isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about reclaiming a symbol of national reflection—literally and figuratively—that has mirrored neglect for too long.
While progressive voices may scoff at Trump’s sharp language on past leadership, there’s a broader point here: symbols matter, and letting them decay sends a message of apathy to the world.
As the nation’s capital gets this high-profile facelift, the debate will likely continue over priorities and style, but one thing is clear—Trump’s vision is about making a statement, from the Reflecting Pool to the White House, that America’s greatness must shine again.
