The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., has reopened after a $14.8 million renovation commissioned by President Donald Trump, according to a lawsuit and official statements. The pool. Located between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, now features a deep navy-blue basin instead of its previous gray concrete or black asphalt bottom.

Color Controversy and Aesthetic Changes

The National Park Service painted the basin ‘American Flag Blue,’ a dark navy color intended to improve the pool’s reflectivity, according to a statement provided to USA Today. The agency said the previous gray concrete had collected algae and turned green over time; Before the concrete, the pool had a black asphalt bottom, and at times the water was even dyed to enhance reflection.

The Cultural Area Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior on May 11, arguing that the pool’s original color had been a signature feature since its 1924 opening. The nonprofit cited a 1999 National Park Service Cultural Area Report, which noted that the achromatic gray color created the illusion of greater depth and a more profound reflection.

Construction Progress and Public Reaction

On June 8. The pool was observed to be filling with water and providing a decent reflection of the Lincoln Memorial, according to a USA Today reporter; some construction workers were seen wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hats, a detail noted during the visit.

According to Spanish-language site AOL.com, the work was completed on June 3, and the government had planned to fill the pool by Sunday at the latest. The pool is 2. 000 feet long, one of Washington’s most iconic landmarks, and was the site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in 1963, while it had previously been renovated in 2012, including a redesigned water circulation and filtration system that uses river water instead of city tap water.

German outlet Kurier reported that Trump announced the completion of the project from the Oval Office, stating only that water and sidewalk cleaning remained. He described the basin as ‘blue like the US flag,’ and claimed 11 to 12 truckloads of debris had been removed. Trump also suggested the pool would not require major maintenance for 50 to 100 years, though he did not disclose exact costs. US media reported the cost had risen sevenfold compared to earlier estimates.

Cost Discrepancies and Broader Trump Projects

The project cost estimates have diverged significantly. Trump stated the cost was between $1.5 million and $2 million, but records show contracts were awarded totaling at least $14.8 million. The pool renovation is one of several Trump-led projects in Washington, including the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to build a new West Wing and plans for an arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, according to AOL.com.

Trump cited a personal friend from Germany who visited Washington and criticized the pool as ‘dark and unpleasant’ as the inspiration for the renovations, the same source noted. The pool, which holds 6.5 million gallons of water — equivalent to 10 Olympic-sized pools — is now a focal point of Trump’s broader efforts to redefine the capital’s appearance.