The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., has sat largely drained for weeks while workers carried out a paint job ordered by President Trump — a project that reportedly cost millions of dollars and left some visitors squinting at the results.
Trump directed that the pool’s interior be painted what the White House described as “American flag blue.” Workers finished the work and crews began refilling the pool as of Thursday, June 5, 2026.
Reaction at the site
The response from visitors wasn’t exactly awestruck. Several told NPR the change was subtle — hard to notice at all. The pool’s surface, when full, reflects sky and the surrounding monuments; whether a blue-painted basin meaningfully shifts that image is something observers at the site weren’t sure about.
NPR did not report the precise final cost of the project, saying only that it reportedly ran into the millions. No federal agency has publicly confirmed the exact figure, and no timeline for an official accounting has been announced.
Reported by NPR. Read the original report.
