President Donald Trump shared an update Friday on renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, quoting an Interior Department official who said the Washington landmark is “coming out great” and will reopen within weeks.
In a Truth Social post, Trump relayed comments from Interior Department official Greg Wischer, who said he visited the Reflecting Pool on Friday morning and included photographs showing the partially refilled pool.
“I visited the Reflecting Pool this morning, and pictures are included below of the pool reflecting and the American Flag Blue color,” Wischer said in the statement posted by Trump.
Wischer said the Reflecting Pool would “be opening in a few weeks” and predicted the finished project “will be a beauty.”
“NO VANDALS PLEASE,” he added.
The post said the pool has been partially refilled to allow National Park Service employees and contractors to flush its piping system as work on the project continues.
The condition of the Reflecting Pool has become a source of controversy in recent weeks. Trump repeatedly promoted the multimillion-dollar renovation while it was underway, but the pool appeared gray and peeling after its anticipated completion date passed.
The project has also faced scrutiny over the unusual use of no-bid contracts for work performed at the site.
Trump and the Interior Department have blamed vandals for problems involving the pool. However, a recent court filing from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro raised questions about that explanation and instead attributed the condition to botched work.
The president’s Friday update placed responsibility on previous administrations, arguing that the Reflecting Pool had suffered from years of neglect before the current renovation began.
“After years of neglect by previous administrations, more than half of the 58 water supply ports were so clogged that they were deemed nonfunctioning,” the post said.
Trump added that the restoration work remains underway and said officials deliberately waited until after the July 4 holiday before beginning the project.
“This work is ongoing,” the statement said. “We waited until after July 4th to do. Coming out great!”
The post sought to highlight progress at the site following weeks of questions about the pool’s appearance, the missed expected completion date and the contracts used for the renovation.
Officials are now flushing the piping network while the Reflecting Pool remains only partially filled. According to the update shared by Trump, the site is expected to reopen to the public in a matter of weeks.
Trump’s message also attempted to reassure critics that the completed pool would become an attractive landmark once again, while repeating the administration’s warning against vandalism.
The Reflecting Pool sits near the Lincoln Memorial and remains under renovation as National Park Service staff members and contractors continue working on its water system and other remaining elements of the project.
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