President Trump reports Reflecting Pool 85% full and adds anti-vandalism cameras

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is about 85 percent full and appears "really good," adding that anti-vandalism cameras have been installed around the pool and adjacent grass areas. The refurbishment, which began in April ahead of the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, involved resurfacing the pool bottom with a blue coating described by the president as "American flag blue."

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the project addresses long-standing neglect, algae growth and water loss, calling it "another example of President Trump restoring our nation’s capital for the American people."

Visitors interviewed by Newsweek gave mixed reactions. One visitor described the water as "pretty," while another said it looked like "dirty water" and that the reflection was poor. A third visitor recalled that the pool previously offered a clear reflection but now appears "dark" and "underwhelming."

The renovation has faced cost overruns and technical issues. Initial estimates of $1.5-$2 million and a one-to-two-week timeline have risen to roughly $16 million, according to reporting. Shortly after refilling, the water turned green due to an algae bloom and sections of the new coating began to peel. Federal prosecutors have indicated that installation flaws, rather than vandalism, were responsible for much of the damage, leading to the dismissal of several vandalism cases.

The Reflecting Pool previously underwent a two-year reconstruction completed in 2012, which added supporting pilings and a circulation system drawing water from the nearby Tidal Basin.