Trump shared photos of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool inspection before July 4
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President Donald Trump on Saturday shared photos of a sample test at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is being renovated ahead of America’s 250th anniversary and is expected to be completed by the Fourth of July.
The photos showed a basin with the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in the background at each end.
The blue sky and blue white clouds were visible on the water.
“Looking really good! Should be done before the Fourth of July, our target date,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Saturday afternoon.
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A mirror image of the Lincoln Memorial was observed in the partially repaired Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during sample testing. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)
Trump added that the administration “has greatly improved the materials, including surface qualities, sandblasting granite, and exterior stone and walkways.”
“I have made this project much bigger than originally thought for the purposes of Beauty, and for a much longer life,” Trump wrote in the post. “Also, I went for a higher quality sealer with more visibility. Check it out before Opening — A very exciting project!”
Critics have expressed concern over the lake’s resurfacing with “industrial-grade” materials colored “the blue of the American flag,” and a non-profit organization called the Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) even filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) to stop the work.
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A mirror image of the Washington Monument was seen in the partially renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)
“The vivid blue color will fundamentally change the look and feel of the pool and landscape of the Lincoln Memorial Grounds,” the group wrote in a petition obtained by Politico. “The new color will make the lake look like a large swimming pool instead of the landscape it was designed to be, distorting the experience of the site for the millions of visitors who come to it each year.”
When asked Saturday about the new photos shared by the president, TCLF president and CEO Charles A. Birnbaum told Fox News Digital “the main issue is whether the law was followed before the start of the painting.”
“Since the Reflecting Pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the review of work that would change an important aspect that defines the character of this important national landmark should be subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and this project should have been reviewed by the US Commission on Fine Arts, as other Reflecting Pool work has been reviewed during the last century.
TCLF is a national, DC-based educational and advocacy organization, not savings association.
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President Donald Trump drives a motorcade by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a visit to see the use of a new green protective coating as part of a revitalization project in Washington on May 7. (Alex Brandon/AP)
In a separate post on Truth Social earlier Saturday, Trump noted that he “decided to go to the highest level of repair, using industrial strength materials, which will provide longer life, and better appearance,” adding that the work is “ahead of schedule.”
The president’s repeated references to the materials used and the expected date of completion follow the publication of a New York Times article on Tuesday in which US Interior Department staff allegedly raised concerns about the presence of bubbles, small holes and color inconsistencies in the partially refined surface.
In addition, the shop says it has documents showing that as of Sunday, only 35% of the pool area was fully occupied and key joints had not been replaced – meaning the work may not be completed in time for Independence Day.
Members of the National Guard walk by as workers apply a coat of paint to the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on Thursday in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump earlier ordered a repaint of the tarnished pool “American Flag Blue” ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Interior Department spokeswoman Katie Martin told The Times that parts of the village are in various stages of renovation.
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“The end product will be a uniform, as the plan shows,” Martin said. “As with any project, there will be process reviews to ensure that the most effective tools are used to achieve the end goal.”
The White House, the Interior Department and The New York Times did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
