Trump's $1.5M Reflecting Pool Renovation Exceeded $16M and Sits Drained After July 4

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, repainted "American flag blue" and refilled in early June 2026 for the nation's 250th birthday, now sits drained with its liner faded to gray. Donald Trump's cost estimate was $1.5 million; the total exceeded $16 million. Within days of completion, algae bloomed and the coating peeled. Four people face criminal charges; Trump's claim of a "350-foot gash" remains unsupported by visual evidence.