Trump considering – With renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool nearing completion after it was drained, resurfaced, and painted “American Flag Blue,” President Donald Trump said on May 27 that he is considering similar changes to the World War II Memorial fountain.
By May 27, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was no longer just a backdrop—it had become a political symbol. President Donald Trump’s decision to have the pool drained. resurfaced. and painted “American flag blue” after he called the site “disgusting” is now nearing completion. with Trump saying he expects it to be finished before July 4.
At a May 27 Cabinet meeting, Trump turned from the Lincoln site to the World War II Memorial just beyond it, saying the next landmark on the National Mall could be its fountain.
“Now we’re looking at the World War II fountain, because that’s also in pretty bad shape on the bottom,” Trump said, signaling that the same kind of overhaul could extend to another high-profile piece of Washington’s memorial landscape.
He described the plan as a direct match in concept—though not necessarily in color. “We’re going to duplicate it, I think, maybe with a slightly different color actually, we’ll go with a lighter color,” Trump said.
The push is part of a broader effort Trump has framed as a rush of upgrades in his second term. aimed at reshaping not only policy but also the physical terrain of Washington. D.C. Among the projects he has already moved forward on are demolishing the White House East Wing to build a new ballroom. closing the Kennedy Center for two years for a $200 million renovation. and moving ahead on a new 250-foot “Triumphal Arch” on Memorial Circle near the Arlington National Cemetery.
For critics, the question is less about whether monuments can be maintained and more about who gets to decide what changes—and how far they go.
The Lincoln Reflecting Pool has already become a flashpoint for preservation advocates. The nonprofit Cultural Landscape Foundation is suing over the application of blue paint to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. In a press release. the group said that “changing the Reflecting Pool’s color. a key character-defining feature of the site. which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. should be subject to reviews … under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and other laws.”.
Trump has said the reflecting pool work will be completed before July 4, when the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The World War II Memorial sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument and features a large fountain pool surrounded by bronze bas-relief panels with information on the war. Granite columns represent every U.S. state and territory. and the site includes two large “victory pavilions” plus a wall of gold stars. according to the National Park Service.
The sequence is now hard to miss: a visible change to a landmark’s appearance. followed by promises of expansion to another site with its own historical details—and growing friction around whether the process is moving fast enough. and with enough public input. for monuments protected by law and tradition.
Donald Trump World War II Memorial Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool American flag blue National Mall National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Cultural Landscape Foundation historic preservation lawsuits Washington D.C. renovations