Renovations on D.C. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Nears Completion

As work begins to wrap up on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool refurbishment, President Donald Trump turned his attention to the land nearby, proposing the creation of a new promenade named after himself.

Speaking during an Oval Office news conference on coal energy Thursday, Trump gave an update on the pool, which stretches over 2,000 feet in front of the Lincoln Memorial, saying it was now being refilled after its resealing. He then said there were plans underway to create a promenade behind the memorial close to the water.

“It’s called the promenade, they want to call it the Trump Promenade, but I don’t know if I want to do that,” Trump said. “But it’s going to be beautiful.”

The potential project would be the latest effort by the president to make changes to the nation’s capital, including the building of a new ballroom at the White House, creation of a new memorial arch and the renaming of the Kennedy Center to include his name. A U.S. District Court on Friday, however, ruled that rebranding the arts center violated federal law.

‘American Flag Blue’ Water Refilling Lincoln Memorial

Trump said that water was flowing into the reflecting pool once more, as he held up a chart first seen Wednesday, comparing the pool to the heights of three U.S. skyscrapers.

The president played a video of the site, showing water returning to the pool, which he had ordered repainted with a blue sealant known as “American flag blue.”

A court filing from the Trump administration said the pool, which holds roughly 6.5 million gallons of water, needed to be refilled no later than Sunday.

While Trump has said the cost was from $1.5 million to $2 million, records have shown $14.8 million worth of contracts were awarded for the project.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM.