Water is filling up the newly-renovated Reflecting Pool, ahead of America’s 250th celebrations in DC. @MeghannMollerus shows you the new look.

President Donald Trump displays a graph entitled "Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers" as he speaks on his renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on June 03, 2026 in Washington, DC (Getty

The National Mall landmark in Washington DC is getting a major overhaul ahead of America’s 250th birthday — and the rising costs are drawing scrutiny.

Workers with boots dyed an “American Flag Blue” have painted over about two-thirds of the iconic Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, covering the dull gray with bright azure following a directive by President Donald Trump to expedite the pace of the project.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is refilling after President Trump had it painted "American flag blue." Some visitors say the results of the project — which reportedly cost millions — are subtle.

From its massive size to its role in American history, here’s what to know about the Reflecting Pool that sits at the heart of the National Mall.

It’s like comparing the length of a lake with the height of a hill and calling one taller than the other. Donald Trump faced widespread online ridicule after he compared the Lincoln Memorial

President Donald Trump traveled to Wisconsin on Friday, where he went on a ramble about cleaning up Washington, D.C. and renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool—then struggled to remember the word “monument” at an event that was supposed to be focused on farmers.