The Reflecting Pool got its big moment on Nov. 2, when Trump stood at the Lincoln Memorial and announced the renovation was complete, with a“very strong”dark blue coating and the leaks fixed. The timing wasn’t subtle: the midterm elections were the next day. The next-day coverage didn’t cooperate. The Washington Post reported the new coating is peeling, cracked in spots, and unevenly colored, and on Nov. 4, DC photographer Joe Flood posted video showing discoloration in the water.
This isn’t the pool’s first bad review. An earlier coating attempt ended with blue paint peeling and the water turning green from algae. That mess even led the Justice Department to charge former Olympic canoeist David Hearn over the damage. A judge later dismissed the case with prejudice, which means a guy carried that story around for a coating that failed anyway.
Now the pool is back in the spotlight, Park Police are managing visitors, and every phone in DC is a potential inspector. Taxpayer-funded landmark, big promises, and a timeline that’s hard to ignore. Do the new photos change your read on the announcement, or is this just how these projects go?
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.