Trump floats renaming Reflecting Pool
The gist
US President Trump floated renaming the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and spoke there for his midterm closing argument.
The pool's rushed revamp turned green and ripped, making the setting itself the story.
How it unfolded
- Apr 2026Trump said he wanted to change the pool's color and would fix the monument in days for about $1.5 million before Independence Day.
- Jun 4, 2026Trump announced the project, telling reporters it would make the memorial "right down to the Potomac," and floated a name in the same breath.
- Jun 20, 2026Rips appeared in the pool's new sealant, chosen by Trump, after an algae bloom turned the water green.