President Donald Trump announced a new Washington, D.C., National Mall project on Wednesday, saying the Department of the Interior is working to “fix” the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The video shows workers working around the pool, set to the backdrop of Andrea Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye.”
In a post to Truth Social accompanied by a video, the president posted, “This is the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool before Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and I fix it. Study it hard because you won’t be seeing this Biden filth and incompetence much longer!”
When reached for comment, the Interior Department declined to provide any details about the project, while saying it is “committed to this effort.”
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool: What to Know
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, one of the most recognizable landmarks on the National Mall, was completed in 1923 as part of architect Henry Bacon’s design for the memorial complex honoring President Abraham Lincoln. Stretching nearly 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the long, shallow pool was intended to create a dramatic visual corridor that mirrored two of the capital’s most significant monuments. Over the decades, it has become a gathering place for major national events, including the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
The pool has undergone multiple renovations, including a major reconstruction completed in 2012 to modernize its aging infrastructure. The project added a new filtration system and replaced the pool’s original dirt-and-concrete basin, which frequently leaked and had long struggled with water quality problems. Despite periodic closures for maintenance, the Reflecting Pool remains one of Washington’s most visited and photographed sites, symbolizing national reflection and serving as a backdrop for demonstrations, celebrations and public life on the Mall.
Trump’s DC Cleanup Efforts
President Trump has made cleanup and restoration of the District a central focus since returning to office in January. In March, he signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to instruct the National Park Service to clear homeless encampments, remove graffiti and address deteriorating conditions on federal land across Washington.
The administration has paired those directives with expanded on-the-ground efforts, including National Guard units carrying out “beautification” work after Trump deployed them to the capital in August. Federal agencies say the operations are part of a broader push to restore key public spaces, though critics argue the moves raise questions about federal authority over the District.
Updates: 11/26/25, 5:13 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
