Hours after Donald Trump declared the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool a complete success, Washington Post reporters walking the perimeter spotted several areas where the new coating was already cracking and peeling.
Delivering his final message for the midterm elections on Monday, Trump appeared before the iconic Washington, D.C., site. He used the platform to celebrate the completion of a second round of renovations, calling the work a complete job.
“We fixed the leaks, we resurfaced the bottom in a beautiful dark blue,” Trump said during his speech, adding that the pool had been finished with the strongest coating available.
Shortly after his remarks concluded, reporters inspecting the reopened site found at least 20 spots where the color appeared uneven. Light blue streaks cut across the surface instead of the dark American flag blue Trump selected.
The National Park Service was reportedly aware of uneven coloring in areas that had undergone the second round of repairs early last week, according to sources cited by the Washington Post. The cause of the latest structural issues remains unclear.
These problems follow an earlier renovation failure that saw the pool’s new lining begin flaking shortly after it was refilled in June following spring repairs. A Washington Post investigation found that the lining deteriorated in at least 85 places. An inspection report blamed that damage on renovation errors, including improper materials and a rushed installation.
Coatings experts previously noted that the materials used to line the pool require specific application techniques and strict drying times. Failing to follow those requirements causes the coating to lose adhesion.
An official representing the Department of the Interior spoke in favor of the undertaking, praising Trump for his role in reviving the monument while brushing aside criticisms regarding its visual state.
Addressing the light-blue discoloration, the spokesperson blamed surplus coating, claiming the lighter color would fade away or scrub off to reveal the intended American flag blue underneath. Regarding the cracks and peeling, the spokesperson said the damage consisted of stray pieces left over from the renovation alongside repairs needed due to deranged vandalism.
The Trump administration initially blamed vandalism for the initial damage, which led to the arrest and prosecution of several individuals, including former Olympic athlete David Hearn. However, the Justice Department dropped the case in July, acknowledging that the installation had been botched. A federal judge ruled last month that prosecutors could not refile charges against Hearn.
Following the dismissal, the pool was drained, repaired a second time, and then refilled and reopened in October.
“Those pieces will be picked up. Thanks to President Trump, the pool is clear, clean, leak-proof, and reflects the iconic scenery that surrounds this magical place,” the spokesperson added.
