The workers who restored the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial were all grins and laughter when they visited the president at the White House Tuesday evening.
President Donald Trump signed hats for each of the workers after they completed their mission to clean up the reflecting pool in time for the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
The president joked to reporters that the pool might become filthy again under another president but that it would remain ‘perfect’ while he was in office.
A video of their visit was posted to social media by White House communications adviser Margo Martin. She said each of the workers also received an official presidential challenge coin.
The renovation was completed last week and included draining the pool, cleaning it up, painting and sealing it, and then refilling it.
“This was highly sophisticated material, industrial strength, that could last for 100 years, applied by very talented people, many of whom came from the Great State of Oklahoma,” the president said on Truth Social.
“The material is thick, strong, flexible, and has a natural, beautiful color, the dark blue of the American Flag!” he added.
The president joked to reporters that the pool might become filthy again under another president but that it would remain “perfect” while he was in office.
“It’s really beautiful. It’s something for you to see. It’s incredible,” the president said after the pool reopened. “You know, it’s really amazing.”
The pool was constructed and opened in 1922. A new circulation and filtration system was installed at the pool during renovation under former President Barack Obama.
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The president said the renovation would also keep the pool from leaking.
“I’m very proud of it,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “I’m very good at building things and constructing things.”
The restoration of the reflecting pool was initially estimated to cost $1.8 million but ballooned to more than $13 million. A group of historic preservationists filed a lawsuit claiming the application of a blue coat altered the “historic character” of the pool without proper preservation review.
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