Trump Reflecting Pool Controversy Turns Into Another Obama Blame Game
President Donald Trump is once again blaming former President Barack Obama, this time as questions grow over a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that has already faced algae buildup, peeling paint and criticism over a no-bid contract.
When pressed Monday by CBS News reporter Ed O’Keefe about the project’s expanding price tag and timeline, Trump pointed directly to his predecessor.
“Barack Hussein Obama. Have you ever heard of him?” Trump said.
The comment came as the president faced questions about his administration’s handling of the Reflecting Pool project ahead of Washington, D.C.’s Fourth of July celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
The renovation, which included repainting the bottom of the pool “American flag blue” and resealing the seams, has drawn scrutiny after the newly painted surface reportedly began peeling and algae appeared in the water.
Questions Grow Over No-Bid Contract And Project Cost
Trump’s administration awarded the Reflecting Pool work through a no-bid contract to a contractor described as a Trump donor and Florida neighbor. The project has been reported at roughly $14 million to $16 million, with Reuters reporting the pool is being drained again just weeks after the renovation was completed.
Trump claimed the damage was caused by vandals who cut up the new paint and added fertilizer to the pool, creating algae. Federal authorities have arrested or cited several people accused of vandalizing the property, including a former U.S. Olympian, but no public evidence has been presented proving the algae and peeling paint were caused by sabotage.
National Park Service workers have been seen cleaning algae from the pool as repairs continue.
Trump Makes False Claims About Obama-Era Renovations
Trump also claimed Obama spent more than $100 million trying to fix the Reflecting Pool and that the project “never even opened.” He later claimed Obama and former President Joe Biden spent $147 million on renovations.
FactCheck.org reported that the Obama-era renovation cost about $35 million, not $100 million. The project, completed in 2012, included major repairs and upgrades to the pool’s water system. There is also no record of a major Biden-era renovation matching Trump’s claim.
Trump further claimed previous administrations planned to spend $400 million and take four years, while he spent far less and completed the work in about two months. Those claims have also been disputed.
Critics Say Trump’s Contractor Decision Is The Real Issue
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross told theGrio that Trump had the opportunity to use a competitive bidding process but instead handed the project to someone close to him.
Cross argued that a professional team would have warned the administration about the risks of painting the pool during Washington’s summer heat, including algae growth and peeling paint.
“That’s just a fact that was going to happen,” Cross said.
She also connected the controversy to Trump’s broader attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, saying his own hiring and contracting choices undercut his argument that jobs should always go to the most qualified people.
Obama Remains Trump’s Favorite Political Target
Dr. Marcus Board Jr., a political science professor at Howard University, told theGrio that Trump’s repeated attacks on Obama reflect a deeper political fixation on the former president, whose popularity has endured long after leaving office.
“The Obamas have transcended politics,” Board said, adding that Trump’s continued references to Obama serve as a political signal to his supporters.
Trump has frequently invoked Obama when defending or deflecting criticism on unrelated issues. Last week, he called the former president a “stupid son of a b—h.”
For Cross, the Reflecting Pool controversy comes as Trump faces pressure on several fronts, including rising costs, the ongoing Iran crisis and looming midterm elections.
She said blaming Obama does not change the central issue: taxpayers may now be left paying more to fix a project that was supposed to be finished in time for a national celebration.
