Former US President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny after making inaccurate claims about the amount of money spent by the Obama and Biden administrations on repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump alleged that his predecessors had spent “hundreds of millions of dollars” attempting to fix the iconic landmark, while presenting his own renovation project as a significantly cheaper and more effective alternative.

Trump’s remarks came weeks after he announced a fresh restoration initiative for the Reflecting Pool, which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the National Mall. The former president said his administration had hired contractors to coat the granite basin using a new industrial-grade material at an estimated cost of between $1.5 million and $2 million. However, federal spending records reviewed by US media organisations indicate that contracts worth at least $14.8 million have already been awarded for the ongoing project.

Fact-checks published following Trump’s comments showed that the Obama administration had spent approximately $34 million on a major reconstruction effort completed in 2012, not “hundreds of millions” as claimed. The renovation addressed structural issues including water leakage, sinking foundations and stagnant water problems. Engineers redesigned the pool’s circulation and filtration systems, switched to water sourced from the nearby Tidal Basin and added paved walkways around the site as part of the extensive restoration programme.

Also Read: Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Explodes at Cape Canaveral During Routine Hotfire Test in Florida

Officials also clarified that no significant reconstruction work on the Reflecting Pool took place during President Joe Biden’s administration. Former National Park Service Director Chuck Sams stated that while a full rehabilitation plan was discussed, estimated costs exceeding $100 million prevented the project from moving forward. Instead, maintenance during Biden’s term focused primarily on annual cleaning and algae control measures to preserve the condition of the historic site.

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool remains one of the most recognised landmarks in the United States and holds major historical significance. Built in the 1920s, the pool spans more than 2,000 feet and serves as a symbolic centrepiece of the National Mall. The location is closely associated with the Civil Rights Movement, most notably as the site where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 before thousands gathered in Washington.

Responding to criticism surrounding the cost discrepancies, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended Trump’s current renovation plans and said the restoration would be completed ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump meanwhile said workers had steam-cleaned, sandblasted and coated the pool to prevent future leaks, adding that large amounts of debris had also been removed from the site. Interior Department officials declined to directly address the gap between Trump’s public estimates and federal contract records, but said accelerated timelines and expanded labour requirements had contributed to higher project costs.

Also Read: UK Heatwave: Man's Viral AC Photo Sparks Internet Frenzy as Britain Bakes at 35°C