Trump shares Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool test photos ahead of July 4

President Donald Trump on Saturday shared photos of sample testing at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is under renovation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary and is expected to be completed by July 4.

The images showed the basin with the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in the background at each end.

The blue sky and white fluffy clouds were visible in the reflection of the water.

“Looking really good! Should be completed before our target date of July 4th,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Saturday afternoon.

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Trump added that the administration has “significantly improved construction materials, including surface finish, sandblasted granite, siding stones and walkways.”

“I’ve made this a much bigger business and a much longer life than was originally intended for Beauty purposes,” Trump wrote in the post. “We also went for a higher quality insulation material with greater reflectivity. Take a look before it opens — Very exciting project!”

Critics expressed concern about the pool being repaved with “industrial grade” material in the color “American flag blue”; A non-profit organization called the Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) went so far as to file a lawsuit against the National Park Service (NPS) to stop the project.

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A mirror image of the Washington Monument has been spotted in the partially renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (@realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)

“The vibrant blue overlay will fundamentally transform the visual and experiential character of the pool and the broader Lincoln Memorial Grounds landscape,” the group wrote. Policy. “The new coloring will cause the pool to resemble a large swimming pool rather than the reflective urban landscape for which it was designed, distorting the site experience for the millions of visitors who come here each year.”

When asked about the new photos shared by the president on Saturday, TCLF president and CEO Charles A. Birnbaum told Fox News Digital that “the important issue is whether the law was followed before the painting began.”

“Because the Reflecting Pool is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, reviews of works that would alter the essential character-defining feature of this important national symbol should be subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and this project should have been reviewed by the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts in the same way that other works on the Reflecting Pool have been reviewed over the past century,” Birnbaum said. he said.

TCLF is a national, D.C.-based education and advocacy organization; a conservation organization.

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President Donald Trump drives in his motorcade near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a visit to see new blue protective coating applied as part of a renovation project in Washington on May 7. (Alex Brandon/AP)

In a separate Truth Social post published earlier Saturday, Trump said he “decided to move to a much higher level of repair using industrial-strength materials that will provide longer life and a better appearance,” adding that the work was “ahead of schedule.”

The president’s repeated references to the materials used and the expected completion date came after the New York Times published article On Tuesday, US Department of Internal Affairs personnel allegedly highlighted concerns about the presence of bubbles, small holes and color inconsistencies in the partially refurbished surface.

Additionally, the outlet claimed to have documentation showing that as of Sunday, only 35% of the pool surface was fully covered, and key connection points had not yet been replaced; which implied that the work might not be completed in time for Independence Day.

Members of the National Guard pass by as workers apply a coat of paint to the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. President Donald Trump had previously ordered a renovation of the pool, which was drained ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, to be painted “American Flag Blue.” (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Interior Department spokeswoman Katie Martin told The Times that parts of the basin are in various stages of repair.

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“The final product will be uniform as shown in the plan,” Martin said. “As with any project, revisions will be made to the process to ensure the most efficient tools are used to achieve the end goal.”

The White House, the Interior Department and the New York Times did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.