Americans react to Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool makeover

President Donald Trump has commissioned a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as part of his initiative to make Washington DC ‘safe and beautiful’ ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday this summer. As part of this, contractors began work last week to paint the pool blue.

The historic pool, which stretches 2,030 ft (620 m) between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, has long been plagued by leaks, structural deterioration, faulty pipes, algae growth and bird droppings.

Trump said the project to restore and paint the monument would solve the leak problem and make the pool more beautiful than ever. But it’s unclear whether the repairs will solve the major structural problems of the attraction, which was built in 1922.

The BBC spoke to tourists and locals near the pool who were at odds over the renovation.

Video by Meiying Wu with Madeline Gerber