Key Background
Trump announced the renovations to the Reflecting Pool in April, telling reporters at the time he intended to make the basin of the pool “American Flag Blue.” The Reflecting Pool was first installed in 1922, and has been plagued by algae blooms for years. Trump has frequently defended the Reflecting Pool renovations as more than just a “paint job,” and has previously blamed the Obama and Biden administrations for wasting “hundreds of millions of dollars” on unsuccessful renovations to it. Obama spent about $34 million on renovations to the pool in 2012, the Associated Press reported, while Biden did not undertake any extensive renovations during his single term in office. Trump initially estimated the project would cost about $1.5 million, but public records show the government has spent about $14.2 million—which went through a no-bid contract to a company that previously did work on one of Trump’s golf courses in Virginia, the New York Times reported.
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Further Reading
ForbesReflecting Pool Appears Green After Trump Renovation: PhotosBy Zachary Folk