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Donald Trump

Is the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool finished? Here's the latest

Portrait of Mike Stunson Mike Stunson
USA TODAY NETWORK
June 4, 2026Updated June 5, 2026, 11:15 a.m. ET

President Donald Trump said the final coat of blue sealant was added to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Wednesday, but when will the months-long project be complete?

Crews were continuing to work on the 2,028-foot long pool Thursday — this time, with water beginning to flow.

Here's the latest on the reflecting pool renovations and when the project could be complete.

Is there water flowing in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool?

Yes, well, sort of.

After the pool was painted "American flag blue" per Trump's request, it remained dry Thursday morning.

But later in the day, water began to flow back into the pool for the first time since April.

A video shared on X shows a small amount of water begin to bubble out into the pool, but it will take 6.5 million gallons to fill the entire pool.

A thin layer of water was seen in a Reuters video in the center of the pool as the water spread outward.

It's a key moment in the $13.1 million project, which Trump originally said would take just a few weeks to complete. A government contract later listed a May 22 end date for the renovations.

When will the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations be done?

With the final sealant added Wednesday, construction appears to be done on the pool.

Now all that's left is for the pool to be filled with water, a task that will take more than just a Thursday afternoon.

"The pool will begin to be refilled with water no later than this coming Sunday, June 7," according to court documents filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

It's not just the pool itself, but also the exterior that will be worked on, according to Trump, who said the walking paths alongside the pool will soon be cleaned and sandblasted.

Trump has said multiple times the renovations will be complete by July 4, when the country celebrates its 250th birthday with events happening throughout the National Mall.

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