President Donald Trump values size, which is why he compared the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to skyscrapers in a peculiar Truth Social post. In the post, the 79-year-old president claimed the pool, which is actually long, is 2,030 feet “high” compared to skyscrapers like the 1,451-foot Sears Tower in Chicago, the 1,454-foot Empire State Building in Manhattan, and the 1,776-foot One World Trade Center.
Despite the different materials and heights, Trump proudly declared, “Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers.” The pool has historical significance, being the site of events like Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Vietnam War protests.
Initially planning to just paint the bottom of the pool blue in April, Trump now intends to do more extensive repairs using industrial-strength materials “for purposes of beauty.”
He claimed the project would cost a fraction of what former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden had budgeted for similar work, and said it was ahead of schedule and should be completed by July 4. Notably, Trump bypassed the usual approval process by deeming the work urgent.
Despite initially quoting a $2 million budget, Trump ultimately awarded a $13.1 million no-bid contract to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, based in New Canton, Virginia, which had no prior federal contracts. The company’s alleged previous work at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia was not mentioned on their website.
After backlash, Trump distanced himself from the contractor, claiming the contract was handled by the Interior Department and that he had no knowledge of the contractor. Reports suggest the project is already facing issues.
The White House was contacted by The Daily Beast for additional comment.
