The restoration of the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., is drawing positive reviews from visitors and social media users, despite months of criticism from left-wing activists and media outlets who questioned the Trump administration’s renovation efforts.

Administration officials have continued defending the project against attacks from critics, many of whom focused on aesthetic details of the restoration. Several media organizations scrutinized the work, including the decision to repaint the pool’s bottom in a new shade of blue. The Washington Post even consulted a color expert who predicted the color would appear “very dismal,” while The New York Times also published criticism of the renovation project.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum contrasted the current effort with an earlier renovation undertaken during the Obama administration. According to Burgum, the Reflecting Pool was shut down for two years while $38 million was spent on repairs that ultimately failed to solve its underlying problems. He said the Trump administration’s overhaul was far more extensive, involving the draining of the pool, sandblasting surfaces, repairing pipes and bubblers, and restoring the pool’s appearance. Burgum noted that the bottom had faded to gray over time and said President Trump selected an American flag-inspired blue color for the restoration.

As the project nears completion, photos and videos of the renovated pool have spread widely online, generating favorable reactions from many observers.

“I’d heard so much about the newly renovated Reflection Pool, so I decided to come see it for myself. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Donald Trump, for helping restore our nation’s capital!” one X user wrote, sharing a video showing the partially filled pool reflecting the Washington Monument.

I’d heard so much about the newly renovated Reflection Pool, so I decided to come see it for myself. It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Donald Trump, for helping restore our nation’s capital! pic.twitter.com/j1V7cO4PeP

— Xi Van Fleet (@XVanFleet) June 8, 2026

A Democrat in DC says she hates she’s forced to admit the Reflecting Pool now looks good.

“I thought it was a stupid idea to paint the Reflecting Pool, but it looks really good. It makes the reflection look extraordinarily prominent in a way it did not before, and I hate that.” pic.twitter.com/yVTHm4rHUh

— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) June 5, 2026

https://twitter.com/i/status/2063965325922619455

https://twitter.com/i/status/2062890406002504105

Another video circulating online featured a woman who had previously expressed doubts about the project but later acknowledged that she was impressed by the final result.

The White House also celebrated the progress of the renovation.

“The water is ON, the Reflecting Pool is reflecting, and D.C. is looking better than ever,” the White House declared. “We are so back. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP. ”

In an interview with Breitbart News Daily, Burgum said the project involved much more than cosmetic improvements and credited Trump’s background in large-scale development projects for helping bring the renovation to completion.

Highlighting the pool’s previous condition, Burgum said it had been losing approximately 45,000 gallons of water each day before repairs began.

“We had to have water continuously running into it just to keep even. All of that’s going to be taken care of, because we’ve got the master builder,” Burgum said. “We’ve got President Trump. You know, he’s the only guy that’s ever occupied that office that’s done the level of complex construction projects. And he loves construction workers. He loves construction, and he knows exactly what he’s talking about on these projects.”

{Matzav.com}