Americans react to Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool makeover

President Donald Trump has commissioned the 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 that, contractors began work last week to paint the pool blue.

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

Trump has said his project to restore and paint the monument would solve the leaking problem and make the pool more beautiful than ever. But it is unclear whether the repairs can specifically fix the underlying structural issues at the attraction, which was built in 1922.

The BBC spoke tourists and locals near the pool, who were conflicted on the renovation.

Video by Meiying Wu, produced with Madeline Gerber