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Trump Posts AI Image of Cabinet Swimming in Renovated Reflecting Pool Amid DC Projects
President Trump shared an AI-generated image of himself and Cabinet members swimming in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which is undergoing a $1.5 million restoration. The post coincides with other Washington, D.C., renovation projects, including a golf course redesign. Separately, federal authorities are investigating graffiti at the site interpreted by some as a threat.
May 4, 1:18 PM·3m read3 sources
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President Trump posted an artificially generated image on May 1 showing himself and several Cabinet members swimming in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The pool is currently drained for a $1.5 million renovation project announced in April. The image depicted Trump shirtless in a golden inflatable chair, giving a thumbs up, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and an unidentified woman in a bikini.
The Reflecting Pool, built in 1922, measures 2,200 feet long and 167 feet wide, with depths of 1.5 to 2 feet. Trump described it as being in poor condition, citing leaks and dirty water, based on feedback from a visitor. The renovation involves sandblasting, caulking, and resurfacing the bottom, with plans to repaint it 'American flag blue,' at a fraction of the $301 million cost estimated under the previous administration.
These efforts are part of wider projects to enhance Washington, D.C., ahead of World Cup soccer games in June and July and the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4. Other initiatives include a $400 million ballroom for the White House, a proposed triumphal arch on a Potomac River island, and a $40 million National Garden of Heroes.
The administration has also moved to redesign the East Potomac Golf Links, the city's busiest public golf course. Initial work on the golf course, including landscaping and tree-clearing, began on May 4. The redesign aligns with National Park Service plans and is expected to be overseen by golf course architect Tom Fazio.
Management of public golf facilities is shifting, with the National Links Trust non-profit reportedly offered a renewed lease for the Rock Creek course, including a waiver of unpaid rent for improvements, though the group stated it had not received a formal offer.
