Visitors to Washington, D.C.‘s iconic Reflecting Pool may find one of the National Mall’s most recognizable landmarks off-limits for months as work continues on President Donald Trump’s controversial makeover project. Officials say the area could remain fenced off until next year while renovations are completed.
The project has drawn criticism from preservationists and historians, who argue the changes are unnecessary and disrupt one of the nation’s most visited memorial landscapes.
When crews drained the Reflecting Pool as part of the work, inspectors reportedly found no knives, gas canisters, or evidence of vandalism or damage beneath the water despite online speculation. They did, however, reportedly discover tire tracks left from the time Trump drove “The Beast,” the presidential limousine, through the Reflecting Pool during a previous event—an incident that sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about damage to the historic site.
The extended closure means tourists will have limited access to the area for the remainder of the year, with fencing expected to stay in place as construction continues. The renovation has become the latest flashpoint in the ongoing debate over changes to historic federal landmarks under the Trump administration.
