According to White House communications advisor Margo Martin, Donald Trump’s Thursday evening visit to the Lincoln Memorial was an opportunity to “see the progress of the project and meet the hardworking team behind it.”
The hardworking team, for context, belongs to a contractor Trump personally vouched for last month, saying “I have a guy who’s unbelievable at doing swimming pools up the road.”
When ABC News senior political correspondent Rachel Scott had the audacity to ask about it, Trump was ready.
“Mr. President, you are here against the backdrop of the war in Iran,” Scott said. “Why focus on all these projects right now with gas prices soaring?”
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Trump’s answer was essentially: dirt. “You know why? Because I wanna keep our country beautiful and safe. Beautiful also. This place was a disgusting place… you probably don’t see dirt. But I do… They had to take 11 or 12 truckloads of garbage out of that lake, out of that water. And it sat there for years like that.”
Scott tried to follow up, but Trump clearly did not appreciate it.
“Such a stupid question that you asked. We’re fixing up the reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument. And you say, ‘Why are you fixing anything up?’ Because you can understand dirt, maybe better than I can. But I don’t allow it.”
He then turned to the crew assembled around him, apparently needing witnesses. “This is one of the worst reporters. She’s with ABC fake news and she’s a horror show. She’s saying, ‘Why would you bother fixing this up?’ Why would I bother taking 11 or 12 truckloads of filth out of the water in front of the Lincoln monument. That’s what made our country great. Beauty made our country. People made our country great. A question like that is a disgrace to our country.”
Q: Why focus on all these projects right now as gas prices are soaring?
Trump: “This is such a stupid question that you asked…You can understand dirt maybe better than I can, but I don’t allow it. This is one of the worst reporters. She’s with ABC fake news and she’s a horror… pic.twitter.com/JyWqL9ABrI
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) May 8, 2026
Trump’s irritation with Scott was not new. She has long been part of his public attacks on female reporters.
Back in January, he told a crowd after she asked a question: “By the way, this is ABC fake news, this one. She hasn’t asked me a good question in years. I think a nice woman, but I don’t really like her too much.”
The reflecting pool project is just one item on a long renovation Wishlist. Trump has pushed ahead with plans to raze the East Wing of the White House to build a new ballroom and has proposed constructing a towering triumphal arch on the banks of the Potomac.
Featured image via X screengrab
