Trump is becoming obsessed with DC side projects like Reflecting Pool as they dominate his social media posts

Trump is becoming obsessed with DC side projects like Reflecting Pool as they dominate his social media posts President has remained enthusiastic about the projects, even as many have been hit with lawsuits and other problems - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments President Donald Trump is increasingly fixated on his projects to renovate and rebuild huge swathes of Washington, D.C., as he pays less attention to other topics important to voters, according to a new analysis. In June, the president discussed his capital construction projects four out of every five days, up from one-third of the days in January and one-eighth of the days last June, The Washington Post found. At the same time, the Republican went from discussing healthcare nearly every day in October of 2025 to doing so less than half the time in June. He is also spending a decreasing amount of time talking about U.S. rival China, the paper found. Critics have seized on the president’s plans, accusing him of focusing on unnecessary “vanity projects” such as sprucing up the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, building a new White House ballroom, and renovating Washington parks and statues. A group of 11 Democratic senators wrote the administration a letter last month slamming the use of National Park Service fees to help pay for some of Trump’s D.C. projects. “The lack of transparency around awards for these beautification projects, as well as the loss in revenue meant for the maintenance and betterment of our national parks threatens the public’s trust and the long-term integrity of our nation’s most beloved public lands,” they wrote. The projects also have not polled well with the American public, echoing the president’s poor overall approval ratings. More than half of respondents said in an April poll that they oppose his ballroom project and proposal for a new triumphal arch in Washington. In addition to being unpopular, the projects have faced legal scrutiny and construction issues. The ballroom, which was reportedly funded with a no-bid contract worth up to $500 million despite Trump’s promise it wouldn’t cost taxpayers, is in limbo after a judge paused construction in March. Outside of the reported public investment in the project, private donors with business before the federal government, including major tech companies, have poured money into the project. The president’s signature Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool project, meanwhile, has struggled to contain algae outbreaks, plus cracks and peels in the pool’s newly redone bottom surface. At the Kennedy Center, workers have removed Trump’s name from the front of the building as part of a lawsuit challenging his renaming and renovation of the flagship arts complex and memorial. The administration has argued the center stands to lose “hundreds of millions” of dollars without his name attached to the building. The White House has defended the president’s building spree, and argues Trump has delivered major policy wins at the same time on taxes and immigration. “Does the fake news not think the capital of the greatest country in the history of the world is worth making safe and beautiful?” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The Independent in a statement. “President Trump remains laser-focused on lowering costs for working families, keeping the American people safe, and making this country greater than ever before — including the long-overdue beautification of our nation’s capital.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments