The multimillion-dollar cost of President Donald Trump’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool sparked debate on CNN’s “Table for Five” as panelists discussed whether the project was a worthwhile investment or a misallocation of resources in the nation’s capital.
Host Abby Phillips questioned the $13 million spent on the Reflecting Pool repairs, alongside other renovations in Washington, D.C., including the White House’s East Wing overhaul and statue regilding near the Lincoln Memorial. A blue protective coating was applied to the Reflecting Pool during renovation work in Washington on May 29, 2026. (Rahmat Gul/AP).
“Is it just monopoly money to the president at this point? We just got through DOGE, when they fired many federal employees, claiming that every penny mattered, and now nothing seems to?”
New York Post columnist Lydia Moynihan defended the expenditure, emphasizing the importance of making Washington safer and more visually appealing, comparing Trump’s efforts to former President Barack Obama’s $35 million restructuring. She noted that the amount was small compared to Democratic proposals for spending trillions of dollars.
“These are pennies when you consider the amounts Democrats plan to spend,” she said.
By then, the panel erupted into argument. Journalist Touré commented on Trump’s statements regarding federal expenses for childcare and the war with Iran, questioning why such spending priorities were chosen.
“Why spend when we are at war and facing economic challenges?” he asked.
Moynihan countered by highlighting the small scale of the project’s cost compared to larger budget items.
“If you can’t see that one is trillions and one is 13 million… Should we not maintain our infrastructure because it costs money?”
The discussion continued until host Phillips regained control, mentioning that the situation revolved around decision-making priorities.
Former Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer commented on the importance of maintaining an attractive and safe capital in view of the U.S. 250th anniversary, while journalist John Avlon noted the concurrent lapse in certain infrastructure, such as the East Wing.
Max Bacall is an Associate Editor for the Flash/Media/Culture team at Fox News Digital.