PolitiFact is reporting that President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding the renovation of the National Mall's Reflecting Pool contain exaggerations concerning its size and the project's timeline. It said Trump ordered a snap renovation of the pool, which spans the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, with an intention to paint its bottom "American Flag Blue." Critics have filed a lawsuit, calling the changes a "permanent blemish" on the National Mall.
PolitiFact said Trump claimed the Reflecting Pool is "longer than the tallest building in the world if you set it on the side, and it's almost 200 feet wide." The fact-checking organization reported the pool is 2,028 feet long, which would rank it fourth globally if it were a skyscraper, and 167 feet wide. It also noted Trump's initial "two weeks" estimate for repairs was inaccurate, as the pool remained closed three weeks later. Trump later stated the project was "70% finished" and would open "in a couple of weeks," attributing the delay to expanded work.
Separately, PolitiFact reported that an ad by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, targeting his Democratic U.S. Senate opponent James Talarico, omitted crucial context from Talarico's remarks on border policy. The ad quoted Talarico saying the southern border should have "a giant welcome mat out front." PolitiFact said Talarico's full statement from a January debate included, "There should be a giant welcome mat out front, and a lock on the door. We can welcome immigrants... and we can keep out people who mean to do us harm." PolitiFact rated the ad's claim as "Mostly False" due to the omission of critical facts.