Trump criticizes New York Times over Lincoln Memorial pool cost report
The president attacked the newspaper Tuesday over its coverage of rising expenses for repairs and renovation work at the reflecting pool.
By Nina D. Reed
12 May, 2026
President Trump attacked The New York Times on Tuesday morning. His criticism targeted a newspaper report about rising costs for repairs and renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Trump described the Times as "one of the worst newspapers anywhere in the World." He also claimed the publication was "losing subscribers on an hourly basis."
The Times had reported on the ballooning expenses tied to the pool project. The president's remarks came in response to that coverage.
Trump did not specify which aspects of the Times' reporting he disputed. He focused instead on broader attacks on the newspaper's credibility and financial performance.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool sits at one of the nation's most visited monuments in Washington, D.C. Maintenance and renovation projects at the site have drawn public attention in recent years.
Reporting incorporates material from a third-party source. Original
