Workers have drained the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and exposed a protective liner on the pool’s bottom that had been installed this spring. Multiple outlets report that the liner was initially described by President Donald Trump as an “American flag blue” color. After the pool is drained, the liner’s appearance is now noticeably faded, shifting to a shade closer to gray. The reports describe the change in tone as visible in the new, exposed bottom surface, suggesting the coating is not holding its original “blue” hue. The articles do not provide competing explanations for the fading, but they consistently link the current gray-leaning appearance to the earlier protective coating applied during the pool’s maintenance. The timing of the drainage and the exposed view are central to the coverage, with photos and descriptions indicating the color has changed since installation.