Stephen King, the celebrated horror author known for his outspoken dislike of President Donald Trump, has surprised followers with rare praise for one of Trump’s Washington D.C. projects, as reported [1] by Trending Politics News.
In a brief social media comment, King admitted that the president’s recent renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was a success.
His acknowledgment came after U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick shared a post describing the site as “simply glorious,” showing visitors enjoying the refreshed landmark. King publicly agreed.
Very beautiful. https://t.co/Hvd6cgt2PR [2]
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) June 10, 2026 [3]
The Reflecting Pool, which stretches more than 2,000 feet between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, was recently resurfaced and repainted under directives connected to Trump’s large-scale D.C. improvement initiative.
The project is part of sweeping restoration and construction efforts tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.
According to descriptions of the work, the renovations addressed several key areas across the National Mall and nearby public spaces. Crews carried out systematic cleaning, resurfacing, and repainting to restore the area’s original appeal.
As part of the upgrades, graffiti was scrubbed from more than 500 public locations across the city. Crews also removed 250 truckloads of debris from lakes, ponds, and water features, giving these sites clearer views and safer surroundings.
The extensive cleanup operations included addressing 153 homeless encampments that had developed in public parks and plazas. Officials stated that the goal was to improve both cleanliness and safety for residents and tourists.
Restoration efforts also targeted water features throughout Washington. Twenty-two fountains were repaired and returned to operation, contributing to what officials called a “functional and visual revival” in the heart of the city.
At the same time, work extended to the monuments and statues that define the National Mall and nearby memorial areas. Nearly 30 statues and about 45 monuments underwent cleaning and structural repairs.
In addition, six brand new statues are being installed around Washington, continuing the project’s commitment to highlighting national history and public art.
Infrastructure work was another key part of the plan. More than 1,100 benches were repaired or replaced, and city maintenance staff installed 130 new rat-proof trash cans.
Streetlights were serviced, and potholes were filled, creating a fresher and more usable environment.
Federal officials have described these upgrades as an effort to reverse what they called a visible decline throughout the capital’s public grounds.
FIND ANOTHER FAUX OUTRAGE, DEMS!
Obama spent $34 million on renovating the Reflecting Pool. These were the results below.
Trump had to fix it. pic.twitter.com/vnEEaMLV0G [4]
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) June 11, 2026 [5]
The changes are appearing just in time for major national events planned for 2026, including the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.
Though King has often criticized the president, his public concession that the Reflecting Pool project looks “glorious” stands out as a moment of approval from an unexpected source.
For supporters of the renovation, that alone marks a small but notable victory in the run-up to America’s semiquincentennial celebrations.