Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) criticized President Donald Trump over the White House Reflecting Pool renovation controversy, contrasting the project with California’s minimum wage policies and accusing Trump of focusing on the wrong priorities.
Newsom Criticizes Trump’s Reflecting Pool Focus
On Tuesday, in a post on X, Newsom shared a video clip of Trump discussing criticism surrounding the Reflecting Pool repairs and argued that the president’s attention should be on economic issues affecting Americans.
“California’s minimum wage is MORE THAN DOUBLE the federal minimum wage, AND we’re raising it in January,” he wrote.
He added, “Meanwhile, Trump’s biggest concern right now is his botched Reflecting Pool project. We are not the same.”
Last week, California announced that its minimum wage would rise to $17.40 per hour from Jan. 1, making it the highest state-level wage in the U.S. Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the federal minimum wage, saying workers deserved higher pay.
Trump Defends Repairs, Blames Vandalism
In the interview clip, Trump defended the renovation work, saying the project addressed long-standing issues with the pool’s surface.
“We sand blasted the stone outside. It was granite, so it has a long life,” Trump said.
He added that the previous stone surface “always leaked” and that new materials were installed to improve durability.
Trump acknowledged concerns about the contractor but said the project was completed under a tight timeline.
“I’m not saying I was 100% thrilled with the contractor, but the contractor was rushing. We wanted to get it open for July 4th and we got it done,” Trump said.
The president also blamed vandalism for some of the damage, claiming individuals cut the surface material and damaged newly replaced grass.
He said repairs were underway and the area was expected to reopen.
Democrats Slam Trump Over Pool Renovation
Earlier, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Gov. JB Pritzker (D.Ill.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) criticized Trump over the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation.
Schumer called the project a “reflecting pool debacle,” arguing that Trump should prioritize issues such as affordability and economic pressures instead of a renovation he described as a vanity effort.
Pritzker also targeted Trump, saying Americans dealing with high gas prices should remember the president was highlighting the renovated landmark rather than addressing fuel costs.
Warren similarly accused Trump of prioritizing the costly project while families struggled with higher expenses for gas, food and health care.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
