Trump Just Did the Most ‘Trumpy’ Thing With Men Who Repaired DC’s Reflecting Pool

I get it. President Trump can be…difficult to take at times. He can be a bull in a China shop. He’s got a very strong personality. He wants what he wants. And there’s nothing wrong with any of this. But this is also true: Trump is very often a really good guy, and he proved that again on Tuesday with an act of kindness I’ve never seen from a Democrat president.

Trump invited the work crew who repaired the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. to the Oval Office. When they got there, he gave them all signed hats and a presidential challenge coin.

Beyond cool:

Last night, @POTUS invited the hardworking men who renovated the Reflecting Pool to the Oval Office ❤️

Every man received a signed hat and a presidential challenge coin! pic.twitter.com/sRoO6Z3bYo

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) June 10, 2026

<blockquote><em>These were the crews who came from across the country to work on the project, and Trump had already made a point of recognizing them. Back in May, he showed up at the Reflecting Pool site unannounced, shook every worker’s hand, and handed out presidential challenge coins on the spot. Bringing them to the Oval Office was his way of finishing what he started.</em> <em>The visit capped months of restoration work across Washington ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebration next year. The White House has been posting before-and-after images under the slogan “Decline Is a Choice,” showing what several landmarks looked like before the administration took office and what they look like now. The contrast is not subtle.</em></blockquote>

Decline is a choice. Making D.C. safe & beautiful again is too.

THANK YOU, @POTUS! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hlC9j0jATU

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 8, 2026

THANK YOU, @POTUS! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/VM1sxaUPgw

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 9, 2026

Trump visited the Reflecting Pool worksite in May

Meridian Hill Park and Freedom Plaza both received significant renovations, and the before images serve as a helpful reminder of how much the areas had deteriorated. The administration has presented this effort as part of the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful” initiative, which has been steadily rolling out projects across the city.

While there, some moronic media reporter actually asked the president why he was bothering to clean it up. Trump first explained that workers hauled 11 or 12 truckloads of garbage out of the pool.

“That’s not what our country is about,” he said. “Our country is about beauty, cleanliness, safety, great people, not a filthy capital.”

The media spent weeks asking why Trump was wasting time cleaning up a pool

More:

<blockquote><em>The media spent weeks asking why Trump was wasting time cleaning up a pool. Liberals were worked up over waterproofing compound. Meanwhile, Trump was out there shaking hands with the guys in hard hats, slipping them challenge coins, and eventually bringing the whole crew to the Oval Office. Working men who came from across the country to restore the nation’s capital got to stand in the most famous room in the world and leave with a signed hat from the president. The press will find something to complain about. They always do.</em></blockquote>

Trump has done this Trumpy thing before since being back in office. In September, he invited the U.S. Marine Corps Drill Team into the Oval Office one evening as they were practicing at the White House. We reported at the time:

One of President Donald Trump’s first moves upon returning to the White House for his second term was to install two large American flags on the North and South Lawns. The project, which Trump personally funded at an estimated cost of $100,000, was described as a symbolic gesture aimed at restoring national pride.

On Wednesday, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performed on the South Lawn beside one of the new flags during an event for Cabinet members and senior staff. It was impressive to watch, to say the least.

After the performance, President Trump surprised the Marines by inviting them into the Oval Office, telling them, “Come on in here, fellas,” as he led them inside.

Trump presented each Marine with a presidential challenge coin as a token of appreciation for their service. One Marine thanked him for the gesture, to which Trump responded, “It’s my honor,” while shaking his hand and calling them “great people.”

HAPPENING NOW!

The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performs on the South Lawn of the White House 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/bVpamM9PXP

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) September 24, 2025

“Come on in here, fellas!”

President @realDonaldTrump invites the The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon into the Oval Office 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Xjs9X7HYzj

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) September 24, 2025

President @realDonaldTrump personally hands each member of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon a presidential challenge coin 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cwCNAKPkyV

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) September 24, 2025

Say what you will about President Trump. But you cannot say he hates America like Democrats do.