Key Background
Throughout his second term in office, Trump has been heavily involved in projects to change the aesthetics of the U.S. capital, including tearing down the White House’s East Wing to make room for a ballroom and proposing a massive triumphal arch near Arlington Cemetery. In April, the Reflecting Pool was drained so it could be repainted “American Flag Blue,” Trump told reporters. Public records show the Trump administration spent $14.2 million on the renovations, which were awarded in a no-bid contract to a firm that had previously completed work at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, the New York Times reported. On June 4, both Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the project was finished and water would begin pouring back into the pool, which Burgum also said was “just in time for our nation’s 250th birthday” on July 4.
Further Reading
ForbesTrump’s Other ‘Vanity Projects’ Will Cost $162.5 Million—In Addition To $1.4 Billion Ballroom Possibly Funded By TaxpayersBy Sara Dorn