President Donald Trump pushed back Saturday against a New York Times report on a no-bid contract tied to Lafayette Park renovation work, accusing the newspaper of trying to make his administration “look bad” over improvements near the White House.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said Lafayette Park had been “left in disarray after decades of neglect” and defended the project as an effort to restore “beauty and grandeur” to the nation’s capital.
Trump said the work included new fountains, trees, sod, irrigation, benches and other upgrades. He also said he made a “multimillion contribution” to the effort and helped bring in others to support it. The president said the project is under budget, ahead of schedule and expected to be completed by July 4.
The New York Times reported a different account of the project’s cost and contracting process. According to the Times, the National Park Service awarded Clark Construction a no-bid contract for Lafayette Park fountain work, first valued at $11.9 million and later increased to $17.4 million. The Times reported that a 2022 estimate had put the work at $3.3 million.
The Times also reported that the contract was awarded without competitive bidding under an “urgency” exemption. Contracting experts cited by the newspaper described the process as unusual.
Trump said he was not involved in awarding the contract and said that decision was handled by the National Park Service. He praised Clark Construction as a major and respected Washington-area firm.
The dispute comes as Trump continues to promote broader renovation efforts across Washington. In a related report, the New York Post said Trump also pledged to clean and repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in “American-flag blue” before July 4, part of his push to improve major public spaces before America’s 250th anniversary.
Trump also said Washington, D.C., is now “safe and bustling” and claimed crime numbers are the best in recorded history. Virginia Times could not independently verify that claim from the material reviewed.
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