Trump Denies Knowing Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Contractor, Says 'Interior' Handled $13.1 Million No-Bid Deal

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump denied personally awarding or choosing the contractor for the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation, contradicting earlier statements where he mentioned knowing someone involved in the project.
• The no-bid contract was awarded to Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, with costs escalating from an initial $1.8 million estimate to $13.1 million, sparking criticism over rising expenses and project management.
• Trump defended the renovation, describing the Reflecting Pool as an "embarrassment" and praised the project as a cost-effective and quicker alternative to previous efforts by the Obama and Biden administrations, which he claimed wasted over $100 million.
• A White House official clarified that the Interior Department, not Trump personally, awarded the contract, emphasizing the goal to stop leaks and restore the Reflecting Pool ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday in July.
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