President Trump Denies Involvement in Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Contractor Selection Amid Rising Costs
President Donald Trump has distanced himself from the contractor responsible for the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a project that has faced criticism due to its no-bid contract and escalating costs. Initially estimated at $1.8 million, the cost of the project has now risen to $13.1 million. The renovation, awarded to Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, aims to restore the pool ahead of the United States' 250th birthday in July. Trump has stated that the Department of the Interior, not himself, awarded the contract, despite previous comments suggesting he had consulted with a contractor he knew. The project has been controversial, particularly due to Trump's plan to coat the pool in 'American flag blue.' 
