Trump Disputes NYT Report on Lafayette Park Renovation Costs

President Donald Trump criticized The New York Times over its report on the renovation of Lafayette Park, disputing claims about project funding and costs.

The Lafayette Park renovation project has sparked dispute over funding and costs.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the park had been neglected for decades and that he contributed financially to improvements, including fountain repairs and landscaping.

The Times reported that the renovation was fully funded by taxpayers.

It added that while the project was initially estimated at $3.3 million during the Biden administration, the final contract awarded to Clark Construction reached $17.4 million.

Trump said he was not involved in awarding the contract and maintained that the process was handled fairly by the National Park Service.

According to the report, the Park Service used an “urgency” exemption to award the contract without competitive bidding, citing a deadline tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary.