Donald Trump has reportedly been redecorating the walkway between White House and the Oval Office using funds from the National Park Service and taxpayer money.
While Trump originally claimed that the expenses are being borne by him, recent reports have stated that the repairs are heavily drawing on public funds that may not justify the aesthetic improvements.
The National Park Service is apparently covering the new White House walkway as Trump’s latest project faces scrutiny
The walkway that has long been used by US presidents for a 45-minute journey to the Oval Office did not live up to Donald Trump’s standards. Instead, Trump has used African black granite, carved in Italy with a flame-finish stripe, slightly raised to prevent slips. When a reporter asked Trump about the expenses, he replied, “Paid for by me.”
However, according to The Atlantic, the math is not mathing. The news outlet reports that the walkway was paid for through the National Park Service budget and cost taxpayers $689,232. With related masonry work and repairs, the total reached $1.3 million.
According to OK! Magazine, the president has continued spending large amounts on renovating the mansion and surrounding grounds with conspicuous changes, ranging from black granite and gold accents to the massive multi-million-dollar ballroom construction on the South Lawn.
The president, however, continues to justify his expenses. He said about the walkway renovations, “It’s a great contrast. The white [walls], with the black. The black is going to be on the walkway. It’s going to be clean. The thing I do best. It’s going to be beautiful. It’s a beautiful, black granite.”
The Atlantic has also reported that taxpayer spending on National Capital Region projects has increased 92 percent over the past year, while more than 900 Park Service projects have received no funding.
DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT’S EXTRAVAGANT PROJECTS ARE JUSTIFIED?
