- Trump threatened lawsuits against ABC for false reporting regarding the Reflecting Pool renovation.
- Trump claimed that ABC failed to report that their close 'friends,' Dumocrats Obama and Biden, spent over $100 million on the Reflecting Pool, which he stated never worked.
- Despite Trump's claims, he did not provide evidence for the $100 million figure, although he indicated that the Obama administration spent around $35 million on repairs.
- Jon Stewart mocked the renovation claims, asking, 'Did They Replace the Water With Mountain Dew?'
- The cost to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has exceeded $14.65 million, which is more than $4 million over the original estimate.
- A $1.74 million contract was awarded to Green Water Solutions to install a 'nano bubble' system to kill algae, using a no-bid process.
- One of the companies involved in the renovation, Greenwater Services, is owned by a trust run by Republican donor John Cafaro, who has a controversial past.
Former President Donald Trump has threatened lawsuits against ABC for what he claims is false reporting regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation. Trump alleged that Democrats spent over $100 million on the pool, although he provided no evidence for this figure. He did mention that the Obama administration spent around $35 million on repairs.123
The renovation costs have reportedly soared, with the latest estimates indicating that repainting the Reflecting Pool has exceeded $14.65 million, surpassing the original no-bid contract by more than $4 million. ABC also reported a $1.74 million contract awarded to Green Water Solutions for a “nano bubble” system to combat algae, which was also awarded without competitive bidding.56
In a comedic response, Jon Stewart mocked the renovation claims, questioning the pool's color and suggesting it resembled “Mountain Dew”. He also pointed out the irony of a company named Greenwater Services winning the contract, which is owned by a trust linked to Republican donor John Cafaro, who has a controversial past involving bribery.7
Stewart quipped, “The pool guy bribed the congressman, and now he gets the pool contract — that tracks.”
“Trump is preparing lawsuits against ABC for their reporting on the Reflecting Pool renovation. Jon Stewart humorously questioned the quality of the renovation, asking if the water was replaced with Mountain Dew.”
CNBC
Rolling Stone