The Reflecting Pool on the National Mall has already begun to grow algae just days after President Donald Trump’s major renovation project was officially completed.
The landmark has been the subject of controversy since the project began, with critics pointing to budget ballooning from a little under $2 million to a staggering $14 million. Trump contracted Atlantic Industrial Coatings for the project to be completed ahead of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America.
This was a classic real estate developer kickback scheme. Trump hires his special guy to do the job. The guy does it for 50% of the budget, including his profit, and the rest is kicked back to Trump.
Of course, when it actually got into production, he jacked the overrun way up, so he could skim even more.
He was going to do the same thing with the Kennedy Center renovation, but they stopped that one. He’ll do the same with his arch, and the ballroom.
The old classics still work, and this kind of classic, old school kickback scheme has been Trump’s bread & butter for his entire life. That’s why he’s doing all these cockamamie construction projects. This is his wheelhouse, and he is in it.