Donald Trump spends taxpayer money on White House walkway and DC horse statues

U.S. President Donald Trump is reported to have used National Park Service funds for several high‑profile decorative projects. The walkway between the White House and the Oval Office was refurbished with African black granite at a cost of about $1.3 million, most of which came from the agency’s budget. In a separate initiative, the National Park Service awarded a $5 million contract to regild four monumental bronze horse statues on the National Mall, applying 23.75‑karat gold leaf. Both projects have drawn scrutiny over the use of public money for aesthetic upgrades.

The walkway renovation, initially claimed by Trump to be personally funded, was found to have cost taxpayers $689,232 for the granite alone, with additional masonry work bringing the total to $1.3 million. The horse‑statue contract, granted in April 2026, includes conservation work and the application of roughly 55 pounds of gold leaf, though exact spending on the gold is unclear. Officials say the efforts are part of broader preparations for the nation’s 250th‑anniversary celebrations.