Trump promotes Scotts Miracle-Gro after free White House lawn service
President Donald Trump praised Scotts Miracle-Gro for providing free grass for the White House and announced the company will re-seed hundreds of acres in Washington, DC parks.
In an Oval Office briefing, President Donald Trump lauded Scotts Miracle-Gro for installing free grass on the White House lawn and announced plans for the firm to re-seed 700 acres of parkland around Washington, DC. Trump said a personal acquaintance arranged the no-charge service, which he readily accepted. The company, based in Ohio, had earlier contributed $1 million to the National Park Service for post-event lawn restoration and donated $500,000 to a pro-Trump PAC in 2024.
Ethics scholars cautioned that such complimentary contracts risk appearing as favoritism absent a competitive bidding process. Both the White House and Scotts Miracle-Gro declined to respond to inquiries. The episode adds to a pattern of Trump publicly endorsing private firms that have provided him or the administration with benefits.
Why it matters
The endorsement raises concerns about government favoritism and the transparency of public-private contracts.
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