Trump cites Reflecting Pool repairs in final campaign push
The president closed his midterms tour with a detailed review of capital renovations, despite polling suggesting a strong Democratic advantage in Tuesday's vote.
By Allison Rojas ·
President Donald Trump concluded his monthlong midterm campaign on Monday by focusing on the physical condition of Washington's monuments rather than policy or economic data. Standing before the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, he spent the first 20 minutes of his address describing construction details instead of mentioning the election. He showed photographs of the damaged water feature and explained how crews resurfaced and re-caulked the granite. He also detailed efforts to remove severe algae blooms from the pool.
The repair project has faced substantial delays and cost overruns. When Trump announced the work in April, he projected a completion time of a few weeks with a cost near $1.5 million. The work finished behind schedule at a price more than 10 times that estimate. Crews had to drain the pool in July after algae growth and a peeling blue liner appeared. Trump attributed these issues to vandalism, but federal prosecutors in Washington cited poor workmanship as the cause.
Trump used the renovation as evidence that his administration is improving the nation's capital. He stated that the country is strong and respected, and that the capital is cleaner and safer. He argued that these construction projects demonstrate the tangible benefits of his presidency for American voters.
The president's focus on infrastructure came as polls indicated a challenging environment for Republicans. A New York Times and Siena University poll released Sunday showed Democrats heavily favored to retake the House. The survey also found that Trump's approval rating is near historic lows. A separate NBC News poll found that nearly two-thirds of voters want a change in the country's direction.
Trump acknowledged the historical difficulty of the incumbent party winning midterms. He told reporters, "For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms. But we gave this a very strong shot." He urged supporters who voted for him in 2024 to turn out again, calling this the most important midterm election in a lifetime. He warned that a Democratic victory would place a radical agenda in control for his remaining two years.
Democrats criticized the president's message as out of touch with current voter concerns. Ashley Schapitl, a former Treasury official, posted on X that the speech sounded like a median voter update on capital improvement projects. Former President Barack Obama had previously mocked Trump's focus on construction, stating that the White House looked like a Cheesecake Factory with gold everywhere. Trump maintained a dismissive tone, insisting the economy is booming and that higher gas prices are a small cost for the war in Iran.
The campaign concluded with a contrast between the president's public messaging and his private events. Over the weekend, Trump hosted a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He showed reporters a crowd of hundreds eating Alaskan king crab and caviar, telling them, "Look at all my rich members."
