President Trump used his last big speech before the midterms to reopen the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, and spent about 20 minutes on the pool before turning to the election.
The White House billed Monday’s speech in Washington as the president’s “closing message” to voters. Republicans say it showed off a record of getting things done. Democrats say it showed a president focused on the wrong things while families struggle with costs.
A pool first, then politics
Trump spoke with the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument behind him. A sign read “Back, and more beautiful than ever!” according to CBS News.
“Today I’m thrilled to announce the official opening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool,” he said, as reported by CNBC. He held up before-and-after photos and called it “a massive piece of pool.”
CNBC counted more than 20 minutes on the pool and other Washington projects before his first mention of the midterms. He also talked about his planned triumphal arch and a promenade along the Potomac River.
A bumpy renovation
The pool project has had a rough year, according to CBS News and AP:
- In April, the administration announced plans to resurface the pool in “American flag blue.”
- Soon after it reopened, the water turned green and peeling paint appeared.
- Trump blamed vandals. Five people were arrested, but the Justice Department later said in a court filing that a contractor’s “botched installation” was to blame.
- Charges were dropped, including against Olympian David Hearn.
On Monday, Trump again said vandals damaged the pool. CBS News noted his administration could not prove that in court.
The closing pitch
When he turned to the election, Trump called it “the most important midterm, I believe, in our lifetime,” NBC News reported. He said Democrats had nominated “the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.”
He pointed to the economy, saying “personal incomes are the highest in history.” He also repeated his promise that “everybody is going to get $5,000” if Republicans win, according to CNBC.
Then came the line many outlets highlighted. The president’s party usually loses seats in a midterm, the election held halfway through a president’s term. Trump nodded to that history: “For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms. But we gave this a very strong shot.”
How Democrats responded
Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said families have struggled to afford “gas, groceries, and healthcare” while Trump focuses on “his vanity projects and special favors for the ultra-rich,” according to The Independent.
What happens next
- Trump said on Truth Social he would appear on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show Monday at 9 p.m., CBS News reported.
- More than 57 million Americans had voted early by Monday afternoon, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
- Polls close Tuesday, Nov. 3. Some close races may take days to count.
Sources: CNBC, NBC News, CBS News, AP, The Independent
