Trump highlights pool repairs in final address as Democrats push economic message

President Donald Trump delivered his final scheduled public remarks before the midterm elections on Monday afternoon, using the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to detail physical improvements to the National Mall rather than the national economy. The address came less than 24 hours before polls opened across the country for contests that could reshape Congress and key governorships.

The President spent the majority of the speech describing the renovation of the Reflecting Pool, including the installation of new grass, the removal of algae, and the repair of rusty pipes. He promoted upcoming Washington area construction projects, such as a golf course and a promenade connecting the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River. Trump described the architectural concept as simple, beautiful, and made of white stone.

During the remarks, Trump repeated claims that the pool project had been sabotaged by vandals. The Justice Department has acknowledged in court that a new blue liner installed on the pool surface peeled and detached due to a rushed repair job. The President briefly characterized his Democratic opponents as the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history. He stated that the country is doing great and that he believes the current term is the best for the economy.

Democrats used Monday to campaign on economic concerns, focusing on high prices and the impact of the ongoing war in Iran. Party officials expressed optimism about their chances in Tuesday’s vote. Early voting numbers have increased compared to the 2022 cycle. More than 57 million ballots were cast in 47 states and the District of Columbia as of Monday, up from just under 44.5 million in 49 states and the District in 2022.

Campaigns in red states, including Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, and Texas, became a central front for Democrats seeking to capitalize on the President’s unpopularity. In Iowa, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand told canvassers that the party has roughly 30 hours to change the direction of the state. Sand campaigned alongside Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who cited his own election victories as evidence that Democrats can defeat Trump-backed candidates in similar states.

In Virginia, Democratic congressional candidate Shannon Taylor argued that voters are demanding change. Taylor, a prosecutor running against Republican Representative Rob Wittman, focused her message on the cost of living and anti-corruption. In Michigan, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed attempted to move past a party dispute that emerged on Sunday.

The controversy stemmed from a statement by Representative Haley Stevens, who lost the primary to El-Sayed. Stevens endorsed El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, and appeared at a church service with him. El-Sayed addressed the issue at Eastern Michigan University, stating that his campaign is about voters, not himself. He told supporters to go vote and said there is only one thing they can do to control the outcome.

Over 2.3 million Michigan voters had already cast ballots as of Monday. The state’s regular early in-person voting period ended on Sunday, with polls reopening statewide on Tuesday. Lori Goldman, a Democratic organizer in Oakland County, noted that while about half the state has already voted, the political drama could significantly impact those who have yet to vote. Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Rome, New York, on Monday, touting the administration’s tax policies and border security measures while labeling Democrats as lunatics.

The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s request to set aside thousands of disputed California mail ballots on Monday. The President also raised the possibility of voter fraud in Alaska. The outcome of Tuesday’s elections will determine the level of power the President holds during his final two years in the White House.