Trump pitches midterms at reopened Reflecting Pool
The president touted the restored pool and called Tuesday's vote a decisive moment for the nation.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
President Donald Trump stood before the newly restored Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday to make his final major pitch before voters head to the polls on Tuesday. He used the venue to argue that the upcoming midterm elections could be the most important in American history, a claim that contrasts with his earlier admission in court that his administration's renovation choices contributed to the pool's damage.
The Reflecting Pool has been closed for repairs for several years. Trump stated on Sunday in Iowa that the project was finished. When asked why he selected the site for a speech, he replied that it was just to show how beautiful it is. The pool was shut down after vandals caused damage, though legal filings also cited shoddy renovations commissioned by the president as a cause for the closure.
Trump spoke from a platform decorated with signs reading Restoring Our Capitol and The Reflecting Pool. An aerial image on the lectern behind him displayed the caption Back, and more beautiful than ever. He devoted about 20 minutes to his construction projects in Washington, D.C., before shifting focus to the political stakes of the day.
The president characterized his political opponents as extremists. He claimed that Democrats nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history. Public frustration over inflation and the decision to launch a war in Iran has improved the prospects of Democratic candidates for control of the House and Senate.
Despite the shifting polling numbers, Trump noted that sitting presidents often struggle during midterm cycles. He pointed to the current state of the borders and the size of income tax cuts as evidence of a strong administration. For some reason, the sitting president doesn't win the midterms, he said. But we gave this a very strong shot.
After his remarks at the pool, the White House said Trump was scheduled to join seven additional tele-rallies throughout the afternoon and evening. These events are designed to reach voters across the country in the final hours before the polls close.
