Trump Sets Final Midterm Speech at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The president will address reporters at the troubled renovation site on Monday, just hours before voters head to the polls.
By Paula Delgado ·
President Donald Trump will deliver his final campaign speech of the midterm election cycle at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday afternoon.
The White House formally confirmed the location on Sunday, hours after Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he would speak at the site to show how beautiful it is. The event takes place the day before Election Day, replacing a planned travel itinerary to key states where Republican candidates are seeking to retain control of Congress.
Trump’s decision marks a shift from his previous month of campaigning, during which he held more than 25 rallies in conservative areas. He used those stops to push his second-term vision for Washington, including a new ballroom in the White House, a converted Rose Garden, and a South Lawn helipad. He also closed the Kennedy Center for renovations and proposed a large arch outside the city limits.
The Reflecting Pool renovation has become a central part of that narrative, though the project has faced delays and cost overruns. In April, Trump said he would change the pool’s color and use familiar contractors to finish the work in days for about $1.5 million. He aimed to complete the project by Independence Day.
The repairs finished nearly three months behind that schedule. The total cost rose to more than 10 times the initial estimate. Trump declared the work complete in June, but algae blooms soon appeared, and the blue liner began peeling. The pool was drained again in mid-July for further repairs.
Disputes over the cause of the damage have emerged. Trump blamed vandals, a claim he repeated on Sunday. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said shoddy workmanship was the primary cause. The Justice Department initially charged former Olympian David Hearn with damaging the pool but dropped the case this summer. A judge later dismissed the case permanently. Trump criticized Pirro for the outcome, calling her disappointment significant, but did not remove her from her post.
Trump described his Sunday evening rally in Kansas as his last stop. He is now turning his attention to the pool, a project he insists was fast and inexpensive. The speech will be held as polls suggest Democrats may gain seats due to concerns over the Iran war, energy prices, and the cost of living.
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