Trump discusses the pool renovation before defending his record
On Monday afternoon, the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump forwent the campaign trail to speak at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, drawing attention to what the Associated Press described as an expensive repair job. The Associated Press noted that the pool was far from most of the people Trump’s party wanted to persuade. It said the choice “conforms with the way the president has devoted considerable time, attention and money in his second term on beautifying his Washington surroundings.” Trump used the pool as the setting for Republicans’ closing argument to keep control of Congress.
At the top of his remarks, Trump devoted more than 20 minutes to the pool, announcing its official reopening, joking that he wanted to name it after himself and repeating his allegation that vandals had damaged the repair work he ordered. He also discussed the particular blue selected for the bottom of the pool, the grass and columns chosen for repairs around Washington and enlarged images of rusted pipes taken during the renovation process.
After the extended renovation discussion, Trump turned to his midterm pitch, defending his record and attacking Democratic nominees. He was also scheduled to take part in nine telerallies for Republicans, where he uses brief remarks on a mass phone call to plead for voters’ support.
Voters had told the Associated Press they were concerned about the high cost of living. Trump called affordability a “hoax,” discussed renovations of the Reflecting Pool and the White House with audiences far from the nation’s capital and repeatedly praised the physiques of GOP nominees.
Vance campaigns in New York and Ohio
Vice President JD Vance hit the campaign trail with stops in New York and Ohio, where Republicans were fighting for House and Senate seats. In Rome, New York, Vance campaigned for Republican House candidates Kailee Buller and Anthony Constantino, touting Trump’s moves to end taxes on tips and overtime and secure the border. He also branded Democrats as “lunatics” who have contempt for American voters.
Reflecting Pool renovation and repair dispute
The Reflecting Pool is a long, narrow basin at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech from the memorial’s steps in 1963 while looking out over the pool. During the summer, the pool became a focus of Trump’s attention. He frequently spoke about his plans for the shallow pool on social media, at the White House and elsewhere, displayed posters about the project in the Oval Office and had his motorcade drive him over the resurfaced pool before it was refilled.
The pool soon became clogged with algae blooms, and its “American-flag blue” liner began peeling and floating up in chunks. The Justice Department charged former Olympian David Hearn with intentionally damaging the Reflecting Pool but dropped the case that summer after determining he was not responsible. Trump continued to argue that vandalism caused the new blue surface to peel; the Associated Press said that account was false and attributed the peeling to the repair work rather than the alleged vandalism.
Signs on the platform where Trump spoke read “Restoring Our Capitol” and “The Reflecting Pool.” A nearby poster showed the pool beneath the words, “Back, and more beautiful than ever!”
Democrats focus on Iowa and Republican-leaning states
Democrats spent the final 24 hours before Election Day making their case in areas where Republicans had long dominated. The Associated Press reported that Democratic candidates sought to capitalize on widespread disaffection over high prices, the fallout from Trump’s war with Iran and historical midterm trends that typically favored the party out of power.
In Iowa, where voters had not elected a Democratic governor in two decades, Democratic candidate Rob Sand asked canvassers knocking on doors to help break that streak. Sand faced Republican Zach Lahn. “This is it,” Sand said. “We have 30-whatever hours to change the direction of the state of Iowa.”
Sand appeared with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, whom the Associated Press noted was seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. Beshear cited his own races as proof that a Democrat can win over Trump-backed candidates in states such as Kentucky and Iowa.
Michigan Democrats respond to Stevens’s endorsement
Michigan Democrats were trying to keep their coalition together after Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens announced Sunday that she would back Republican candidate Mike Rogers rather than her party’s nominee, appearing with Rogers at a church service. Stevens had lost the primary to Abdul El-Sayed. Michigan was a key state in Democrats’ efforts to retake the Senate.
The Associated Press reported that Stevens supports Israel while El-Sayed has criticized the U.S. ally. It also reported criticism of El-Sayed for past remarks about a Michigan synagogue attack and for appearances with streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed campaigned Monday with fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell and Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Brushing aside concerns that Stevens’ endorsement could hurt his prospects, El-Sayed told supporters worried about Stevens’ backing: “If we’re nervous about where we’re going to go from here, go vote.”