Trump pitches midterm hopes from rebuilt Lincoln Memorial pool

President Donald Trump used the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday to make his final public pitch ahead of the midterm elections.

Standing on a platform decorated with signs reading “Restoring Our Capitol” and “The Reflecting Pool,” the president addressed a crowd in Washington, D.C., less than 24 hours before voters head to the polls.

Trump described the water feature as “finished” during a Sunday appearance in Iowa, stating he visited the capital “just to show how beautiful it is.” Behind him, a lectern displayed an aerial image of the pool with the caption “Back, and more beautiful than ever!”

The president acknowledged the pool’s troubled history, noting that vandals had damaged the structure. This account differed from court admissions that shoddy renovations commissioned by his administration forced the pool to close.

After spending 20 minutes discussing his construction projects in the capital, Trump declared the Tuesday elections could be the most important midterms “in our lifetime.” He characterized his political opponents as extremists, asserting that Democrats had “nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history.”

Public frustration with the administration’s handling of inflation and the decision to launch the Iran war has improved the Democrats’ chances of taking control of both the House and the Senate. Trump countered by noting that sitting presidents typically struggle in midterm cycles, while pointing to the U.S. having its most secure borders and largest income tax cuts in the nation’s history.

“For some reason, the sitting president doesn’t win the midterms,” Trump said. “But we gave this a very strong shot.” The White House said the president would join seven additional tele-rallies in the afternoon and evening.