On Monday afternoon, Donald Trump stood by the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to deliver his closing midterm message, asserting that it takes a long time to get rid of filth. Less than twenty-four hours before Americans headed to the polls, the US president staged a press conference to promote his $14m renovation of the Washington DC landmark and blame past administrations for past algae blooms.
Algae Claims Contrast With Botched Pool Renovations
Holding a blown-up photograph of the basin covered in algae during the Biden era, Trump told assembled guests that his predecessors simply spent money without managing the problem. The event lasted an hour, with the first eight minutes dedicated entirely to an aide named Greg holding color photos while the president detailed plumbing fixes, rusty pipes, regraded rebar, and tremendous algae. Sixteen minutes passed before Trump made any mention of the midterm elections.
The reflecting pool project became an international joke earlier this year when Trump’s promise to turn the water American flag blue ended with a green algae takeover. In April, Trump promised the repairs would finish in two weeks on a $1.5 million budget. Weeks before a July 4 deadline, the blue liner began peeling and algae materialized. While Trump blamed vandals on Monday, both the contractor and the US attorney’s office in Washington attributed the delays to shoddy workmanship.
.@jonstewart weighs in on Trump's surreal "I Had It Cleaned" speech at The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool pic.twitter.com/r2PBOMsXXt
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump viewed the beautification of Washington as one of his strongest legacies, ignoring aides who advised him to focus elsewhere. During his remarks, Trump claimed he had achieved more in two years than any administration in history, stating he had kept every single promise and actually kept far more promises than he made. Trump’s pessimism was evident by the end of his remarks, when he noted that sitting presidents generally lose midterm elections.
Space Proclamations and a Surprise Policy Shift on Israel
By election day, Trump’s focus shifted to other priorities. He published The American Declaration of Freedom in Space, proclaiming that the solar system and all of outer space beyond Earth are the province of all humans. He also declared Anti-Communism Week in honor of the victims of socialism and communism, though it remained unclear how the White House planned to mark the occasion.
Trump Attacks Fox News Poll Results After Election Night Losses
| Event / Announcement | Timing | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Memorial Press Conference | Monday afternoon | Reflecting pool renovations and algae blame |
| Space & Anti-Communism Proclamations | By election day | Outer space freedom and anti-communism week |
| Fox News Phone Interview | Tuesday morning | Announcement ending $4bn military aid to Israel |
| Midterm Election Results | Tuesday evening | Democratic wins in Georgia, New Hampshire, and North Carolina |
More on Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
"If the pool was finally operating as the administration always hoped it would, it’s not clear the president was," @Kevinliptakcnn reports. "His speech, billed as his final message to the electorate before a new Congress is chosen this week, was not the high-level contrast with…”
Reflecting Pool vs the state of the economy: Trump and Dems clash in closing messages https://t.co/BPlPQwSwSC
Trump at the reflecting pool on the last day of the midterms, captured as only @ShawnMcCreesh can. https://t.co/NoqOrMW0VB
As Republicans are grappling with the aftermath of major midterm losses and voter anger, President Trump is talking about how the ballroom will be "the most beautiful in the world." pic.twitter.com/0ueOWTmAiw
President Trump speaks from Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool https://t.co/EfdZOMloAJ
As President Trump wrapped up his remarks in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, he touted his plans to build a massive arch near the National Mall. https://t.co/U3ScDtLKnZ
President Trump delivered a speech at the Lincoln Memorial on Monday that focused on his construction projects and renovations. https://t.co/cmlvdfjqHs pic.twitter.com/Oyz7A9mn6s
