On the Eve of the Midterms Trump’s Closing Argument Is About Algae

As the midterms loom Tuesday, President Donald Trump's final scheduled appearance before the election took on a peculiar focus. Rather than addressing the key concerns of voters—high prices, corruption, and the US-Iran conflict—Trump spent 47 minutes at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool discussing algae in the pool. The president, wearing a white USA hat and appearing tired, showed photos of the Reflecting Pool repairs and claimed the algae problem was solved.

However, polls indicate voters are more worried about economic and foreign policy issues than algae blooms. The president's use of the final appearance to talk about the repairs appeared to be a display of self-indulgence with little concern for average Americans' problems. Trump touted various fountains and statues as part of his "National Garden of American Heroes," but opponents are seeking a court order to block the statue garden project, which Congress has not approved.

He also announced the expansion of the project to 500 statues and announced plans for a 250-foot arch in front of Arlington National Cemetery, claiming it would have "drone capability." Trump invoked a national security justification for the arch, a move he hoped would gain court deference. The president shifted to the election, calling Democrats communists and making an incoherent attack on the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan.

While gas prices remain high, Trump touted a recent dip in oil prices, attributing it to the seizure of Venezuela's oil wealth, though this claim was met with skepticism. Trump defended his tenure, claiming he kept more promises than he made, but he appeared "low energy" during the remarks, acknowledging the potential for a setback for his party in the midterms.