US midterms 2026 LIVE updates: Trump jokes about renaming Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in final pitch to voters; Republican control of House and Senate under threat from Democrats

On the eve of the U.S. midterm elections, the White House released a statement highlighting 127 fulfilled campaign pledges from President Trump's second term. According to Yonhap News, the administration cited trade agreements with partners including South Korea, Japan, China, the European Union, and Britain, as well as a $54 billion agreement with South Korea and Taiwan to develop an Alaska natural gas pipeline.

While the White House claimed South Korea is committed to the project, Yonhap News reports that Seoul maintains its participation is subject to a commercial viability review.

As candidates make their final pitches, The Korea Times reports that President Trump planned a speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday afternoon. The outlet noted the location is far from many voters the Republican party seeks to persuade, but noted the site aligns with the president's focus on beautifying Washington.

Meanwhile, Democrats have focused efforts on Republican-dominated areas while managing an intraparty split in Michigan, where Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is addressing concerns after his former primary opponent supported Republican Mike Rogers, according to The Korea Times.

Le Monde English reports that the war in Iran and the soaring cost of living have caused deep concerns within the Republican camp, despite the president's pledges to avoid foreign military ventures and curb inflation. The upcoming elections may have significant ramifications for the second half of the Trump presidency, according to reports from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Yonhap News, The Korea Times, Le Monde English — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.