Trump brushes aside tough midterm prospects with visit to Reflecting Pool

In a final speech ahead of the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump addressed the state of his Washington renovations, including the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, during a 54-minute address. The White House highlighted the speech as his parting argument to voters. Amid a backdrop of a towering marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, Trump joked about renaming the pool after himself instead of the 16th president, who helped end slavery and preserve the Union.

He detailed various pool improvements, spoke about vandals attempting to damage the pool without offering evidence, and shared updates on other beautification projects for the nation's capital. Trump's public approval rating stands at 32%, near a career low. Analysts predict Democrats could gain control of Congress in the upcoming elections.

However, the sitting president's public approval rating is low, with voters citing the cost of living as their primary concern, with energy prices soaring 20% since the US and Israel began their war with Iran. Trump's lengthy tour, featuring 28 rallies in 19 states since October 1, saw him focus on topics beyond economics, such as a Potomac River golf course and the Kennedy Center.

The Reflecting Pool's renovation was delayed by peeling paint and algae growth. The administration attributed this to contractors working without competitive bidding and vandalism. Prosecutors later dropped charges against a person accused of vandalism and dismissed a related case. In his televised remarks, Trump showcased the pool's new features, including bubblers and pipework, and highlighted how the new paint gives it great reflectivity in sunlight.