At the Reflecting Pool, Trump delivers a closing midterm message mostly about landscaping

A final appearance at the pool

Trump made his final in-person appearance before voters headed to the polls at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday afternoon. The Washington Monument was reflected in the newly reopened water behind him. He said sitting presidents do not usually win midterm elections, adding that his administration had given the election “a very strong shot,” according to Trump.

Renovation took center stage

Much of Trump’s speech focused on details of the pool’s renovation, including drain pipes, top soil, limestone, fountains and columns. He praised the work and said the pipes had been completely renovated. A display beside him showed an aerial view of the pool with the caption, “Back, and more beautiful than ever!” Trump said the new pipes mattered for addressing algae and other problems.

Voters focused on other concerns

The speech came as voters’ leading concerns included high prices for gas and groceries, as well as a new war in the Middle East. Trump’s remarks instead centered largely on the setting and its landscaping.

The Reflecting Pool was described as a place that appealed to the president. His choice of venue and subject matter left the major issues driving the election largely unaddressed.