President Trump highlights DC renovations one day before midterms
President Trump touts DC renovations one day before midterms
President Donald Trump touted D.C. renovations a day before the 2026 midterm election.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump headed to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., on Monday in a last-ditch effort to sway voters ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections.
What we know:
The event was meant to celebrate the renovation work at the Reflecting Pool, but the president also reflected on Republicans' chances at holding on to their razor-thin majority in Congress.
The White House feels that the Reflecting Pool renovation is a project they can point to as being successfully completed; one that sends a message to voters that the president finishes what he starts.
Although the pool has been refilled, it remains closed to visitors. The National Park Service said the area, including surrounding walkways and grass medians, will stay fenced off until Nov. 21.
Renovations began in the spring, with Trump’s chosen color of "American flag blue." On May 7, Trump and his entourage drove across the newly painted surface. The no-bid, $1.5 million project eventually increased to 10 times that amount, according to the Associated Press.
RELATED: Reflecting Pool refilled after troubled renovation, vandalism allegations
Problems began soon after, with the liner separating and warm weather driving large algae blooms after oxygenating water bubbles were removed. Contractors cleaned, drained, and repaired the site, with a sealant contractor finishing warranty repairs on the original peeling liner on Oct. 2.
The president arrived Monday with Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham, along with officials from the National Park Service and U.S. Park Police.
The president went on to tout his efforts regarding the Reflecting Pool, praising the 83 fountains that were fixed, the restoration of Lafayette Park and Columbus Circle at Union Station and his deployment of the National Guard to lower D.C. crime.
What they're saying:
"Across all of the great capital, we are making D.C. safe and beautiful again," President Trump said. "Our National Guard and other law enforcement partners have made over 16,000 arrests, including over 3,000 narcotics arrests and gang members and dozens of murderers."
The president also made final arguments before the midterms. At one point, he acknowledged that historically, both Democratic and Republican presidents have lost seats in the midterms.
Despite concerns over a tough economy and high gas prices, the president promised $5,000 checks if the GOP keeps its Congressional majority.
"We fought for 250 years to make it great and we’re not going to let it be torn down by a bunch of people who have failed everywhere they’ve been because the ideologies you’re talking about, various ideologies they have always failed. Every single time. So, we’ll defend our county and heritage for generations to come," the president said.
The president also made it clear he is not done trying to remake D.C. He said his administration is moving forward on final approval for his controversial Arch plans, plans to build a promenade from the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River and a "Garden of Heroes" in East Potomac Park, near a renovated golf course with 250 to 500 statues.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.