WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump used an election-eve appearance at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday to showcase a renovation of the Washington landmark, spending much of his final scheduled public address before the midterms discussing construction work rather than the issues dominating congressional campaigns.
Standing beside the recently reopened pool, Trump described replaced pipes, resurfaced granite, repairs to joints and problems with algae and leaks. He displayed photographs of the work and also discussed other plans for the capital, including a proposed triumphal arch, a garden honoring American figures and improvements to White House grounds.
“So we have a lot of great things planned for Washington, and I could get into the nation, but for that you don’t have enough time,” Trump said, according to a verbatim account of his remarks published by Reuters.
The appearance came after a troubled renovation that the president had initially portrayed as a fast, inexpensive project. The work ran into delays, algae and damage to the pool’s blue lining. Trump has attributed some problems to vandalism, but prosecutors dropped a criminal case against a man accused of damaging the lining after the government acknowledged problems with the repair work.
Trump eventually turned to the elections, urging support for Republican candidates and criticizing Democrats. His party is defending narrow congressional majorities in Tuesday’s voting, and losing either chamber would complicate his legislative agenda and subject his administration to additional oversight.
The president also promoted plans several other projects in D.C. He spoke about his desire for a large arch near the Arlington Memorial Bridge, a project facing legal challenges from the District, Virginia and preservation advocates. He also spoke about a proposed promenade to the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial along with a Garden of Heroes in West Potomac Park. Finally he discussed the controversial changes to the East Potomac Park golf course.
Many commentators were taken aback that the President would use his last public address to speak about renovation projects which have consistently been unpopular to voters.
