WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump used the reopening of Washington's Lincoln Reflecting Pool as the centerpiece of his final midterm election pitch on Monday, urging Americans to unite behind the $15 million renovation despite his Republican Party facing the prospect of losing control of Congress.
Trump delivered a 26-minute speech at the iconic site, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963, using the recently renovated reflecting pool — which stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument — as a backdrop. The renovation had faced criticism over peeling paint, algae growth, and mechanical issues, including repeated draining of the basin.
'This project should be a project that unites all Americans,' Trump said, referring to the reflecting pool. The speech came as polls indicated Democrats were in a strong position to win control of the House of Representatives and were within reach of the Senate. Such gains could allow them to block Trump's legislative agenda, investigate his administration and stall his judicial appointments.
'If we didn't win, I veto everything,' Trump said in an interview released by the New York Post's Pod Force One podcast, acknowledging the possibility of facing an opposition-controlled Congress.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticized the address, calling it a 'pathetic closing message' and accusing the president of overlooking the Iran war, alleged corruption and the rising cost of living. Meanwhile, around 57 million Americans had already cast their ballots before Tuesday's Election Day, with more than $11 billion reportedly poured into political advertising. Billionaire Elon Musk has contributed nearly half a billion dollars towards Republican political efforts.
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control. The battle for the upper chamber remains closely contested, even as Democrats look to make gains in the House. The election has also attracted record spending, with both parties intensifying rallies in battleground states through the final hours of the campaign.
