Trump picks failing pool repair as final midterm stage
The president chose a site with a bloated budget and structural flaws to deliver his last major speech before voters head to the polls.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
President Donald Trump will deliver his final major address of the midterm campaign cycle on Monday afternoon at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The location is notable for its recent history of cost overruns and visible structural failures. The renovation project has cost more than 10 times the initial estimate and has required multiple rounds of repairs since the work began in April.
Trump announced the event hours after telling reporters that he was planning to speak at the site. He said the appearance would demonstrate the beauty of the location. The White House confirmed the schedule shortly after his comments regarding a Sunday rally in Iowa.
This choice departs from the typical late-stage campaign strategy. Instead of traveling to swing states to energize the Republican base, the president selected a Washington, D.C. renovation project that has faced public scrutiny. The decision comes as polls suggest Democrats may gain ground due to economic concerns and the ongoing Iran war.
The repair saga began when Trump stated in April that he intended to change the water color using personal contractors. He projected a cost of approximately $1.5 million and a completion date before the July 4 holiday. The work finished nearly three months behind that timeline, with the final price tag exceeding the original budget by a factor of ten.
Problems emerged immediately after the June unveiling. The pool experienced algae blooms, and the new liner, described as American-flag blue, began peeling in sections. The site was drained again in mid-July for additional fixes.
Conflicting explanations have surfaced regarding the cause of the damage. Trump has repeatedly blamed vandals for the deterioration. However, the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a longtime Trump ally, stated that the issues resulted from poor workmanship.
The dispute reached the legal system when the Justice Department charged former Olympian David Hearn with intentionally damaging the pool. The case was dropped this summer after authorities determined he was not responsible. A judge subsequently dismissed the charges permanently.
Trump reacted strongly to the dismissal, criticizing Pirro for folding on the matter. He used the phrase folded like an umbrella to describe her handling of the case. The incident added to a list of controversies surrounding the president's second term construction projects, which include a new Oval Office ballroom and a South Lawn helipad.
