Trump unveils $14M results reflecting pool overhaul in final call before midterms | Donald Trump

Donald Trump unveiled the delayed results of his $14 million renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool in Washington DC during what is expected to be his final press conference before voters go to the polls for the midterm elections.

On the eve of a consequential Election Day, with polls indicating most voters believe the U.S. president has become too focused on construction projects in the nation’s capital, he stood in front of the newly opened reflecting pool to discuss — in detail — changes to the pool’s pipe, the grass surrounding the area and the granite.

“This project should be a project that unites all Americans,” Trump told reporters Monday afternoon.

This proved just the opposite. After Trump first revealed his “beautiful” reflection pool transformation in June, a massive algae bloom turned it green (instead of the promised “American flag blue”) and the coating began to peel off.

Trump has alleged that vandals were to blame, although his administration has failed to produce evidence to support these claims. While former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was initially indicted for alleged damages, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office later dropped the case, infuriating the president.

Hearn’s lawyers said dismissing the case “does not erase the government’s abuse of power in arresting and charging an American patriot who did nothing wrong.”

On Monday, Trump accused his Democratic predecessors, Joe Biden and Barack Obama, of spending too much money on previous renovations to the reflecting pool and, once again, without evidence, he accused vandals of deliberately damaging the Trump administration’s renovations.

About 20 minutes into his Reflecting Pool remarks, less than 24 hours before Americans went to the polls, Trump pivoted to acknowledge Tuesday’s midterm elections, which he declared crucial.

A sitting president’s party often loses seats midterm, he noted. “We gave it a very strong push,” Trump said.

For weeks, polls have shown Democratic candidates narrowly leading Republican candidates in key races, including competitive Senate races in Texas, Alaska, Kansas, Iowa and Maine.

Voters have expressed dissatisfaction with how Trump has handled his job as president, particularly when it comes to the U.S. economy and the cost of living.

Gasoline and food prices have risen since the start of the year and inflation has remained stubbornly high — largely the result of the war with Iran that Trump launched in late February.