Trump pre-election pitch: Reflecting Pool, pipes and a new promenade

President Trump extolled his administration's Reflecting Pool project, dug up debunked claims of vandalism and applauded the new White House helipad in a Monday pre-Election Day speech. The big picture: Trump's deep focus on remaking the nation's capital has taken center stage as the clock ticks down to midterm elections. Driving the news: "The pool is now better and more beautiful than it's ever been before, and we're very proud of it," Trump said in Monday's speech, adding, "We went through a lot with vandalism." But Trump's own Justice Department dropped vandalism charges against former Olympian David Hearn, whose case was later killed by a judge after prosecutors acknowledged that faulty installation caused the damage to the Pool. Trump added the administration was "giving serious thought" to renaming the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to the "Trump Reflecting Pool," before later saying he was kidding. Throughout the speech, he held up printed images he identified as pipes, joints and other Pool materials. He also showed an image that appeared to show "8647" sprayed onto the base of the emptied pool, claiming "that was a Comey phrase" — a reference to his former FBI director and top foe. Zoom out: He also discussed his White House renovation projects, including the recently installed helipad and Scotts Miracle-Gro's lawn restoration after the UFC fight on White House grounds. Friction point: Trump's projects, including his D.C.-area arch and White House ballroom, have been broadly panned by Americans in polling. "This project should be a project that unites all Americans," Trump said Monday of the newly reopened Reflecting Pool, which stood empty for an extended period earlier this year. Zoom in: His pre-election pitch at times sounded more like a typical rally speech, where he touted his immigration policies and war with Iran while slamming Democrats as "a party that hates America." This is the last day before the midterm elections, the most important midterm I believe in our lifetime," he said. "The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American history." He also reiterated his pitch to distribute $5,000 checks should Republicans win in the midterms. What's next: After inviting Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to speak, Trump then touted his planned "triumphal arch," detailed plans for a "promenade" from the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River and teased his golf course renovation. "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. He ended his closing argument by lauding a "golden age," saying, "We were laughed at like we were stupid people. We were laughed at by every ruler, every president, every prime minister, every king, every queen. But they don't laugh anymore." Axios' Josephine Walker contributed to this report. Go deeper: Trump to make midterm closing argument at Lincoln Reflecting Pool

Read it at Axios ↗

← Front page