President Donald Trump announced the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington during his final public address before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. He spent more than 20 minutes of the nearly hour-long speech describing the pool’s repairs and other capital projects [thehill.com][cnbc.com][pbs.org]. He later turned to the election, urging voters to support Republicans and attacking Democratic candidates, while acknowledging that the president’s party usually loses ground in midterms [thehill.com][latimes.com]. Repairs to the pool dragged on after algae discolored the water and its new liner peeled. Federal prosecutors said faulty contractor work caused the damage, and the Justice Department dropped its case against former Olympian David Hearn after determining he was not responsible [cnbc.com][pbs.org]. The project ultimately cost more than $16 million, compared with an initial estimate of $1.5 million to $1.8 million [spiegel.de]. The election will determine control of Congress for the rest of Trump’s term. Pre-election polling favored Democrats to take the House, while Senate contests remained competitive [latimes.com][jpost.com]. Voters cast ballots on Nov. 3, with the cost of living and the war with Iran among the concerns reported during the campaign [latimes.com][ft.com]. Highlights: • Cash pledge: Trump renewed a promise to give every adult $5,000 if Republicans retain Congress; the proposal would cost about $1.2 trillion and require congressional approval [nypost.com][wisconsinexaminer.com]. • Early turnout: More than 57 million people had voted early by 4 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 2, compared with 46 million early votes in the 2022 midterms [wisconsinexaminer.com]. • Michigan endorsement: Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers after losing her party’s primary to Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, prompting El-Sayed to address concerns about the split [pbs.org][nbcwashington.com]. • Campaign schedule: The White House scheduled nine phone rallies for Trump, while Vice President JD Vance campaigned in New York and Ohio [pbs.org][wxyz.com]. • Oversight stakes: A Democratic House majority could control federal-budget votes and committee investigations, while a Democratic Senate could block Trump’s judicial nominees [dawn.com]. Perspectives: Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer: Schumer called the speech a “pathetic closing message” and accused Trump of avoiding the Iran war, alleged corruption and rising living costs [lemonde.fr]. (Le Monde) Republican strategist Doug Heye: Heye criticized the choice of subject, calling the pool-focused event the “last thing” Republican candidates needed before Election Day [thenews.com.pk]. (The News International) Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan: El-Sayed denounced accusations linking him to extremist Islamists as he sought to contain fallout from Stevens’ endorsement of his Republican opponent [wisconsinexaminer.com][pbs.org]. (Wisconsin Examiner) "It should be a project that “unites all Americans.”" — President Donald Trump Sources: • Reflecting Pool dominates Trump's closing midterm speech - thehill.com • Trump’s final midterms pitch: Look at my pool - vox.com • Trump Uses Final Pre-Midterm Speech to Ramble About Reflecting Pool - rollingstone.com • Trump's closing message to American voters highlights repairs to Reflecting Pool - latimes.com • Trump makes final US midterm pitch at troubled Reflecting Pool - lemonde.fr • President Trump’s Closing Midterm Message Was Mostly About Proper Pool Maintenance - talkingpointsmemo.com • Trump touts renovation projects instead of addressing cost of living in final midterm push - cbsnews.com • Trump Delivers a Closing Midterm Message. Mostly About Landscaping. - nytimes.com • Trump Returns to Reflecting Pool, Now Refilled After Botched Renovation - nytimes.com • ‘We Gave This a Very Strong Shot’: Trump Delivers Closing Appeal Before the Midterms - time.com • Trump offered a closing message to voters by touting his D.C. renovations - npr.org • WATCH: Trump officially reopens Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on eve of midterm elections - pbs.org • Trump renews promise of $5K payout if GOP retains Congress in midterm eve speech at Lincoln Reflecting Pool - nypost.com • “The sitting president doesn’t win”: Ahead of midterms, Trump reflects on himself - salon.com • Trump rants about disproven pool vandals before crowd of dozens - alternet.org • ‘A Little Bit of Apple Pie’: Trump’s Final Pitch to Voters - dailysignal.com • Trump Just Lost The Midterm Election For Republicans With Reflecting Pool Speech Disaster - reddit.com • Trump says Republicans should ‘win in a landslide’ in final pitch to midterm election voters - nypost.com • Trump touts Washington reflecting pool as US midterm battle reaches finale - dawn.com • Trump focuses on Reflecting Pool in closing midterms rally - nv.ua • Trump makes final midterms pitch at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool - aljazeera.com • Trump spends the day before midterm Election Day promoting his Reflecting Pool makeover - thepost.co.nz • Trump brushes aside tough midterm prospects with visit to Reflecting Pool - jpost.com • Trump spends day before midterm Election Day promoting his Reflecting Pool makeover - japantoday.com • Trump spends day before midterm Election Day promoting Reflecting Pool makeover - nbcwashington.com • Midterms in den USA: Donald Trump widmet letzte Wahlkampfrede dem Reflecting Pool - spiegel.de • Trump touts DC renovations ahead of tough midterms - semafor.com • PHOTOS: President Trump delivers final midterm message at Reflecting Pool - wwmt.com • 'This Project Should Unite All Americans': Trump Closes Midterm Speech Pitching Reflecting Pool Makeover - news18.com • Trump to give closing midterm pitch at problem-plagued Reflecting Pool - nbcwashington.com • Trump, Democrats Make Final Campaign Push Ahead of US Midterm Elections - deccanchronicle.com • Trump focuses on Reflecting Pool in final public speech before midterms - cnbc.com • Trump spends final day before midterms discussing Reflecting Pool makeover - thenews.com.pk • President Trump makes his final midterm pitch to voters - cincinnati.com • Trump’s Closing Midterm Message - foreignpolicy.com • Trump delivers closing message at Reflecting Pool - wgntv.com • Trump promotes Reflecting Pool renovation the day before the election - wisconsinexaminer.com • Trump despide la campaña con una extraña defensa de su reparación del estanque del monumento a Lincoln - elpais.com • Тръмп изненада Републиканската партия в навечерието на изборите с реч за Огледалния басейн - fakti.bg • Trump: il voto di midterm più importante della storia - sky.it • Sista talet före valet: Fokuserar på poolen - dn.se • ‘A massive piece of pool’: Trump talks algae and grass in final midterm push - ft.com • Trump prononce son ultime discours à la veille des élections - bluewin.ch • 'Pretend I'm On The Ballot': Trump Makes Final Pitch To Voters Ahead Of US Midterm Elections - news18.com • Trump says midterms most important ‘in our lifetime’ as voters head to polls - irishnews.com • Trump makes final pitch ahead of midterm elections - fox9.com • 特朗普发表讲话 为中期选举造势“收官” - eastmoney.com • Tổng thống Mỹ hướng sự chú ý tới các dự án cải tạo trước ngày bầu cử - nhandan.vn • Trump touts Reflecting Pool repairs during midterm closing arguments - wxyz.com • Trump dan uoči izbora govorio o obnovi bazena umjesto završne kampanje za republikance - 24sata.info • Trump touts reflecting pool, warns of ‘jihadists’ in Congress in closing speech before midterms - jns.org • 特朗普发表讲话 为中期选举造势“收官” - chinanews.com.cn • „Schöner denn je“ - Trump schwärmt von renoviertem „Reflecting Pool“ - krone.at • Plötzlich zückt Trump bei letzter Wahlkampf-Rede Bilder von renoviertem Spiegelbecken - fr.de --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News