Trump sets final midterm rally at troubled Lincoln Memorial pool

President Donald Trump will deliver his final campaign speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday afternoon. The location is currently the center of a construction dispute involving cost overruns and recent structural failures. He selected the site instead of traveling to key states to rally his base ahead of the midterms.

The project began in April when the president stated he intended to change the pool's color. He said he would use known contractors to finish the work in days for approximately 1.5 million dollars. The goal was to have the renovations complete before Independence Day.

The timeline extended by nearly three months. The final cost reached more than 10 times the initial estimate. Trump declared the work finished in June. However, algae blooms appeared shortly after the unveiling. The new liner, which he described as American flag blue, began peeling off in sections.

Officials drained the pool again in mid-July for further repairs. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, attributed the issues to poor workmanship. Trump has continued to blame vandals for the damage. He stated that new security cameras have been installed to prevent future incidents.

The dispute escalated this summer when the Justice Department charged former Olympian David Hearn with intentional damage. The department later dropped the case, determining Hearn was not responsible. A judge permanently dismissed the matter. Trump expressed disappointment with Pirro, saying she folded like an umbrella, though he did not remove her from her position.

During a Sunday rally in Iowa, Trump said his speech at the pool would show how beautiful the site is. He later announced the specific timing via the White House. His social media post from a Kansas rally that evening identified it as his last stop in the campaign. He has held more than 25 rallies in conservative areas during the past month.

The president has focused on reshaping the capital city during his second term. He added gold decorations to the Oval Office and demolished the East Wing to build a ballroom. He converted the Rose Garden into a patio space and erected a helipad on the South Lawn. He also closed the Kennedy Center to add his name to the building. He plans to build an arch outside the city and renovate a public golf course.