Why It Matters
President Donald Trump used a Washington event promoting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation to discuss the midterm elections and a proposed cash payment for adults if Republicans retained control of Congress.
What Happened
Trump spoke for roughly 45 minutes at the Reflecting Pool event, which ended in just under an hour. He did not mention the midterm elections until 23 minutes into his remarks.
The renovation had been a monthslong project affected by algae and a subsequent reclosure. Trump said, “The pipes have just been changed. The whole thing is in great shape, and we’re going to make sure nobody vandalizes it.”
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum also spoke during the event. Jeanine Pirro dismissed the government’s case against a former Olympian canoeist accused of damaging the pool’s lining, finding that the grand jury had not received all the evidence. The damage occurred because of contractor error.
Trump accused Democrats of running dangerous candidates, including jihadists and Muslim Brotherhood members. Abdul El-Sayed was identified as Michigan’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Trump also said Republicans would provide voters with cash if they retained control of Congress. Congress would need to appropriate the money for that plan. “Every adult is going to get $5,000. But you have to spend it in the United States of America,” Trump said.
By the Numbers
Roughly 45 minutes — length of Trump’s speech.
23 minutes — time into Trump’s remarks when he mentioned the midterm elections.
Roughly 15 to 25 seats — projected Republican U.S. House losses.
$5,000 — cash Trump said every adult would receive if Republicans retained control of Congress.
$1.2 trillion — estimated cost of the cash plan.
More than 57 million — Americans who had cast early ballots by 4 p.m. Eastern Monday.
46 million in 2022 — previous all-time high-water mark for early midterm voting.
Two — telerallies Trump had completed before visiting the Reflecting Pool.
Seven — additional telerallies Trump was scheduled to hold.
Just under an hour — duration of the Reflecting Pool event.
Zoom Out
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter projected that Republicans would lose roughly 15 to 25 U.S. House seats. More than 57 million Americans had already cast early ballots by 4 p.m. Eastern Monday, exceeding the 46 million recorded in 2022.
The Reflecting Pool appearance followed two telerallies. Trump’s final in-person midterm campaign stops were listed as Kansas and Iowa, and he was scheduled to hold seven more telerallies that evening.
What’s Next
Congress would have to appropriate funding before the proposed $5,000 cash plan could proceed. Trump’s scheduled telerallies were the next campaign events identified in the source material.