WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump plans to deliver his final midterm-election message Monday at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where his administration’s renovation has faced delays, rising costs and a dispute over what caused the new blue liner to fail. The White House scheduled the speech for 2 p.m. Eastern, one day before voters decide control of Congress. Trump said he chose the site to show how it looks after repairs.
The park service still bars public visitors from the pool, its adjacent walkways and nearby grass medians through Nov. 20. The National Park Service says crews need to repair the water-circulation system, operate heavy equipment and test water quality. Its notice says officials may reopen areas sooner if the work allows. The notice covers visitor access; it does not explain arrangements for Trump’s event.
The renovation began in April, after Trump called the pool’s water “filthy” and pushed to give its more than 300,000-square-foot basin a blue finish he described as “American Flag Blue.” He initially said the work would take days and cost about $1.5 million, with completion before Independence Day. The administration awarded the contract without competitive bidding. The work finished nearly three months late, and the reported contract cost reached $14.7 million.
The problems emerged soon after crews refilled the pool. Algae turned the water green, and sections of the coating blistered and peeled. The contractor commissioned an inspection that found damage in at least 85 places. The report cited application and material problems, including workers refilling the basin before the liner had fully cured. The contractor said it would repair the damage under warranty. These findings came from an inspection commissioned by the contractor; the park service’s current closure notice separately cites circulation repairs, equipment use and water testing.
Trump has blamed vandals and said the government installed cameras to deter further damage. But prosecutors dropped the case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, whom they had accused of damaging the pool. A judge later permanently dismissed the indictment after the government said new information pointed to faulty installation rather than a crime.
Trump’s choice of venue returns attention to a project he has promoted as part of his effort to renovate Washington landmarks. He is scheduled to join additional campaign tele-rallies Monday after speaking at the pool. Police have also announced road closures around the Lincoln Memorial for the event, with most restrictions expected to lift by 4 p.m.
