Trump launches final offensive at Reflecting Pool, demonizing opposition to rally base

Speaks at site symbolizing US democracy and unity; touts Washington renovation projects

Raises prospect of Iran deal to win back supporters frustrated by war-driven inflation

President Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking at the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Monday (local time). [AFP]
President Donald Trump leaves the stage after speaking at the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial on Monday (local time). [AFP]

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President Donald Trump delivered a blistering attack on the Democratic Party on Monday (local time) — the eve of the midterm elections — at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., one of the most potent symbols of American democracy and national unity, urging voters to back Republican candidates.

Trump labeled Democratic candidates as extremists and invoked religious imagery in his assault, in what appeared to be a calculated effort to highlight his administration's record and consolidate his conservative base at one of the most symbolically charged venues in American political history.

Speaking at the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that afternoon, Trump told the crowd, "It's one day before the midterm elections. I think it's the most important midterm election of our lives."

"The Democrats have put forward the most extreme and dangerous candidates in American history," he said. "Jihadists, members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other unbelievable people — all committed to a radical agenda of open borders and tax increases worth tens of trillions of dollars."

Trump singled out Abdul El-Sayed, the Muslim Democratic candidate in Michigan's Senate race, saying, "We call America the house of God, but they call it the house of Satan. We don't want people who call America the house of Satan."

The remarks amounted to a deliberate attempt to demonize the Democratic Party by casting it as a satanic force — a move aimed squarely at energizing his core constituency of conservative Christians.

After listing what he described as his administration's achievements since returning to power, Trump said, "The Democrats want to elect communists and jihadists to blow all of this away." He added, "We will protect our country, our culture and our heritage for future generations."

Trump also said Iran wants to reach a deal with the United States and that one could happen.

The remarks appeared designed to stoke optimism about a potential agreement and win back supporters disillusioned by the high prices the war with Iran has brought.

Trump spent considerable time describing construction projects he has championed in Washington, D.C., including renovation work on the Reflecting Pool itself.

He argued that his administration had resolved problems the Democratic administration had failed to fix despite spending large sums of money, drawing a contrast between what he portrayed as Democratic incompetence and Republican competence.

Trump mused about renaming the Reflecting Pool after himself, then quickly walked it back, saying, "I'm joking — don't report that."

The area around the Lincoln Memorial carries enormous significance in American political history. The memorial, the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument and the Capitol were deliberately aligned to symbolize American democracy and national unity.

The site is also where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. Trump's choice of this historically resonant location was widely seen as an attempt to amplify his administration's record and draw his supporters together.

Ironically, however, the Reflecting Pool renovation has not gone smoothly — the project has been plagued by algae outbreaks and construction delays. Despite Trump's intentions, the site has in some ways become a symbol of his administration's own stumbles rather than its successes.


mokiya@heraldcorp.com