Trump declares golden age at Lincoln Memorial as polls signal GOP losses

WASHINGTON, D.C. President Donald Trump stood at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday to declare a "golden age" for the United States, closing out a 28-day tour of the country just hours before voters head to the polls. The president used the restored water feature as a backdrop for his final campaign stop, claiming he has kept every promise he made and then some.

The speech marked the end of an expensive midterm campaign that has been dominated by concerns over fuel prices and living costs. Trump attributed the current economic strength to his administration, specifically citing the creation of $25 trillion in two years. He contrasted the current state of the reflecting pool with its appearance earlier this year, when it was described by critics as algae-ridden and stinking due to a failed refurbishment.

Polling data released on Monday suggests the president’s optimism may be out of step with the electorate. A new survey from The New York Times and Siena College indicates a potential Democratic sweep of both chambers of Congress. The data shows Republican Senate candidates trailing in states that have traditionally voted for the party, including Texas, Kansas, and Ohio.

In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is polling 11 points ahead of Republican Mike Rogers for the Senate seat. The lead is notable because Michigan has been a battleground state in recent cycles. In South Carolina, the race between Democrat Annie Andrews and Republican Darline Graham is described as a tug of war. Graham was handpicked by Trump to campaign for the seat her brother, Lindsey Graham, held from 2003 until his death in July.

Trump’s approval ratings are at their lowest point since Harry Truman’s presidency in 1946. Public dissatisfaction is driven largely by the cost of living, which has risen due to tariffs and the Iran conflict. Despite these headwinds, the president framed the election as a referendum on his performance. He told supporters that America is ready to vote and hoped they would do the right thing.

The campaign also saw a late disruption in Michigan. Haley Stevens, a congresswoman who lost her primary to El-Sayed, endorsed Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the early hours of November. Stevens, who had previously run against El-Sayed, made the switch after months of tension over his position on Israel and Gaza. The move surprised many in the Democratic Party and sent shock waves through the midterm narrative.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer described Stevens’s endorsement as a despicable betrayal. El-Sayed responded on Monday by declining to comment directly on Stevens’s stance. Instead, he focused on the broader argument his campaign has made in town halls across the Midwest and South. He argued that politics is not about left versus right, but about the people locked out of basic access to goods and services.

Trump’s tour included stops in loyalist strongholds where polls are flashing historical Republican defeats. The president used the event to blast previous administrations, specifically the Obama and Biden eras, for their handling of the reflecting pool’s infrastructure. He held up pictures of old piping that had been in place since 1922 to illustrate his point about effective governance.

The event was held behind bulletproof glass, and Trump noted that he heard no cheers from the crowd this time. He described the reflecting pool’s color as a soft, dark reflective blue, using the visual to symbolize the nation’s state. The president’s comments came as Democrats remained wary of the polls but acknowledged the potential for a major shift in power.

Voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday. All indicators suggest the results will determine whether Republicans hold onto any majorities in Congress or if Democrats retake control of both the Senate and the House. The election is being called the most critical midterm cycle in modern history by political analysts.