Republicans Are Shocked By Trump's Latest Speech

• 3.11.2026, 12:30

The U.S. president spent nearly an hour discussing the pool renovation.

U.S. President Donald Trump surprised and disappointed Republicans with a speech on the eve of the midterm congressional elections: instead of discussing the economy and the party’s achievements, he talked about repairing rusty pipes and improving Washington, D.C. This was reported by reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Trump delivered his nearly hour-long speech at the Reflecting Pool of the Lincoln Memorial. He spoke about the replacement of pipes beneath the pool, the restoration of fountains and monuments, the removal of graffiti from buildings, and the renovation of the lawns on the National Mall.

“The pipes were very old and in poor condition. Now they’ve been completely replaced. These are brand-new pipes,” the president said, showing photos of the pool’s infrastructure.

The Reflecting Pool is an artificial body of water on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1922 and is considered one of the landmarks of the U.S. capital. Its surface reflects the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

The speech drew criticism from Republicans, including some White House advisers, the publication notes. They had expected Trump to focus on the economy and highlight the party’s achievements—particularly tax cuts and strengthened border security—in the run-up to the election. According to the WSJ, Republicans fear significant losses in the election.

“He’s never been known for his ability to stick to a single topic,” said outgoing Republican Congressman from Nebraska Don Bacon. He said he had expected to hear more from the president about the party’s achievements.

Initially, the speech at the Lincoln Memorial was presented as Trump’s final appeal to voters before the election. However, the president devoted only a small portion of his speech to the election: he criticized the Democratic candidates and mentioned tax cuts.