Trump sets midterms closing speech

Twenty-five rallies. That is the number of events President Donald Trump has staged in the past month, a schedule designed to energize conservative bases ahead of the midterm elections. Now, the White House has announced a change in venue for his final major pitch to voters.

Trump will deliver a speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington on Monday afternoon. Officials described the address as a closing argument for the party's midterm campaign. The location is new to the president's recent itinerary, as he has spent the last four weeks traveling to largely conservative areas.

The shift in strategy comes as polls suggest Democratic gains are likely. According to the Associated Press, surveys predict that high energy prices, cost-of-living increases, and the Iran war could drive strong election night results for the opposition. Trump's approval ratings have remained low during this period, prompting the move away from a standard rally circuit.

The White House confirmed the event hours after Trump made initial remarks to reporters. As he deplaned from Air Force One for a Sunday rally in Iowa, the president said he might speak at the site the next day to show how beautiful it is. He did not provide specific details at that time.

During the Monday address, Trump is expected to highlight his renovation projects in Washington, D.C. He will also mark the reopening of the Reflecting Pool. The speech represents one of his last opportunities to make a direct appeal to prospective voters before the election night vote count begins.