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Trump gives midterm closing message from Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 40 outlets across the spectrum.

68 articles in total, 7 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Aerial view of the Lincoln Memorial and long reflecting pool with the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Image via The Epoch TimesHow images are chosenReport this image

On Monday, the day before the midterm elections, President Donald Trump gave a closing campaign message at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Trump said the pool’s repairs and recoating were complete and that it had been officially reopened, and he used the speech to tout improvements in Washington, D.C. Polls cited in the coverage show Democrats favored to win the House, with the Senate described as in play. The Daily Beast reports the renovation cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and The Independent reports that Trump described some Democratic candidates as ‘communist jihadists’.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Trump gave a closing midterm campaign speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the day before Election Day.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left3Left2Center4Right1Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Boston Globe, The Daily Beast, Raw Story
    Left
    NBC News, The Independent
    Center
    The Hill, PBS NewsHour, Roll Call, Newsweek
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Just the News, The Daily Signal, The Epoch Times

  2. Trump said the pool’s repairs and recoating were finished and the pool had been officially reopened.

    Across the spectrumReported byFar Left2Left2Center3Right1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Boston Globe, The Daily Beast
    Left
    NBC News, The Independent
    Center
    The Hill, PBS NewsHour, Newsweek
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    The Daily Signal, The Epoch Times

  3. Coverage from the left reports the renovation cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

    One outletThe Daily Beast· Far Left

  4. Trump described some Democratic candidates as ‘communist jihadists’, according to coverage from the left.

    One outletThe Independent· Left

  5. Trump joked about renaming the pool after himself and then said he was only kidding.

    Reported byLeft1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Independent
    Far Right
    The Daily Signal

  6. Polls cited in the coverage show Democrats favored to win the House, with the Senate described as in play.

    Reported byFar Left2Left1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Left
    The Daily Beast, Raw Story
    Left
    The Independent
    Far Right
    The Daily Signal

How each side tells it

Compare views

All three sides report that Trump gave a closing midterm speech at the Reflecting Pool on election eve after repairs. Left headlines describe a rambling vanity project, center headlines report the event plainly, and right headlines frame it as a final pitch and celebration.

  • the left

    20 outlets · 1 opinion

    Left headlines frame the speech as a rambling vanity project, with the Far Left outlets using mocking wording and NBC’s headline neutral; the Boston Globe’s headline recasts an AP report as a makeover story.

    Trump Sensational language“drops jaws”Claims a dramatic reaction to the speech that the supplied text does not show.More neutral: speaks at lengthDisagree with this highlight? with Loaded modifier“low-energy ramble”Judges the speaker’s energy and calls the speech a ramble, a characterisation rather than a description.More neutral: long addressDisagree with this highlight? about Reflecting Pool day before Americans decide his party’s fate
    The IndependentLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    9 outlets

    Center headlines report the event in plain terms, naming the Reflecting Pool setting and either the closing message or the pool’s official reopening.

    Trump plans to deliver closing message at Reflecting Pool
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    11 outlets · 1 opinion

    Far Right headlines frame it as a celebration or final pitch; the Right-rated Washington Times stresses the project’s slow, costly problems.

    Trump Celebrates Reflecting Pool Restoration, DC Improvements
    The Epoch TimesFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left22

    insults Democratsadministration’s dysfunctionRidiculedBonkers

  • Center1

    sowing doubts

  • Right9

    leftist-media complexvilifymemorable momentsto just 60 people

In the outlets’ own words

  • Partisan shorthand

    leftist-media complexMore neutral: the news media

    The label is a political name for the news media that presumes a shared bias and is not a neutral description of reporters.

    …things surrounding his administration: his efforts to improve our nation, the leftist-media complex’s knee-jerk reaction to vilify him for it, and his refusal to back down in the…

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    vilifyMore neutral: criticize

    The word attributes a motive to critics rather than describing what their criticism was.

    …his efforts to improve our nation, the leftist-media complex’s knee-jerk reaction to vilify him for it, and his refusal to back down in the face of relentless criticism.

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    memorable momentsMore neutral: events

    Promotional praise of the events that describes no specific fact.

    …a close in Washington, D.C., after weeks of rallies, celebrity appearances and memorable moments on the road.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    insults DemocratsMore neutral: criticizes Democrats

    Describes the remarks as insults, a judgement about tone that the article does not attribute to any speaker.

    renovations and insults Democrats

    Used byCBS News (Left)

Show 28 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Loaded modifier

    administration’s dysfunctionMore neutral: a landmark tied to the administration’s renovation problems

    The outlet states the administration’s dysfunction as a settled judgement rather than attributing it.

    …before the midterm elections at a landmark that came to symbolize his administration’s dysfunction.

    Used byThe New York Times (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    sowing doubtsMore neutral: raising doubts

    Says the comments were meant to create doubt, which attributes intent the article does not establish.

    …closing argument after spending weeks dropping comments at rallies aimed at sowing doubts about the election — and what he might do to contest races Republicans lose.

    Used byRoll Call (Center)

  • Loaded verb

    RidiculedMore neutral: Trump Criticized for Last-Minute Election Event

    The headline reports ridicule in the outlet’s own voice, adding judgement about the event.

    Trump Ridiculed for Bonkers Last-Minute Election Stunt

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    BonkersMore neutral: Last-Minute Election Event

    An informal insult in the outlet’s own voice that passes judgement on the event without evidence.

    Trump Ridiculed for Bonkers Last-Minute Election Stunt

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    bizarre speechMore neutral: speech

    Uses an emotive adjective to characterize the speech rather than describing it.

    …Donald Trump seemed to lament the GOP's souring midterm prospects during a bizarre speech at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Monday.

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Delegitimizing label

    multiple baseless claimsMore neutral: claims about the economy that the article disputes

    Labels Trump’s economic claims as baseless in the outlet’s own voice rather than reporting the dispute.

    …speech at the reflecting pool, where he touted plans to renovate it and made multiple baseless claims about his economy.

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    wild speechMore neutral: long speech

    Uses an emotive adjective to characterize the speech rather than describing it.

    'We gave this a very strong shot': Trump laments midterm prospects during wild speech

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    to just 60 peopleMore neutral: to about 60 people

    The word just minimizes the audience in the outlet’s own voice, beyond the count it reports.

    Trump delivers final midterms speech to just 60 people at the renovated Reflecting Pool and threatens a major rename

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    threatens a major renameMore neutral: floats renaming

    Frames a joking suggestion from Trump as a threat in the outlet’s own voice.

    …final midterms speech to just 60 people at the renovated Reflecting Pool and threatens a major rename

    Used byDaily Mail (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    to tout his months-long renovationMore neutral: to discuss his months-long renovation

    Describes the speech as promotion, which adds the outlet’s judgement about Trump’s purpose.

    …eve of midterm elections that will shape his final two years in office to tout his months-long renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

    Used byBloomberg (Left)

  • Vague attribution

    has frequently been accusedMore neutral: has been criticized by named officials or outlets

    Reports criticism without naming who made it.

    President Donald Trump has frequently been accused this year of prioritizing pet construction projects rather than addressing…

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    pet construction projectsMore neutral: construction projects

    The word pet attaches a judgement about the projects’ purpose in the outlet’s own voice.

    President Donald Trump has frequently been accused this year of prioritizing pet construction projects rather than addressing voters’ concerns about the economy and rising prices…

    Used byWashington Examiner (Right)

  • Loaded verb

    rambling aboutMore neutral: speaking about

    Describes the speech as aimless in the outlet’s own voice, which is a judgement rather than a fact.

    …midterm election, President Trump decided to spend most of his speech rambling about Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations.

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Bizarre Show-and-TellMore neutral: Trump Shows Photos of Reflecting Pool in Speech

    Uses an emotive label for the speech in the outlet’s own voice rather than describing what Trump did.

    Trump Hosts Bizarre Show-and-Tell With Photos of Reflecting Pool

    Used byThe New Republic (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    stuns observersMore neutral: Trump’s joke at Reflecting Pool speech draws reaction

    The verb presents the audience reaction as dramatic, which the story does not show.

    'Lying insanely': Trump stuns observers during his 'bad joke' Reflecting Pool speech

    Used byRaw Story (Far Left)

  • Loaded verb

    railed againstMore neutral: criticized

    The verb adds hostility to a description of a campaign speech.

    …the Lincoln Memorial, where he focused on the refurbishment of the monument and railed against the Democrat candidates up for election on Tuesday.

    Used byBloomberg (Left)

  • Sensational language

    chaotic renovationMore neutral: renovation with reported problems

    The adjective characterizes the project as chaotic rather than describing its reported problems.

    US president shares delayed results of chaotic renovation on DC site as Americans prepare to head to the polls Donald Trump unveiled the…

    Used byThe Guardian (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    embarrassing locationMore neutral: venue

    The label pre-judges the choice of venue as a failure.

    On the election cycle’s final day, he chose an embarrassing location to make matters worse.

    Used byMS NOW (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    genuinely bizarreMore neutral: unusual

    The adjectives are an evaluation of the speech rather than a report of it.

    …president had a closing message that he wanted voters to hear, his pitch was genuinely bizarre.

    Used byMS NOW (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    weird show-and-tellMore neutral: photo presentation

    The phrase is a judgement of the speech’s tone rather than a description of its content.

    At the Reflecting Pool, Trump does a weird show-and-tell on election eve

    Used byMS NOW (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    vanity projectMore neutral: renovation project

    Labels the renovation frivolous, a judgement the supplied text does not establish.

    Donald Trump has made his election-eve pitch highlighting a vanity project that cost taxpayers millions of dollars and became a potent symbol of voter…

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Insane RambleMore neutral: long remarks

    Calls the speech insane, a judgement of the speaker rather than a description of what he said.

    Trump, 80, Goes on Insane Ramble as Republicans Fear Landslide

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Sensational language

    Dem chaosMore neutral: Democratic divisions

    Describes Democrats’ situation as chaos, a judgement the teaser does not support with facts.

    2, 202601:15 Now Playing 01:15 UP NEXT Economy, court fights and Dem chaos: Final days of the 2026 midterm race 04:47 Defeated Democratic Senate Candidate…

    Used byNBC News (Left)

  • Sensational language

    conquest of VenezuelaMore neutral: military operation in Venezuela

    Uses ‘conquest’ for a military action, a loaded word where ‘military action’ or ‘operation’ is neutral.

    …the quality of the pool's new coating to the renaming of bodies of water, the conquest of Venezuela, and a slate of…

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Sensational language

    drops jawsMore neutral: speaks at length

    Claims a dramatic reaction to the speech that the supplied text does not show.

    Trump drops jaws with low-energy ramble about Reflecting Pool day before Americans decide his party’s…

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    low-energy rambleMore neutral: long address

    Judges the speaker’s energy and calls the speech a ramble, a characterisation rather than a description.

    Trump drops jaws with low-energy ramble about Reflecting Pool day before Americans decide his party’s fate

    Used byThe Independent (Left)

  • Sensational language

    Blistering Final Midterm WarningMore neutral: Final Midterm Speech

    The adjective adds drama to a description of a campaign speech.

    Trump Delivers Blistering Final Midterm Warning, Makes Candid Admission About GOP's Chances

    Used byRedState (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    toutedMore neutral: described

    “Touted” implies the administration was boasting rather than describing its record, which pre-judges the claim.

    …iconic pool stretched between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, Trump touted his administration’s cleanup of the nation’s capital while making one final pitch for…

    Used byThe Center Square (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (6)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    Democrat PartyMore neutral: Democratic Party

    Deliberate misnaming used as a slight; the party's name is the Democratic Party.

    “The Democrat Party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate of candidates in American…

    Quoted byNBC News (Left)Semafor (Center)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    America First agendaMore neutral: the Republicans’ agenda

    A political slogan that carries the speaker’s conclusion about his own party’s agenda.

    …wealthier while drawing a clear contrast between the Republicans’ commonsense America First agenda and the Democrats’ radical, America Last agenda.

    Quoted byTownhall (Far Right)

    These are a White House official’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Partisan shorthand

    Quoted

    America Last agendaMore neutral: the Democrats’ agenda

    A political slogan that casts the opposing party’s agenda as anti-American, carrying the speaker’s conclusion.

    …the Republicans’ commonsense America First agenda and the Democrats’ radical, America Last agenda.

    Quoted byTownhall (Far Right)

    These are a White House official’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Delegitimizing label

    Quoted

    communist jihadistsMore neutral: Democratic candidates he criticized

    Attaches communist and terrorist labels to political opponents without evidence; the words are Trump’s own and are reported accurately.

    …of old pipes, musing about renaming the pool after himself, and warning of 'communist jihadists'

    Quoted byThe Independent (Left)

    These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

Show 2 more quoted phrasesShow fewer

  • Sensational language

    Quoted

    remarkableMore neutral: unusual

    Uses a superlative from a host’s commentary to frame the speech as striking, a judgement rather than a description.

    'Tells us so much': Surprise as Trump's 'remarkable' speech catches insiders off guard

    Quoted byRaw Story (Far Left)

    These are Hunt’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    more radical than everMore neutral: positions he opposes

    Labels Democratic candidates as radical, a judgement that the excerpt gives no basis for beyond Trump’s own words.

    Trump said Democrat candidates are more radical than ever, urging voters to support Republicans.

    Quoted byThe Daily Signal (Far Right)

    These are Donald Trump’s words. The outlets are reporting them.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

20 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • the renovation as a vanity project
  • Trump’s tone and rambling delivery
  • the stakes for control of Congress
  • the ‘communist jihadists’ remark
See the 22 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

9 outlets

Leads with

  • the pool as a beautification backdrop
  • the eve-of-election timing
  • the Republican closing argument for Congress
See the 9 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Financial TimesCenter

    ‘A massive piece of pool’: Trump talks algae and grass in final midterm push

    US President touts new pipes and ‘great reflectivity’ of Washington’s Reflecting Pool on eve of critical vote

    Read at Financial Times (opens in a new tab)
  • Scripps NewsCenterAssociated Press report

    Trump touts Reflecting Pool repairs during midterm closing arguments

    As Republicans and Democrats were making their final pitch to voters on the eve of Election Day, President Donald Trump opted to forgo the campaign trail and instead focused on his renovations at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, drawing attention to an expensive, …

    Read at Scripps News (opens in a new tab)
  • SemaforCenter

    Trump touts DC renovations ahead of tough midterms

    Speaking in front of the Reflecting Pool, the president went into the renovations in depth before turning to the campaign.

    Read at Semafor (opens in a new tab)
  • The HillCenter

    Trump centers Reflecting Pool in closing midterm speech

    President Trump’s closing speech a day before the midterm elections focused on the reopening of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and other changes around Washington, D.C. Trump in remarks at the Reflecting Pool announced its reopening. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
    2 more from The Hill
  • CNBCCenter

    Trump focuses on Reflecting Pool in final public speech before midterms

    Trump seemed to acknowledge that Democrats had an advantage heading into Election Day. "But we gave this a very strong shot," he said.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  • NewsweekCenter

    Trump Touts DC Renovations in Final Push to Voters on Midterm Election Eve

    Trump discussed the Reflecting Pool’s color, landscaping and repairs before turning to the stakes of the midterms.

    Read at Newsweek (opens in a new tab)
  • Roll CallCenter

    Trump’s closing midterm argument, Reflecting Pool edition

    President Donald Trump on Monday delivered an unconventional midterms closing argument after spending weeks dropping comments at rallies aimed at Loaded verb“sowing doubts”Says the comments were meant to create doubt, which attributes intent the article does not establish.More neutral: raising doubtsDisagree with this highlight? about the election — and what he might do to contest races Republicans lose. …

    Read at Roll Call (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    WATCH: Trump officially reopens Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on eve of midterm elections

    It was an unusual closing argument for Republicans to keep control of Congress. But it conforms with the way the president has devoted considerable time, attention and money in his second term on beautifying his Washington surroundings.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by The Boston Globe. It counts once.

  • NewsNationCenter

    Trump takes his final campaign pitch nationwide before Election Day

    Read at NewsNation (opens in a new tab)

From the right

11 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • the restored pool and D.C. improvements
  • Trump’s accomplishments and final midterm pitch
  • the slow and costly repairs
See the 13 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    53 min later

    Its first report, Nov 1, 4:59 PM EST

  • Center

    15 hr 43 min later

    Its first report, Nov 2, 7:49 AM EST

  • Right

    First to report

    The Washington Times, Nov 1, 4:06 PM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Washington TimesRightNov 1, 4:06 PM EST
  2. The IndependentLeftNov 1, 4:59 PM EST
  3. The Epoch TimesFar RightNov 1, 8:13 PM EST
  4. Fox NewsFar RightNov 2, 6:25 AM EST
  5. CBS NewsLeftNov 2, 7:30 AM EST
  6. NewsNationCenterNov 2, 7:49 AM EST
  7. The HillCenterNov 2, 7:56 AM EST
  8. NBC NewsLeftNov 2, 9:01 AM EST
  9. Raw StoryFar LeftNov 2, 9:50 AM EST
  10. PBS NewsHourCenterNov 2, 9:55 AM EST
  11. The Daily WireFar RightNov 2, 10:42 AM EST
  12. The New York TimesLeftNov 2, 11:31 AM EST
  13. Al Jazeera EnglishLeftNov 2, 12:07 PM EST
  14. MS NOWFar LeftNov 2, 12:13 PM EST
  15. Roll CallCenterNov 2, 12:18 PM EST
  16. TownhallFar RightNov 2, 12:20 PM EST
  17. The Daily BeastFar LeftNov 2, 12:35 PM EST
  18. NewsweekCenterNov 2, 2:47 PM EST
  19. The Boston GlobeFar LeftNov 2, 2:49 PM EST
  20. Daily MailRightNov 2, 3:01 PM EST
  21. BloombergLeftNov 2, 3:11 PM EST
  22. CNBCCenterNov 2, 3:29 PM EST
  23. New York PostRightNov 2, 3:36 PM EST
  24. The GuardianLeftNov 2, 3:42 PM EST
  25. Washington ExaminerRightNov 2, 4:14 PM EST
  26. SemaforCenterNov 2, 4:24 PM EST
  27. Scripps NewsCenterNov 2, 4:26 PM EST
  28. Rolling StoneFar LeftNov 2, 4:34 PM EST
  29. SlateFar LeftNov 2, 4:53 PM EST
  30. New York MagazineFar LeftNov 2, 5:04 PM EST
  31. Los Angeles TimesLeftNov 2, 5:13 PM EST
  32. TIMELeftNov 2, 5:45 PM EST
  33. Financial TimesCenterNov 2, 5:45 PM EST
  34. The Daily SignalFar RightNov 2, 5:49 PM EST
  35. VoxFar LeftNov 2, 6:00 PM EST
  36. The Center SquareRightNov 2, 6:08 PM EST
  37. CNNLeftNov 2, 6:27 PM EST
  38. NPRLeftNov 2, 6:35 PM EST
  39. Mother JonesFar LeftNov 2, 6:48 PM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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