Trump delivers closing message at midterms. Especially on landscaping.

President Trump stood in front of the Reflecting Pool Monday afternoon, doing a little thinking himself.

“For whatever reason,” he said, the Washington Monument reflected in the recently reopened swimming pool behind him, “the sitting president doesn’t win the midterm elections. But we gave it a very strong shot.”

It was the day before the election and the president had decided to come here, a place he is passionate about, to talk about many of the topics that make him happiest. The problem is that almost none of these topics have anything to do with the issues driving this election.

At a time when voters have made clear they are more concerned about high gas and food prices and a new war in the Middle East, Mr. Trump used his last in-person appearance before Americans go to the polls to talk about drain pipes, topsoil, limestone, fountains and his favorite columns.

“The pipes are now completely renovated,” Mr. Trump said. Next to him was a billboard showing an aerial view of the pool, with this caption: “Back, and better than ever!”

The “brand new pipes,” Mr. Trump said, are “very important in terms of algae and other things. And it’s a complete job, and we’re very proud of it.”