First Lady Pool Reports of December 7, 2024

FLOTUS Travel Pool Report #8 | Doha Forum and Departure to Paris

FLOTUS motorcade departed RON at 9:46 AM en route to the Doha Forum at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, where FLOTUS would deliver a keynote address. The motorcade arrived at 9:52 AM. Your pooler did not see FLOTUS enter or exit her vehicle, but was told that she went backstage and was greeted by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar, and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

FLOTUS emerged from backstage at 10:00 AM and sat in the front row by the stage with United Nations General Assembly President Philomen Yang. She watched opening remarks and a panel of six journalists who were being honored for their coverage in hostile regions around the world, many of whom had been injured in the line of duty.

FLOTUS took the stage and began speaking at 10:55. Her remarks reflected on the meetings she had yesterday at the Qatar Foundation and Cornell Weill Medical - Qatar and shared her enthusiasm for both the innovation happening in Education City and "meeting the people who are powering those discoveries."

In keeping with the event's theme of "the innovation imperative," FLOTUS said "the first imperative for innovation is cooperation—people of all backgrounds and expertise working side by side, creating something better than we ever could alone." She called upon the need for innovation to meet needs across many areas, but lingered on the challenges of climate change and women's health. FLOTUS said that "in the coming years and months, I will continue to close the gap in women's health research." Her remarks concluded at 11:03 AM.

The motorcade departed the Sheraton at 11:03 AM and arrived at Doha International Airport at 11:21 AM. Your pooler saw FLOTUS and daughter Ashley say goodbye to Timmy Davis, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, and enter the plane at 11:22 AM. Wheels up en route to Paris-Orly Airport at 11:50 AM.

Reportable Background from the Office of the First Lady
Today, December 7th, First Lady Jill Biden will deliver keynote remarks at the Doha Forum at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Doha, Qatar. Later, the First Lady will attend the reopening ceremony of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in Paris, France.

Doha Forum
The First Lady will deliver keynote remarks at the opening ceremony of the Doha Forum.
Upon arrival, the First Lady will greet with H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar. Then, the First Lady will greet with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar. Both greets will be closed press. The First Lady's keynote remarks will be livestreamed here: https://live.dohaforum.org/login. After registering to gain access, select the "AL DAFNA" session to view the First Lady's remarks.

Background on Dr. Biden's Foreign Travel
Throughout the past four years, the First Lady has traveled abroad to advance the Biden Administration's foreign policy priorities and the issues that she has championed: supporting military families, advocating for increased educational opportunities, working to end cancer as we know it, and advancing women's health research. Additionally, through her travel and engagements abroad, she's also focused on empowering women and young people, and continuing to strengthen the United States' bilateral relationships.

Background on the Doha Forum
The Doha Forum is a global platform for dialogue, bringing together leaders in policy to discuss critical challenges facing our world, and to build innovative and action-driven networks.
Under the banner "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity," the Doha Forum promotes the interchange of ideas and discourse towards policy making and action-oriented recommendations. This year's theme, "The Innovation Imperative," will explore how innovative thinking can reshape the future and lead us towards a more secure, sustainable, and prosperous era.

FLOTUS Travel Pool Report #9 | Arrival in France and Notre Dame Reopening Ceremony

Executive One touched down at a soggy Paris-Orly Airport 5:02 PM local time. FLOTUS and daughter Ashley deplaned at 5:41 PM and were received by their greeters.

The motorcade rolled to RON at 5:45 PM. FLOTUS had been scheduled to meet with the Prince of Wales at the British Embassy soon after arriving in France. Due to weather delays, however, the First Lady will now meet with the Prince of Wales at the ceremony at Notre-Dame, per her office.

FLOTUS departed RON at 6:57 PM.

Reportable Background from the Office of the First Lady
Today, December 7th, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Paris, France to attend the reopening ceremony of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.

Arrival to Orly, France
Upon arrival to Paris-Orly Airport in Orly, France, the First Lady will be greeted by:

• The Honorable Denise Campbell Bauer, Ambassador of the United States to the French Republic and to the Principality of Monaco
• Pierre-David Romani, Protocol Officer, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

Meeting with the Prince of Wales (postponed to ceremony)
Ahead of attending the reopening of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, the First Lady will meet with His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at the British Ambassador's Residence in Paris to highlight the special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom. This meeting will have a pool spray at the top covered by the traveling print pooler and the Royal Rota.

Background on Dr. Biden's Previous Engagements with Prince William

• May 2023: The First Lady attended the coronation of King Charles III in London, United Kingdom; the Prince of Wales was in attendance.
• September 2022: The President and First Lady attended King Charles' reception during their visit to London, United Kingdom, for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's funeral; the Prince of Wales was in attendance.
• June 2021: The President and First Lady participated in the G7 Summit in Cornwall, United Kingdom; the Prince of Wales was in attendance.

Report #10 | Reopening of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

FLOTUS arrived at the cathedral at 7:07 PM. FLOTUS and daughter Ashley entered the clear tent erected in front of the cathedral to keep dignitaries dry as they greeted President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigette Macron. FLOTUS and Ashley joined the Macrons as the cathedral bells chimed for the first time in five years.

The Bidens were escorted into the cathedral while your pooler remained behind to enter the cathedral from a side entrance. Once inside, pool was escorted to the press section to monitor the proceedings. FLOTUS was seated between Ashley and Brigette Macron, who was seated beside President-elect Trump on her other side.

The ceremony concluded a little after 9:00 PM. FLOTUS was escorted out to the motorcade at the same time as other dignitaries, such as the Prince of Wales and President-elect Trump. The groupings got a little muddled; at one point, Elon Musk, who attended with the Trump contingent, ended up right on the heels of former Secretary of State John Kerry. The Biden and Trump motorcades were parked alongside each other next to the cathedral.

Motorcade rolled to Élysée Palace, where FLOTUS will attend a reception hosted by the Macrons, and arrived at 9:25 PM. the event is closed press, so your pooler returned with the motorcade to RON.

Reportable background from the Office of the First Lady

Reopening of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
The First Lady will attend a reopening ceremony of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in Paris, France.
Upon arrival to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, the First Lady will be greeted by:

• His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic
• Mrs. Brigitte Macron, Spouse of the President of the French Republic

Background on the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris ("Our Lady of Paris"), stands as a testament to history and faith on the eastern half of Île de la Cité, an island in the Seine River within Paris, France. This Catholic cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris, previously drawing about 13 million visitors a year. After five years of restoration from the fire in April 2019 that caused heavy damage to the upper walls and vaults, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris will reopen its doors to the world.

Reception at the Élysée Palace
Following the reopening ceremony, the First Lady will attend a reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France. This reception will be closed press.

Background on Dr. Biden's Previous Engagements with the Macrons

• July 2024: The First Lady led the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the Opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. During the visit, the First Lady attended the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France at the Élysée Palace in Paris, France.
• July 2024: The U.S. hosted the 2024 NATO Summit, in Washington, D.C., to mark the historic 75th Anniversary of the Alliance. The President and First Lady hosted events for our NATO Allies and Partners, which President Macron and Mrs. Macron attended.
• June 2024: The President and First Lady traveled to Paris, France, for a State Visit, hosted by President Macron and Mrs. Macron. The President and First Lady also participated in a series of engagements with President Macron and Mrs. Macron in Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.
• July 2023: The First Lady traveled to France to celebrate the U.S. re-joining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). During the trip, the First Lady and Mrs. Macron attended a flag-raising ceremony at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The First Lady and Mrs. Macron also participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Brittany American Cemetery and visited Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to demonstrate the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
• December 2022: The President and First Lady hosted President Macron and Mrs. Macron for a State Visit at the White House.
• June 2022: The First Lady and Mrs. Macron both participated in the NATO Summit Partners Program in Segovia and Madrid, Spain.
• October 2021: The First Lady and Mrs. Macron both attended the G20 Partners Program in Rome, Italy.
• June 2021: The First Lady and Mrs. Macron participated in the G7 Partners Program in Cornwall, United Kingdom.