Pool Reports of April 16, 2025

In-Town Pool Report #1 -- Lunch lid

Good afternoon from the White House, where it is a little too chilly for mid-April.

There is a lunch lid until 1:00 pm.

There have been no changes to POTUS schedule. Tonight's Easter Prayer Service and Dinner remains the only public event on the schedule.

In-Town Pool Report #2 -- Briefing added to schedule

The White House has just updated its schedule, adding a briefing at 4:30 with a surprise "special guest."

In-Town Pool Report #3 -- Two MInute Warning to Briefing

This serves as your two-minute warning to the daily White House press briefing and finding out who the super secret guest is.

In-Town Pool Report #4 -- Briefing begins and the surprise guest is....

Rachel Morin's mother.

The briefing started at 4:49

In-Town Pool Report #5 -- Briefing Ends

The Briefing ended at 5:02 and Rachel Morin's mom spoke for roughly 12 minutes.

Karoline did not take any questions. She did ask if anyone had any questions for Patty Morin. A reporter on the side raised her hand and said she had a question and Karoline responded with a "Nope."

Other reporters had their hands up but were not called on.

As she walked out of the briefing room, Patty Morin told the press.

"Please tell the truth. Tell the truth. Tell how violent it really is. It's more than politics. It's about national security. It's about protecting Americans. It's about protecting the children."

In -Town Pool Report #6 — Gather

The pool has gathered at the Palm Room doors. 6:10

In Town Pool Report #7 —

The pool entered the Blue Room for the Easter Prayer Service and Dinner at 6:44

This event is live-streamed, but your pooler will pass along any relevant qoutes and color.

In Town Pool Report #8 — Color/Guests

There are 5 tables seating 8 people each. Your pooler only counted 3 women at the tables, including a Catholic nun. Alveda King was the other woman and the pool did not recognize the third woman.

Ralph Reed, Robert Jeffress, Kenneth Copeland, Jonathan Cain of Journey (the band) Jensen Franklin, Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham were among those spotted in the crowd.

Special thanks to Kelly O'Donnell of NBC News for helping your pooler spot notables.

In Town Pool Report -#9 - POTUS enters

POTUS entered to a standing ovation and applause at 7:03.

Jennifer Korn, who directs the White House Faith office walked in ahead of POTUS.

In-Town Pool Report #10

The opening prayer was an Our Father sung by Charles Billingsley.

POTUS bowed his head and closed his eyes during the song. Paula White also joined POTUS at the table, bringing the number of women in the room to 5.

After the song, POTUS stood up and shook Charles Billingsley's hand and told him that he had "a beautiful voice."

Charles began his second song, an Italian Auria. There was much applause when he finished.

Paula White is now talking.

In Town Pool Report -#11 -POTUS Remarks

Paula White and Franklin Graham delivered opening remarks.

Franklin Graham said there was "a spiritual drought in this city and in this house the last few years." He thanked POTUS for Easter declaration.

POTUS thanked crowd for tremendous support. Called everyone in the room "a very special friend."

He condemned the movement to remove In God We Trust from US currency, etc. Said he won't let that happen.

He called the death and resurrection of Jesus "two of the most monumental events in history."

POTUS recognized Patty Morin, who was at the press briefing earlier, calling her "an angel mom."

POTUS quoted Billy Graham and told Franklin Graham that his father would be very proud of him. He briefly mentioned going with his dad to see Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium.

POTUS said his administration had resulted in "a whole new spirit in our country and a whole new respect for our county."

POTUS talked about Christians being persecuted in other parts of the world and talked about his DOJ task force to take on anti-Christian bias.

He also talked about returning education to the states and his executive order banning biological men from women's sports.

"I hope this is going to be one of the great Easter's ever. "

He called his support among people of faith "unprecedented."

In Town Pool Report -#12 — Franklin Graham remarks

"We are so glad God assigned an angel to stand between you and a bullet," Franklin Graham said in remarks after POTUS.

He thanked POTUS for hosting these event.

"God is moving in this nation, mightily," he said.

He thanked POTUS saying churches are seeing attendances at higher levels than before.

He asked God to bless POTUS and FLOTUS

In Town Pool Report #13 — Pool Escorted Out

The pool was escorted out of the room at 7:32

In Town Pool Report #14 -- Lid

WHite House called a lid at 7:53.

Also spotted at the dinner was Gary Bauer, former undersecretary of education

In-Town Pool Report #15 -- Correction

The remarks in In-Town Pool Report 12 should have been attributed to Jentezen Franklin not Franklin Graham. I had Franklin on the brain at the time..

Your pooler regrets the error.

Last pool report for the evening.