Pool Reports of April 18, 2025

Pool report 1

Checking in from the White House with a lovely day outside in dc. Nothing currently on POTUS schedule today that's open to press.

Pool report 2 new open press event

The White House says that the swearing-in ceremony at noon ET for the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will now be open press. Last night's guidance says it will be in the Oval Office.

Pool report 3 pool gathering

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

Pool report 4-in the oval

Pool was brought into the Oval for the swearing in of Dr Oz.

Chief of staff Susie Wiles and staff secretary Will Scharf were seated in the gold chairs near the fire place. Karoline Leavitt and Steven Cheung are also here.

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz just entered the Oval. Pool is waiting for POTUS.

A photographer from the AP was allowed into the Oval. An AP reporter was turned away.

Pool report 5–POTUS and Oz remarks

POTUS entered the Oval in a bright yellow tie.

He shook hands with Dr. Oz and what appears to be his family.

He is flanked by RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz.

RFK jr appears to be holding some notes or some papers in his hand.

Trump boasted about Dr. Oz's ratings and listed his medical credentials including that he went to Harvard, which he quipped was convention (the insinuation was because of the WH's fight with the university)

RFK JR. Began looking at his papers and read from them as he swore in Dr. Oz. His wife is holding what looks like a scripture book. Your pooler can't tell if it's the Bible (Oz has said he's a secular Muslim but his wife is Christian, per NYT). She is wearing a cross necklace.

Dr. Oz with a skinny red tie and a flag pin on his left lapel begins his remarks by praising the ""MAHA" movement.

POTUS is standing a few feet to Dr. oz's right, arms to his side, and gently nodding along with Dr. Oz's remarks.

POTUS occasionally glances toward the press.

Pool report 6–oz ends, Trump q&a

Oz ends his remarks.

POTUS asked if anyone had questions for Dr. Oz.

There was a lull and then reporters began asking POTUS questions.

POTUS told reporters to wait and he stepped to the podium where Oz had been standing.

Asked if he believed Putin was stalling, Trump said "I hope not"

Trump backed up Rubio's recent comments about moving on from Ukraine if no progress in peace talks.

As Trump spoke about eggs and prices, Susie Wiles got up and exited the Oval.

Dan Scavino briefly came into the Oval, listened for a few minutes, and then exited.

Trump takes a question from an ideologically friendly reporter and praises him, says he wish there were more reporters like him.

Karoline Leavitt re-entered the Oval and handed POTUS a sheet of paper.

He is reading from it and talking about Abrego Garcia.

POTUS is continuing to take questions.

Pool report 7–girl collapses/Oval exit

Trump continues to talk about Abrego Garcia.

He criticized "fake news" and "fake shows"

POTUS says Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon."

One of Dr. Oz's guests—a young girl—then suddenly collapsed and appeared to faint in the Oval Office.

Dr. Oz rushed over. She quickly stood up but appeared unsteady. Pool was quickly pushed to exit the Oval. POTUS stopped speaking. The girl also made her way out of the Oval.

Your pool is now being directed back to the briefing room. Below is an Otter.

https://otter.ai/u/ZFEoreWgFQNPBZghoDov2QLE_DQ

Pool report 8--WH comment on fainting

On background from the WH: A minor family member fainted during Dr. Oz's swearing in ceremony in the Oval Office. We are happy to say she is okay.

Pool report 9–lid

We have a lid. Have a great evening!