Pool Reports of April 23, 2024

WH In-town pool report #1: Schedule

Good morning from the White House. Light duty for your in-town pooler today, with only a 12:00 PM departure and a 7:45 PM arrival to handle. Will endeavor to play error-free ball.

Schedule is below (with an in-flight Bates gaggle) and I'll update if there are any changes.

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EDT

10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

10:00 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the President's Daily Brief
Closed Press

11:00 AM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time
Joint Base Andrews Overhang

12:00 PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn
Open Press (Gather 11:45 AM – Palm Room Doors)

12:20 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Tampa, Florida
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool

2:15 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Tampa, Florida
Tampa International Airport
Open Press

3:00 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a campaign event
Tampa, Florida
Open Press

4:15 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a campaign event
Tampa, Florida
Out-of-Town Pool

5:15 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Tampa, Florida en route to Joint Base Andrews
Tampa International Airport
Open Press

7:20 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route to the White House
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool

7:30 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press (Gather 7:15 PM – Palm Room Doors)

Briefing Schedule

Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Tampa, Florida

WH In-town pool report #2: President boarded Marine One at 11:58

No answers to shouted questions, which were hard to hear.

Biden exited the residence and walked to the helicopter, flanked by Mike Donilon on his right and Bruce Reed on his left. Anita Dunn walked a few steps behind Donilon and the president. Another female aide (who your pool could not ID), a military officer, and one other person were part of the group.

The phalanx broke apart at Marine One, with Biden entering via the front stairs and staff via the back. Marine One was up and away at 12:03.

The White House passes along the following names as traveling with the president to Andrews.

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President

WH In-town pool report #3 Gaggle in progress

And as listeners have probably noticed, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby has joined the gaggle with Bates.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

WH In-town pool report #4: POTUS appears to be running early... for anyone keen to catch his return

The White House advises that "due to updated timing please be prepared to gather at the Palm Room Doors at 6:25 PM for POTUS arrival."

WH In-town pool report #5: pool has gathered on South lawn

We await the president's arrival on a gloriously cruel April evening.

WH In-town pool report #6: Marine One landed at 6:46(ish). No news

The president alighted at 6:47 and walked across the tall grass to the residence by himself. He did not answer a variety of questions shouted over the helicopter's auxiliary engines.

WH In-town pool report #7: Lid was called at 6:54.

Unless I was tricked by the photogs, but I think it was the real deal. Just double checked with lower press, so going to call it.

h

Travel pool report #1: JBA

Good morning from JBA.

Marine One landed at 12:11pm.

It taxied and POTUS disembarked at 12:15pm with a salute and walked to the plane with a greeter.

He waved to the press and boarded the plane with tail number 29000.

Wheels up shortly.

Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates is scheduled to gaggle aboard the flight and all can follow live at whitehouse.gov.

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Tampa International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Andrew Bates, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary & Senior Communications Advisor for Strategic Response

Travel pool report #2: Tampa arrival

AF1 took off from JBA around 12:20 pm and landed at 2:05pm.

Andrew Bates and John Kirby gaggled for around 34 minutes on the plane. Bates kicked off the briefing talking about abortion, patient privacy, Florida's imminent ban and said POTUS will speak at the graduations of West Point and Morehouse. Kirby took questions on Ukraine and the national security supplemental. He declined to talk about Israel's strike of Iran.

Bates responded mostly to questions about the student protests at college campuses.

The gaggle was available via stream at whitehouse.gov

Travel pool report #3: Motorcade

POTUS deplaned at 2:16pm and was greeted by Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14). He gave her a partial hug and got in the beast.

Motorcade rolling at 2:18pm

Travel pool report #4: Traveling with POTUS

From the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus:

Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Andrew Bates, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary & Senior Communications Advisor for Strategic Response

Travel pool report #4: arrival

Sorry, the previous report should have been number 3.

The motorcade arrived at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus at 2:28pm

On the way there were people holding signs saying Kennedy 2024 and another group holding a pro-Trump sign and one that said "Biden Bad." There were also a few big Biden campaign flags.

The motorcade also passed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stadium and the Yankees spring training stadium.

Travel pool report #5: Campaign event

The pool was ushered into a gymnasium retrofitted with big blue curtains and signs that say "Restore Roe" and "Reproductive freedom" with the Biden/Harris logo. There are about 200 people standing for the speeches.

Behind the lectern are several American and Florida flags. Before Biden came out the crowd was chanting "four more years."

From WH:

Here's the list of people participating in a photoline with the President, per WH:

Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26)
State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (FL)
State Senator Shevrin "Shev" Jones (FL-34)
Commissioner Pat Kemp, Hillsborough County, Florida
Councilmember Alan Clendenin, Tampa City, Florida

On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign:

President Biden will deliver remarks at a campaign event in Tampa, Florida. The livestream can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/@JoeBiden/streams

Pre-Program:

Former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26)
Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell (FL-67)
Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Mini Timmaraju, President & CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All
Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood

Speakers:
Kaitlyn Joshua, Reproductive Rights Advocate and Introducer
President Biden

Travel Pool Report #6: POTUS speaks

POTUS came out to the song I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty and began speaking at 3:04pm. He was introduced by Kaitlyn Joshua, Reproductive Rights Advocate from Louisiana.

The event is being live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqYsD4dRtQ

Travel pool report #7: End of speech

POTUS finished speaking at 3:16pm. He basked in cheers of four more years, saluted someone in the crowd and waved to people before leaving the stage. Once again I Won't Back Down was playing.

Pool is headed to informal campaign remarks next.

Travel pool report #8: informal campaign reception

Pool moved into a cafeteria papered with small Biden/Harris campaign signs. There are about 50 people here.

POTUS entered at 3:26 pm to chants of "four more years." He was introduced by Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party and former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

Some Biden quotes:

He told the kids that came and said he owes them big. He whispered that they should get ice cream for coming and that their mom and dad should have to pay for it.

"I think Florida is in play, nationally."

"This election is a basic old fashioned election." It's about getting people out to vote.

"We are the essential nation. It's not a joke, not bragging. If the United States stepped off the world stage like Trump wants us to, who would lead the world?"

"The whole world is looking. And they're looking to see how we handle ourselves in this election."

"We're in pretty good shape in the polls…" says the polls are moving in his favor. Says people are starting to tune in at this point because the election is getting closer.

"I'm a capitalist. I don't care if you make a billion bucks. Just pay your taxes."

"There's a lot we have going. There's no reason we can't reclaim our heritage of who we are, the most generous leading nation in the world."

To someone saying "teamsters are in the house" Biden says "they better damn well be in the house."

He says he used to drive an 18 wheeler.

He talked for about 15 minutes. Ended at 3:44pm.

Check quotes against the otter, which is attached. https://otter.ai/u/QN5X5B_JYrdtYI905H8z6_GblDk

Travel pool report #9: More color

Just a little more color on the kids as we hold….

At the beginning of his remarks, Biden saw there were kids in the crowd. He approached two elementary-school aged boys that were standing to his right. He lowered the microphone, got close and whispered to them. After that he looked around to his staff and said "you know what to do, right?"

Then he crossed the room over two little girls, similarly aged and whispered to them, too. Your pooler was standing behind the girls and heard him whisper about making sure their parents get them ice cream.

At the end of his remarks he again told the kids to remember what he promised.

Travel pool report #10: Rolling

Motorcade rolling back to the airport at 4:11pm.

Your pooler didn't have eyes on Biden entering the beast.

Travel pool report #12: boarding
[APP Note: This is Report #11. See reporter's comment in Report #12 (below).]

Motorcade arrived at airport around 4:18 pm.

POTUS exited the beast at 4:23 pm where several local law enforcement were lined up in front of the AF1. He shook hands with some of the officers.

He put on his aviators and boarded the plane at 4:24.

We're ahead of schedule. Wheels up shortly.

Per WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Emmy Ruiz, Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Andrew Bates, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary & Senior Communications Advisor for Strategic Response

Travel pool report #12: JBA Arrival

AF1 touched down at JBA at 6:21pm.

During the flight, at around 5:52pm Kirby came back and chatted off the record.

At 6:28 pm, POTUS descended the stairs, greeted base personnel and headed to Marine 1, which lifted off at 6:35 pm.

That's all from your travel pooler, handing off to in-town. Have a lovely night!

(Sorry, my previous report should have been number 11)

Travel pool report #13: traveling in Marine one

Per WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to South Lawn:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Emmy Ruiz, Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach