Pool Reports of April 24, 2024

In-town pool report #1: Gathering

Good morning from the White House, I'm your in-town pooler for today.

Pool is gathering outside the Palm Room doors as of 10:38 am for President Biden's remarks on the national security supplement to pre-credentialed press.

In-town pool report #2: Two minute warning

White House gave a two-minute warning at 10:56 for Biden's national security supplemental remarks from the State Dining Room, being live-streamed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/.

In-town pool report #3: Remarks over

The president entered the State Dining Room at 10:57 am and ended his remarks about H.R. 815, the National Security Supplemental, at 11:07. On his way out Biden did not answer shouted questions from the press.

In-town pool report #4: Pool gathering for departure

Pool is gathering at 11:36 am by the Palm Room Doors for the President's departure from White House.

Biden is headed to the Washington Hilton where he's scheduled to deliver remarks at the North America's Building Trade Union National Legislative Conference.

In-town pool report #5: POTUS departing

The president entered the motorcade at approximately 12:02. Rolling as of 12:04.

In-town pool report #6: POTUS arrives

The presidential motorcade arrived outside the Washington Hilton at 12:09. Your pooler did not have eyes on the President.

From White House as we rolled out:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the Washington Hilton:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
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
Herbie Ziskend, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Communications

In-town pool report #7: Two-minute warning

Two-minute warning on Biden's remarks called at 12:26.

C-Span livestream: https://www.c-span.org/video/?535146-1/president-biden-speaks-trades-union-conference

The Washington Hilton conference room is packed with a few hundred attendees, many of them wearing NABTU shirts supporting the Biden-Harris campaign. Slogans include "Joe stands for jobs" and "Building trades for Biden".

In-town pool report #8: Color pre-remarks

From the White House:

Participating in a photoline with the President:

National union presidents, state and local labor leaders, rank and file members

Mayor Paige Cognetti, Scranton, PA Also from the White House: Today, the President spoke separately by phone with Senate Leaders Schumer and McConnell to thank them for their hard work in passing the national security supplemental.

And some color from your pooler:

Before Biden took the stage, the room filled with chants of "four more years" and several minutes of synchronized clapping from what I can only describe as balloon-style boomwhackers (picture attached for reference).

Then a video contrasting the Biden and Trump administrations played, eliciting boos from the crowd when Trump first appeared on screen.

In-town pool report #9: Event color

The President took the stage around 12:33 pm and ended political remarks at 1:04 pm. The pool is returning to the motorcade now.

The union crowd gave at least 11 standing ovations throughout the speech including when he promised stronger guarantees for prevailing wages and when he outlined plans to make the wealthy pay more in taxes.

In-town pool report #10: Motorcade rolling

Your pooler is departing the Washington Hilton as of 1:16 pm and headed back to the White House.

In-town pool report #11: POTUS back at White House

The President returned to the White House at 1:22 pm and walked straight in.

In-town pool report #12: Press briefing delayed

Today's press briefing with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will now begin at 2:30 pm per White House. It's currently the last item on White House's press schedule for the day.

In-town pool report #13: Press briefing delayed again

White House says press briefing now beginning at 2:45 pm.

In-town pool report #14: Two-minute warning

The press briefing is about to begin and will live stream on https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/. Two-minute warning given at 2:45 pm.

In-town pool report #15: Briefing over

Jake Sullivan exited the press briefing room at 3:26 pm. Karine Jean-Pierre ended the briefing at 3:48.

In-town pool report #16: Lid!

The White House called a lid at 5:16 pm, so enjoy your evenings! It's been a pleasure serving as your pooler today.