Pool Reports of April 29, 2023

In-town pool report #1: Departing for WHCD

Hey everybody,

Orion with The Spokesman-Review here. I'll be your in-town pooler today.

The president's motorcade left the White House grounds at 7:18 en route to the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the Washington Hilton.

It's turned into a beautiful evening in D.C. as the clouds have cleared and the weather is in the upper sixties, but the forecast calls for more rain tonight.

The following people are traveling with POTUS and FLOTUS:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting

Josh Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor

Aviva Aron-Dine, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of the National Economic Council

Travis Dredd, Special Assistant to the President & Trip Director

Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

In-town pool report #2: Arrived at Hilton

The motorcade arrived at the Washington Hilton at 7:23 pm.

In the ballroom, which is noticeably chillier than it is outside, Anthony Fauci is here (without a mask), after he skipped last year's dinner due to COVID concerns.

Sharing from WH:

Participating in a photoline with the President and the First Lady at the Washington Hilton:

2023 White House Correspondents' Association Scholarship Awardees

Members of the White House Correspondents' Association Board

In-town pool report #3: Meeting with Griners

The President and the First Lady are participating in a pull-aside meeting with Brittney and Cherelle Griner.

In attendance:

Brittney Griner
Cherelle Griner
Lindsay Colas

In-town pool report#4: Meeting w/ Gershkovich family

The President and the First Lady are participating in a pull-aside meeting with the family of Evan Gershkovich.

In attendance:

Ella Milman
Mikhail Gershkovich
Danielle Gershkovich
Anthony Huczek

In-town pool report #5: WHCD attendance & some color

POTUS and FLOTUS entered the ballroom, just after VP and SGOTUS, at 8:06 to a standing ovation.

When WHCA President Tamara Keith started speaking, the crowd's chatter got unusually loud. A faint chorus of cutlery tapping on glasses didn't quiet the noise, nor did it seem to help when Keith joked, "Don't make me shout out, 'Decorum!'"

Here are the evening's speakers, per the WH:

The President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman are attending the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner.

In attendance:

Approximately 2600 attendees, including members of the press and media organizations, administration officials, Members of Congress, celebrities, dignitaries and other invited guests.

Pre-Dinner Speaking Program
Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent & President of the White House Correspondents' Association

Post-Dinner Speaking Program
Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent & President of the White House Correspondents' Association
Eugene Daniels, Politico White House Correspondent & White House Correspondents' Association Treasurer
Kelly O'Donnell, NBC News Senior White House Correspondent & Vice President of the White House Correspondents' Association
Karen Travers, ABC News White House Correspondent & White House Correspondents' Association Board Member
Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent & President of the White House Correspondents' Association
The President
Roy Wood, Jr.
Tamara Keith, NPR White House Correspondent & President of the White House Correspondents' Association

In-town pool report #6: Biden speaking in 2 minutes

Biden will speak in two minutes.

In-town pool report #7: Biden's remarks

Biden started his remarks at 10:14, speaking for just over 20 minutes. I won't quote him here, since the dinner is being live-streamed.

He dedicated the first five minutes to Americans currently and formerly detained abroad: Evan Gershkovich, Austin Tice, Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner.

Then Biden pivoted to the jokes. His first laugh line — that he loves the 1st Amendment "because my friend Jimmy Madison wrote it" — poked fun at his own age.

The Don Lemon joke drew the loudest laughs from the crowd.

Biden donned his trademark aviator shades and introduced Roy Wood Jr. as "Dark Brandon."

In-town pool report #8: Return to WH and lid

The motorcade left the Washington Hilton at 11:09 and arrived back at the White House at 11:15. We have a lid.

Good night, everybody.

ODS