Pool Reports of April 9, 2024

In-town pool report #1 -- Gathered for departure

The pool is gathered at the White House for President Biden’s departure.

POTUS is headed to Union Station in Washington, D.C., where he’ll deliver remarks on the care economy. The remarks are scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

In-town pool report #2 — rolling

The motorcade is rolling to Union Station at 12:33 p.m.

Your pooler did not see POTUS during departure.

In-town pool report #3 — travelers

From the White House:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Union Station:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President & Director of the White House Gender Policy Council
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Emmy Ruiz, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff

In-town pool report #4 — Union Station arrival

The motorcade arrived at Union Station at 12:40 p.m. after a brief drive from the White House.

Pool was led into an event space off the main hall of the train station.

A crowd is gathered around a stage with flags and a sign reading "Care Can't Wait." Many attendees are wearing purple SEIU shirts.

Pool is now waiting for POTUS remarks to start.

In-town pool report — note on photo line

The press office passes this along:

The President is participating in a photoline with:

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)
Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-06)

In-town pool report #5 — two minute warning

We have a two-minute warning for POTUS remarks.

In-town pool report #6 — Remarks begin

President Biden took the stage at 1:01 p.m.

The remarks are being live-streamed on the White House website.

In-town pool report #7 — remarks over

President Biden's remarks concluded at 1:16 p.m.

Biden talked about care workers, their role in the economy, and touched on his own experience cobbling together childcare for his children after joining the Senate.

"You care workers represent the best of who we are as Americans," Biden said.

POTUS also mentioned his administration's investment in childcare and proposals to boost pay for caregivers.

"All this helps families and it grows the economy," Biden said.

Biden walked off stage at 1:18 p.m.

Pool is now headed back to the motorcade.

In-town pool report #8 — rolling back to WH

The motorcade is rolling back to the White House at 1:22 p.m.

In-town pool report — note on speakers

From the press office:

In attendance for the President’s remarks on the care economy:

Family caregivers, care workers and early childhood educators, and advocates

Speaking Program
Crystal Gail Crawford
The President

In-town pool report #9 — WH arrival

The motorcade arrived back at the White House at 1:27 p.m.

Pool spotted POTUS at a distance walking towards the Oval Office.

In-town pool report #10 -- Two-minute warning for press briefing

Two-minute warning for the press briefing.

In-town pool report #11 -- press briefing starts

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took the podium at 2:12 p.m., and the press briefing is underway.

In-town pool report #12 -- briefing ends

The press briefing concluded at 3:03 p.m.

In-town pool report #13 — Families of Hamas hostages at the sticks

The families of Americans taken hostage by Hamas are making an appearance shortly at the stakeout location following a meeting earlier today with Vice President Harris.

In-town pool report #14 — remarks by families of hostages

The relatives of American hostages taken by Hamas gave brief remakes outside the White House.

Rachel Goldberg said the group had a "very productive meeting" with Vice President Harris earlier in the day.

"We are thinking of all 133 souls who are being held" in Gaza, she added. "We want results."

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, urged Hamas to come to the negotiating table to strike a hostage deal.

"We are waiting now and the world waits for Hamas to get to yes. It is in their court," Dekel-Chen said.

Another member of the group, Jonathan Polin, said he holds out hope a deal can be reached.

"We have no choice but to stay hopeful," he said.

In-town pool report -- note on hostage family member names

From the White House:

The following family members of American hostages met with Vice President Harris:

• Adi and Yael Alexander, parents of American hostage Edan Alexander
• Ruby and Roy Chen, father and brother of American hostage Itay Chen
• Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen
• Liz Naftali, great-aunt of released hostage and American citizen Abigail Mor Edan
• Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of American hostage Omer Neutra
• Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin
• Aviva Siegel, released hostage and wife of American hostage Keith Siegel
• Elan Tiv, daughter of American hostage Keith Siegel and released hostage Avivia Siegel
• Andrea Weinstein, sister of American hostage Judy Weinstein and sister-in-law of American hostage Gad Haggai

In-town pool report #15 - gathering

The pool is gathering now for President Biden’s welcome event with the prime minister of Japan.

In-town pool report #16 — PM Kishida arrival

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden came out of the South Portico at 6:06 p.m., just as an SUV pulled up flying U.S. and Japanese flags.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mrs. Yuko Kishida of Japan stepped out of the car and greeted the Bidens. The two couples then turned, posed for a quick picture and walked into the White House.

In-town pool report #17 — motorcade rolling

At 6:34 p.m. the motorcade is rolling from the White House to an undisclosed location.

More details to come.

In-town pool report — note on gift exchange

The White House passed these items along:

Tonight, the President and First Lady are welcoming Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Mrs. Kishida Yuko of Japan to the White House for a guest book signing and official gift exchange.

And additionally:

As the official gift, the President and First Lady will present a three-legged table that was handmade by a Japanese American owned company in Pennsylvania. The 17-inch table was crafted from American black walnut wood – one of the most precious woods native to North America – and will include a plaque to commemorate the Official Visit.

President Biden will gift Prime Minister Kishida a custom framed lithograph and a two-volume LP set, both of which were autographed by iconic American musical artist Billy Joel. The President will also gift the Prime Minister with a vintage vinyl record collection of great American music artists in a custom leather presentation box. Dr. Biden will gift Mrs. Kishida a framed painting of the Yoshino cherry tree that she planted with Mrs. Kishida on the South Lawn last spring. Dr. Biden will also present an autographed soccer ball that was signed by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and the Japanese Women’s National Football Team before the United States and Japan played in the SheBelieves Cup semifinal match in Atlanta, Georgia, last weekend.

In-town pool report #18 — Holding outside BlackSalt

The motorcade arrived at BlackSalt, an upscale seafood restaurant near the Palisades History Museum in Northwest D.C., at approximately 6:43 p.m.

Pool has been holding on the sidewalk outside the restaurant. Your pooler did not see POTUS exit the motorcade. Will update with more details when we get them from the White House.

In-town pool report #19 — dinner

From the White House:

The President and the First Lady are having dinner with Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida at Blacksalt

In-town pool report #20 — dinner over/rolling

First Lady Jill Biden walked out of BlackSalt at 8:42 p.m., accompanied by Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida.

POTUS came out a minute later. The couples said goodbye and then headed to separate vehicles.

Biden responded to two questions as he got into the beast, saying he had crab cakes for dinner and the meal was "delicious."

The motorcade is rolling back to the White House at 8:45 p.m.

In-town pool report #21 — WH arrival and lid

The motorcade arrived at the White House at 8:56 p.m.

Your pooler did not see President Biden and First Lady Biden enter the White House.

The press office called a lid at 8:57 p.m. Have a good night,