Pool Reports of April 9, 2025

in-town report #1 — lunch lid

Good afternoon from the White House, where the press office has called a lunch lid until 1 p.m. No changes to the schedule, as of now.

In-town pool #2 — tariffs official soon

We are told an administration official is coming to the sticks soon to discuss President Trump’s social media announcement on tariffs. More TK.

In-town report #3 — Bessent/Leavitt Ottr

Below is a link to Sec. Bessent and Karoline Leavitt at the sticks discussing President Trump’s tariffs move. Your pooler is told this played out live, as well.

https://otter.ai/u/Ie2LUoFYbi6oIF3yPy3-PlaIEII

in-town report #4 — Quotes (Bessent/Leavitt)

Some quotes from Sec. Bessent and Press Secretary Leavitt at the sticks below. Please check against official transcripts and video, as always:

BESSENT: "...The successful negotiating strategy that President Trump implemented a week ago today. It has brought more than 75 countries forward to negotiate. It took great courage, great courage for him to stay the course until this moment, and it ended up here. As I told everyone a week ago in this very spot, 'Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.' So every country in the world wants to come and negotiate. We are willing to hear you. We're going to go down to a 10 percent baseline tariff we have for them, and China will be raised to 125 [percent]."

BESSENT was asked if Canada and Mexico would be included in the pause/reduction to 10 percent: "Yes."

QUESTION: Is this now all about China?

BESSENT: "Well, it's about bad actors. And what we see is some of the very early countries are China's neighbors that we're going to see. I've seen Vietnam today. Japan's in front [inaudible], South Korea, India. So we will see. And as I've repeatedly said, and President Trump has been saying in four years, China is the most imbalanced economy in the history of the modern world, and they are the biggest source of the US trade problems. And indeed they are a problem for the rest of the world..."

KAROLINE LEAVITT: "Recall, if I could, just add to what the secretary said, many of you in the media clearly missed the 'art of the deal,' you clearly failed to see what President Trump is doing here. You tried to say that the rest of the world would be moved closer to China, when, in fact, we've seen the opposite effect. The entire world is calling the United States of America not China, because they need our markets. They need our consumers, and they need this president in the Oval Office to talk to them, and that's exactly why more than 75 countries have called because the United States of America is the best place in the world to do business. And as the president has shown great courage, as the secretary has said, in choosing to retaliate against China even higher."

BESSENT ON TIMING & POTUS ROLE: "It is going to take some time, and President Trump wants to be personally involved, so that's why we're hitting the 90 day plan. ... It's all the president's decision."

BESSENT ON TRADE OR MORE THAN TRADE NEGOTIATIONS: "Well, these are trade negotiations, but if countries want to come and offer other things, I talked about yesterday that we are thinking about, a big LNG project in Alaska, that Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, are interested in financing and taking a substantial portion of [inaudible]. ... So everything's on the table."

BESSENT ON CHINA'S ACTIONS: "And we actually had quite a 10-year auction today. And all this again, this was driven by the president's strategy. He and I had a long [inaudible] on Sunday, and this was his strategy all along. And you might even say that he goated China into a bad position. They responded. They have shown themselves to the world to be the bad actor."

In-town report #5 — racing event (gathered)

Pool has assembled on the South Lawn for President Trump’s event with racing champions. Cars from NASCAR, IndyCar and IMSA are parking in front of the South Portico on a sunny spring day. Your pooler is told this will stream live; please check all the usual streaming places.

In-town report #6 — Event starting
[APP Note: This is the first of two reports numbered "6".]

President Trump exited the Oval Office at 2:57 p.m. He is approaching us with a group of racing officials. The event is being live-streamed. Pooler will send color. It’s about to begin. More TK.

In-town report #6 — POTUS on tariffs move
[APP Note: This is the second of two reports numbered "6".]

Trump hailed the racing champions for their "courage" and said the event was a "celebration" of championship racing owner Roger Penske's career and life.

Trump was told the NASCAR machine could go up to 190 mph, and quipped that want for him.

"These are great champions, and this is a great sport," POTUS told the teams.

"We went around the track in The Beast" before February's Daytona 500, saying he could hear the crowd "going crazy" from inside the armored limousine.

"I wouldn't ride in that thing if you paid me," POTUS said of the IndyCar machine.

On tariffs:

Trump said "I thought that people were jumping a little out line," and getting "yippy."

"Somebody had to do it. It had to stop."

He said today's announcement could be "temporary."

"China wants to make a deal … they just don't know quite how to go about it."

He said "many more than 75" other countries want to make a deal."

On the EU: "Yeah, a deal could be made with every one of them."

"They will be fair deals, for everybody."

More TK.

From the White House:

Attendees:

Roger Penske, Chairman, Penske Corporation

Steve Phelps, NASCAR Commissioner

Joey Logano, 2024 NASCAR Champion

Ryan Blaney, 2023 NASCAR Champion

Josef Newgarden, 2023 and 2024 INDY 500 Champion

Felipe Nasr, 2025 IMSA Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Champion

Laurens Vanthoor, 2025 IMSA Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona Champion

In-town pool #7 — POTUS on exemptions/more quotes

President Trump told your pooler he might consider exempting some US companies from the tariffs over the 90-day pause period. He added his thinking on that would be made "instinctively."

POTUS thanked the President of El Salvador for his actions on the Trump administration's mass deportation program.

He was asked about Democrats like former Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer previously endorsing the use of tariffs and he chuckled in agreement.

"Interestingly Chuck Schumer and Crazy Nancy wanted to do this for years."

POTUS said he noticed last night that "people were getting a little queasy," and said it wasn't just the bond market that led to today's move.

"It's a transition to greatness."

Americans "are going to do better than ever before."

Trump hailed GOP congressional leaders Thune, Barrasso and Johnson. He predicted the House would approve a GOP budget resolution later in the day.

POTUS watched Jamie Diamond on TV about the tariffs' impact.

Pool was escorted off the South Lawn at 3:19 p.m. POTUS was taking pictures with the three racing teams.

Quotes TK.

in-town report #8 — quotes on tariffs

Some quotes from President Trump's Q&A on the South Lawn about today's tariffs news below. (Questions are paraphrased.) Please check against official transcripts and video. A link to the Ottr file is also below.

QUESTION: Can you walk us through your decision-making?

POTUS: "Well, I thought that people were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippie, you know, they were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid, unlike these champions, because we have a big job to do. No other president would have done what I did. No other president, I know the presidents, they wouldn't have done it. And it had to be done. What was happening to us on trade, not only with you know, if you look at it, not only with China, but China was by far the biggest abuser in history and others, also. But somebody had to do it. They had to stop because it was not sustainable."

POTUS ON POSSIBLE EXEMPTIONS FOR US COMPANIES: "As time goes by, we're going to take a look at it. There are some that have been hard. There are some that, by the nature of the company, get hit a little bit
harder. And we'll take a look at that."

POTUS ON HOW HE WILL DECIDE ON ANY EXEMPTIONS: "Instinctively,
more than anything else. I mean, you almost can't take a pencil to paper. It's really more of an instinct, I think, than anything else."

POTUS continued, ON CHINA: "So I'm honored to have done it, and nothing's over yet, but we have a tremendous amount of spirit from other countries, including China. China wants to make a deal. They just don't know how quite to go about it. You know, it's one of those things. ... Quite proud people. And President Xi is a proud man. I know him very well. They don't know quite how to go about it, but they'll figure it out. They're in the process of figuring it out. But they want to make a deal."

POTUS said there are "many more than 75" countries that want to make a deal.

POTUS: "I did a 90 day pause for the people that didn't retaliate, because I told them, If you retaliate, we're going to double it. And that's what I did with China, because they did retaliate."

POTUS ON THE BOND MARKETS' IMPACT: "I was watching the bond market. That bond market is very tricky. I was watching it. But if you look at it now, it's beautiful. The bond market right now is beautiful. But yeah, I saw last night where people are getting a little queasy."

https://otter.ai/u/sK1DohMIRKf89MlvPq1tsKh5--A

In-town report #9 — gathering/Oval

Pool was called at 3:43 p.m. to gather at the briefing room doors. We are waiting outside the Oval Office. More TK.

In-town report #10 — Oval live-streaming

Pool is told the Oval Office spray will be live-streamed. Please seek out usual streaming and TV sources soonest. We should enter shortly.

In-town report #11 — Oval remarks/orders
[APP Note: This is the first of two reports numbered "11".]

Pool entered the Oval Office at 3:55 p.m. and POTUS began speaking one minute later from behind the Resolute Desk. He was flanked by Secretaries Bessent, Lutnick, Burgum and others.

At 3:58 p.m., POTUS signed two orders related to Amb. Huckster becoming ambassador to Israel.

At 4 p.m., he signed an EO on naval shipbuilding. He said the country had fallen "way behind" in that realm.

At 4:01 p.m., POTUS signed an order aimed at improving Pentagon procurement. He criticized the existing process.

4:03 p.m, Trump signed an order meant to improve the Foreign Military Sales process. "All very important," he said of its provisions, as described by an aide.

At 4:07 p.m., he signed an order on low-flow water appliances like sinks, toilets, etc. He quipped to an aide that he could mention toilets. And also showers.

"In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair," he said, saying he lets the water run for 15 minutes.

At 4:08 p.m., he signed a document on monopolistic practices. Before doing so, he criticized Harvard and said he's holding back "$8 billion."

At 4:09 p.m., POTUS signed an order directing agencies and departments to cease enforcing things they deem illegal and unconstitutional.

Trump said he wants Congress to immortalize his orders into law — but after both chambers finish work on the "one beautiful bill," meaning a GOP budget reconciliation measure.

At 4:11 p.m., POTUS signed an order against a law firm. Your pooler did not catch the name. Please check transcript/video.

"There were some very bad things that happened with these law firms," Trump said.

Next up was a memorandum to strip Miles Taylor, aka "Anonymous," of any clearances. "I had no idea. I said, 'Who in the hell is Miles Taylor? … I think it's like a traitor."

Where other presidents couldn't sustain negative developments, "I seem to be able to sustain," POTUS said. "I think he's guilty of treason." Aide said the matter would be referred to DOJ. Trump signed at 4:16 p.m.

POTUS is talking about the 2020 election. More TK.

In-town report #11 - tariffs/markets/carp
[APP Note: This is the second of two reports numbered "11".]

On pause timing, POTUS said it came together early this morning and was "written from the heart" and was "something very positive for the world." He said he and his team had been discussing it for "a period of time."

The president responded "no" when asked if he was trying to form a coalition against China on trade. He blamed previous U.S. presidents for the global trade situation.

"There are a lot of things I'd like China to do."

POTUS criticized former President Biden's use of the auto pen. He said someone should find out who actually used it back then because "they were like the president of the United States."

POTUS asked deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to look into getting rid of the auto pen, who responded staff was already looking into it.

POTUS and Michigan Gov. Whitmer discussed the Asian carp and its impact on the Great Lakes. "It really is bipartisan, it's great to see it." He predicted he and MI officials would "stand together and cut a ribbon."

On TikTok: Talks are moving along "but we have to wait and see what happens with China."

Markets today rebounding: "Who would've thought we would have a record" day on some stock markets.

Tariffs strategy: "A lot of times it's not a negotiation until it is. … We brought everyone to the table. … It might not last."

"Oh sure, he's a friend of mine," he said when asked about meeting with China's Xi. "Sure, I'd meet with him."

He said he will be moving forward with pharmaceutical tariffs. "We let them leave. If they want to come back, we're going to put tariffs on the pharmaceutical companies.

More TK. Ongoing…

In-town report #12 — Xi/Iran/pool exit

President Trump said he thinks President Xi will eventually call to make a deal.

"I can't imagine it. I don't think we'll have to do it more," he said of additional tariffs on China. "No, I don't see that."

On Iran, he said he would not rule out military action and said he does have a timeline in mind for when the talks would need to end. His determination on when the talks clock would expire would be based on a "feeling."

Pool departed a very warm Oval Office at 4:53 p.m. Please check all quotes against transcript and video. Quotes to come, but your pooler's Ottr had some glitches.

in-town report #13 — tariffs decision/Iran talks

Some fuller quotes from the Oval. Your pooler is told there could be more tariff talk outside from administration officials, so he will forgo the deep-dive into the 58-minute Oval transcript.

QUESTION: "Was this idea of doing a pause? Did that just come about this morning? Can you tell us exactly what came into consideration for you and your advisors?

POTUS: "For a period of time, I would say this morning, over the last few days, I've been thinking about it. I've been dealing with Scott, with Howard, with some other people that are very professional. And I think it probably came together early this morning, fairly early this morning. Just wrote it up. We didn't have the use of, we didn't have access to lawyers. We wrote it up from our hearts, right? ... It was written from the heart, and I think it was well-written too, but it was written from the heart. It was written as something that I think was very positive for the world and for us, and we don't want to hurt countries that don't need to be hurt, and they all want to negotiate."

POTUS ON IRAN: "I'm not asking for much. ... They can't have a nuclear weapon. I was a little bit surprised because when the election was rigged, I figured they would get the weapon, because with me, they were broke. ... they had no money because of the sanctions, nobody could buy oil. ... But with Iran, yeah, if it requires military, we're going to have military. Israel will, obviously, be ... the leader of that. No one leads us. We do what we want."

POTUS ON DEADLINE FOR IRAN TALKS, START OF MILITARY ACTION: "I don't want to be specific. But when you start talks, you know if they're going along well or not. And I would say the conclusion would be when I think they're not going along well. And that's just a feeling."

As mentioned earlier, POTUS called Saturday's Iran talks the start of a "process."

(Ottr file has corruptions and cannot be shared.)

More TK.

in-town pool #14 — Lutnick gaggle (tariffs)

Commerce Secretary Lutnick gaggled with reporters outside the White House following the Oval Office EO signing and question-and-answer session. Some choice cuts below. Full Otter file link is below, as well.

ON BUILDING A COALITION AGAINST CHINA: "The answer is, the president is focused on America, okay, and he's going to try to negotiate the best deals for America with each of these great countries that are calling us that want to talk. So he's not trying to build a coalition or any kind of thing like that. He's just focused on making the American farmer, the American rancher, the American fishermen, right, Our manufacturers, our people, let them have a better chance at the world. And that's what he's focused on."

ON STEEL & ALUMINUM TARIFFS: "The President was very clear [on] the sector tariffs, those on steel and aluminum and those on autos, are going to remain as he put them out. So that is unchanged, right?"

LUTNICK PREDICTS EU TARIFFS WILL BE DELAYED TO MATCH 90-DAY PAUSE: "What he said was the reciprocal tariffs would go to 10% and if Canada decides to keep their retaliatory move, which I would suggest, having watched how it went with China, would be a really, really bad choice. You know, Europe put out some retaliatory tariffs, but they said they don't start for a couple of weeks, right? And I think what's going to happen is they are going to be pushed out for the 90 days, so they have time to negotiate with the president without having something hanging over their head. So that's that's certainly my expectation, that all these countries will realize, let's just wait. Let's go negotiate. Let's see what we can accomplish together. But they have to understand their rules. It's not just tariffs."

ON CANADA & MEXICO RESPONSES/TARIFFS: "You see how Mexico's dealt with it. Mexico has been restrained and been pragmatic, And her [Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum] ratings in Mexico are 75 percent positive right now. Canada, they're in an election, so you never know. Maybe it's all election, you know muster, but we don't know. But the fact is, if they put those tariffs on, we're going to be talking in the Oval Office, and he's (Trump's) going to respond. So I hope they choose to refrain."

(Pooler checked three times. Lutnick said 'muster,' rather than 'bluster.')

Total running time of in-progress gaggle Ottr file was 8m 23s. Here it is:

https://otter.ai/u/tAHCV5xvJu-9qu8cRmpKF6x_6eM

in-town report #15 — LID

The White House called a travel/photo lid at 7:08 p.m. after a very eventful day. A collective thank you to fellow-poolers and other colleagues who lended a hand. Have a good evening, folks.