Pool Reports of December 17, 2021

In-town pool report #1: Gathering

Good morning from the White House. Pool is gathering at the Palm Room doors for POTUS departure for JBA, which is scheduled for 650 am. He's headed to South Carolina today, then later to Wilmington, via Philadelphia. Schedule below, via the WH.

EST

5:40 AM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time
Joint Base Andrews Visitor Control Center Overhang

6:20 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

6:50 AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews
South Lawn
Open Press and Pooled for TV (Gather 6:35 AM – Palm Room Doors)

7:10 AM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route West Columbia, South Carolina
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

8:35 AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in West Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Open Press

9:00 AM THE PRESIDENT departs West Columbia, South Carolina en route Orangeburg, South Carolina
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Open Press

9:25 AM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Orangeburg, South Carolina
Orangeburg Municipal Airport
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

10:00 AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at South Carolina State University's 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony
South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

12:55 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Orangeburg, South Carolina en route West Columbia, South Carolina
Orangeburg Municipal Airport
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

1:20 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in West Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Out-of-Town Pool Coverage

1:30 PM THE PRESIDENT departs West Columbia, South Carolina en route Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
Open Press

3:00 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia International Airport
Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage

3:10 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Philadelphia, Pennsylvania en route Wilmington, Delaware
Philadelphia International Airport
Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage

3:25 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives in Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware Air National Guard
Supplemental Pool Coverage

Briefing Schedule

Press Secretary Jen Psaki will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route West Columbia, South Carolina

In-town pool report #2 - M1 departure from WH

POTUS walked out of the WH at 650 am. He waved in the direction of the pool and did not respond to shouted questions. Boarded M1 at 651 am. M1 lifted off from the South Lawn at 655 am.

Traveling with the President on M1, per the WH:
Cedric Richmond, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Jen Psaki, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Stephen Goepfert, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Handing off to out-of-town pool from here. Have a great day.

Travel pool #1: JBA

Good morning from JBA, where there was a beautiful pink and orange sunrise. POTUS stepped off Marine One at 7:07.

He was greeted by Colonel Matthew Jones, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing.

POTUS boarded AF1 at 7:09. We're rolling toward takeoff at 7:14, en route to South Carolina. Jen Psaki is gaggling en route, so stay tuned to live stream.

POTUS plans to land at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, take Marine One to Orangeburg and motorcade to the commencement ceremony at South Carolina State University.

According to the White House, traveling to Orangeburg with POTUS are:

Cedric Richmond, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Jen Psaki, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Joshua Geltzer, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor
Vinay Reddy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Shuwanza Goff, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs & House Liaison
Travis Dredd, Special Assistant to the President & Trip Director
Stephen Goepfert, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool #2: South Carolina arrival

AF1 touched down in South Carolina at 8:36. POTUS stepped off at 8:48.

POTUS was greeted by:

Representative Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin
West Columbia Mayor Temus Miles, Jr.
Cayce Mayor Elise Partin

Clyburn was wearing a SC State hat and mask. After they spoke for a minute, Clyburn motioned over to people waiting behind a metal barricade, and they went over to say hello.

POTUS spent several minutes shaking hands and taking photos. He bent over to speak with some little boys. Pool was too far away to hear any conversations.

After he was done, POTUS answered two questions.

How does it feel to be back in Carolina?

"It feels good!"

What are we going to hear in your speech?

"You'll hear when I make it!"

It's foggy, and there's a bad weather call. So we're all motorcading straight to the commencement ceremony rather than taking Marine One and Ospreys. It's a roughly 45 minute drive, so we expect to remain on schedule.

We're rolling at 9:01.

Travel pool #3: SC State arrival

The motorcade arrived at South Carolina State at 9:42. Across the street, there was a "let's to Brandon" flag and a few demonstrators holding signs about Ethiopia.

We did not see POTUS. We entered an auditorium where graduating students were wearing caps and gowns. They sat with faculty in the center of the room. Family members are in the upper level of seats that rings the auditorium. Everyone appears to be wearing masks.

We're waiting for the program to begin.

Travel pool #4: Ceremony begins

The ceremony began at 10:05 with a procession. POTUS entered at 10:09 with Rep. Clyburn. They're both wearing ceremonial graduation gowns. POTUS remarks will be live streamed.

Here's the speaking program, per White House:

Dr. Frederick Evans, Acting Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Reverend Eddie C. Williams, United Methodist Church
Rodney C. Jenkins, Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Javonni Ayers, President of Student Government Association
Representative Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
The President
Alexander Conyers, South Carolina State University President

Travel pool #5: POTUS about to begin

Rep. Clyburn is introducing him now.

Travel pool #6: POTUS ends

POTUS finished his remarks at 11:06. The commencement ceremony is continuing now.

Travel pool #7: Departing ceremony

POTUS participated in the commencement ceremony, presenting Rep. Clyburn with his diploma and then posing for photos with graduating students as they received their degrees.

Pool departed at 11:37 as the ceremony neared its end. We're holding in vans until we depart.

Travel pool #8: Rolling

The motorcade started rolling at 11:58. We spotted Rep. Clyburn riding with Biden in the back of the presidential limo.

There's another bad weather call, so no Osprey ride.

Travel pool #9: Photo line

The motorcade arrived at Orangeburg airport at 12:08, where POTUS was originally scheduled to depart on Marine One before a bad weather call was made. He's participating in a photo line. Pool is holding in vans.

According to the White House, participants include:

Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler
Johnnie Wright Sr., Orangeburg County Council
State Senator Richard Harpootlian
State Representative Beth Bernstein
State Representative Joe Jefferson
State Representative Marvin Pendarvis
State Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers
State Representative J.A. Moore
First Judicial Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe

Travel pool #10: Rolling

The motorcade left Orangeburg airport at 12:48, en route to Columbia airport.

Travel pool #11: Leaving SC

The motorcade pulled up to AF1 at 1:37. POTUS paused as reporters shouted questions, but he didn't answer and he boarded AF1.

We're rolling toward takeoff at 1:44. The plan is to fly to Philadelphia and take Marine One/Ospreys to Delaware.

Travel pool #12: Philly

We touched down in Philadelphia at 3:04. POTUS stepped off AF1 at 3:20. He's boarding Marine One and pool is heading to Ospreys.

Travel pool #13: DANG

POTUS got off Marine One at 3:47.

He stepped into a SUV and we're rolling.

Travel pool #14: POTUS arrival at home

We arrived at the Biden residence at about 4. We did not see POTUS. Pool is heading toward our hotel.

Travel pool #15: Lid

We have a travel/photo lid. Good night everyone.