Pool Reports of December 20, 2024

WH in-town pool report 1 - lunch lid

Good Friday morning. I'll be your print pooler for today.

The White House has called a lunch lid until 12:10 PM.

WH in-town pool report 2 - rolling to Children's National Hospital

Motorcade is rolling to Children's National Hospital at 1:39 PM.

From the loaded vans, the pool spotted the President enter the Beast after he and the First Lady stopped to take a group photo with interns assembled on the steps of the south portico.

The interns waved and cheered as POTUS departed.

POTUS is making his holiday visit to read to patients and their families.

WH in-town pool report 3 — arrival at Children's Hospital

Motorcade arrived at 1:50pm at Children's National Hospital, a little over 2 miles drive from the White House.

Pool unloaded separately and did not see POTUS exit his vehicle.

WH sends along:

"Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Children's National Hospital:

Ms. Michelle Riley-Brown, President & Chief Executive Officer, Children's National Hospital"

WH sends along who is traveling in motorcade with POTUS and FLOTUS:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
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
Tericka Lambert, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Digital Strategy
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
John Scanlon, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Strategic Planning and Senior Policy Advisor to the First Lady
Vanessa Valdivia, Special Assistant to the President & Press Secretary for the First Lady
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Greg Honan, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Message Planning

WH in town pool report 4 - hospital event color

At 2:16pm POTUS and FLOTUS entered the Costco Wholesale Atrium at Children's National Hospital, which had been extensively decorated with a large lit-up tree, piles of presents, flowers and two ceramic bears wearing Santa hats.

POTUS entered holding the hand of a young toddler before sitting down with FLOTUS.

In the intimate audience were several young patients, ranging in age from toddler and up, along with family members.

FLOTUS began reading from "The Night Before Christmas" while POTUS sat. He tossed a ball back and forth with a curious young toddler, who he continued to play with as FLOTUS read. The crowd chuckled as the boy launched the ball right at Biden.

"Reading and entertainment," FLOTUS joked when she finished the book.

Children's Hospital CEO Michelle Riley-Brown then thanked the Bidens. "We've never had a President join for four years straight," she said.

POTUS said he wanted to say something.

"This is a tough time to be here," Biden told the families. "Keep the hope. These guys are going to take care of everything." He pointed to a child sitting in the front row while saying there is a future president here someday.

After that the Biden's took a group photo with the families. Pool was ushered out and loaded into vans at 2:24pm as POTUS remained at the event.

Note: WH says the Bidens participated in a photo line before the reading with "Children's National patients and their families."

WH in town pool report 5 - returning to White House

Motorcade is rolling back to the White House from Children’s National Hospital at 2:38PM.

Pool did not spot POTUS entering his vehicle.

WH in town pool report 6 - back

Motorcade arrived back at White House at 2:46PM.

From inside the press van, your pooler briefly spotted POTUS and FLOTUS exiting their vehicle.

WH in town pool report 7 - travel/photo lid

The White House has called a travel/photo lid. Have a good evening!

WH in town pool report extra - shutdown update

Passing along information from the White House as Senate prepares for a vote on government funding legislation:

OMB has ceased shutdown preparations because there is a high degree of confidence that Congress will imminently pass the relevant appropriations and the President will sign the bill on Saturday. Because obligations of federal funds are incurred and tracked on a daily basis, agencies will not shut down and may continue their normal operations.