Pool Reports of December 3, 2023

In-Town Pool Report 1

Pool call time has been pushed to 4 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report 2 - 2 minute warning

2-minute warning in East Room.

Pool is holding in the East Room for the president's speech ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors. The room is decorated for the holiday season.

Spotted in the East Room:

Secretary Blinken

Naomi Biden

In-Town Pool Report 3 - notes from East Room

The Kennedy Center honorees walked into the East Room at 4:27 p.m., followed by President Biden and Dr. Biden at 4:29 p.m. The president wore a suit and Dr. Biden wore a sparkly emerald dress.

President Biden spoke until about 4:46 p.m. He and Dr. Biden left the East Room at 4:47 p.m., followed by the five honorees. The honorees are Queen Latifah, Renée Fleming, Billy Crystal, Dionne Warwick, and Barry Gibb. An instrumental version of Warwick's "I Say a Little Prayer" played as the guests exited the room.

Below is a list of people spotted in the East Room (special thanks to AP's Josh Boak for help).

Jay Leno
Robert Di Nero
Kerry Washington
Debbie Allen
Rob Reiner
Alejandro Mayorkas
Mike Donilon
Neera Tanden
Bruce Reed
Karine Jean-Pierre
Evan Ryan

In-Town Pool Report 4 - gather

Pool is gathering for departure to Kennedy Center.

In-Town Pool Report 5 - headed to Kennedy Center

President Biden's motorcade is rolling from the White House as of 6:27 p.m.

Pool was already in vans and did not see President Biden get in his car.

In-Town Pool Report 6 - Kennedy Center arrival

The pool van separated from the president's car just before pool arrived at the Kennedy Center. Pool is now holding in a hallway near the theater and did not see President Biden exit his car.

See below from White House Press Office. The below information was sent while motorcade was driving to the Kennedy Center.

Traveling with the President and the First Lady en route to the Kennedy Center:

Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & 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
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

In-Town Pool Report 7 - show begins

The pool entered the Opera House at 6:49 p.m. The Opera House was full of people dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos. Singer Gloria Estefan, the evening's host, was on the stage.

President Biden and Dr. Biden were introduced at 6:51 p.m. They entered the Opera House and walked toward their seats on the balcony.

The National Anthem played shortly after the Bidens entered. President Biden placed his hand over his heart for the anthem.

The pool exited the room at 6:55 p.m. Pool is now holding in a small room near the Opera House.

In-Town Pool Report 8

Motorcade is headed to White House from Kennedy Center as of 10:14 p.m.

Pool did not see the president get in his car.

In-Town Pool Report 9 - lid

Motorcade arrived at White House at 10:20 p.m. Pool did not see President Biden exit his car. Press office called a travel/photo lid at 10:21 p.m.