Pool Reports of December 31, 2024

Travel pool report #1 — Gather

Good morning from St. Croix, where it is 77 degrees and partly cloudy. The pool has gathered outside the property where the president has been staying on vacation the last 5 days. We've been swept and are holding in the vans.

He is scheduled to depart St. Croix at 10:15am AST (9:15am EST) for Wilmington, Del. Please see full WH guidance below:

AST

10:15 AM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands en route to Philadelphia International Airport
Henry E. Rohlsen Airport
Out-of-Town Pool

EST

12:45 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia International Airport
Out-of-Town Pool

12:55 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Philadelphia, Pennsylvania en route to Wilmington, Delaware
Philadelphia International Airport
Out-of-Town Pool

1:10 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive in Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware Air National Guard Base
Out-of-Town Pool

Travel pool report #2 — Motorcade rolling

We did not see the president enter his vehicle but joined the motorcade outside the property at 9:36am.

We are rolling to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix.

Travel pool report #2b — Motorcade travelers

From the WH:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Kelly Scully, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary

Travel pool report #3 — Boarding, wheels up

The motorcade arrived at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport at 10:06am AST.

On the way, we passed several groups of people, including what appeared to be locals, vacationing families and a group of construction workers, all waving and cheering on the motorcade. Some were holding printed signs that said "Thank you Joe." One man held up a handwritten sign "Free Palestine."

The president and first lady were greeted on the tarmac by USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., USVI Rep. Stacey Plaskett and her spouse. They stopped to take photos with them and a long line of dozens of other people, including law enforcement and families with children. WH did not name them and pool did not recognize anyone.

The sun was hot on the tarmac. The president was wearing a light blue jacket, dark blue pants and aviators. The first lady wore a dark blazer, white pants and sunglasses. They boarded Air Force One at 10:20.

We are wheels up shortly to Philadelphia International Airport. Flight time is approximately 3 hours. We are schedule to arrive at 12:45pm EST.

From WH:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport:

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (VI)
Rep. Stacey Plaskett, (VI-At Large), and her spouse, Jonathan Buckley-Small

Participating in a photoline with the President and the First Lady:

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. (VI)
Rep. Stacey Plaskett, (VI-At Large), and her spouse, Jonathan Buckley-Small

Travel pool report #3b — AF1 travelers

From WH:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Philadelphia International Airport:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Kelly Scully, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary

Travel pool report #4 — Wheels down in PA

Air Force One was wheels up in St. Croix at 10:30am AST and wheels down in Philadelphia at 12:50pm EST.

Travel pool report #5 — Marine One lifting to DANG

The president came down Air Force One at 1:02pm, wearing a baseball cap and hand in hand with Beau, the young son of Hunter Biden. The president helped him carefully climb down the steps.

The first lady, Hunter and his wife Melissa followed after. They boarded Marine One at 1:04pm. Pool headed to the Osprey and is lifting at 1:10pm to DANG.

Travel pool report #5b — Marine One travelers

From WH:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Travel pool report #6 — DANG arrival + motorcade rolling

Marine One touched down at DANG at 1:28pm. The president and first lady got off at 1:34pm and walked over to a large group of law enforcement officials in uniform. Per WH they are taking photos with local New Castle police, Delaware State police and Wilmington police.

Hunter Biden and family exited from the opposite side of the helicopter, away from press, and walked to their own vehicle.

POTUS and FLOTUS got in their vehicle at 1:40pm.

POTUS did not approach the pool or acknowledge shouted questions while boarding or deplaning AF1 today.

Motorcade is rolling from DANG at 1:42pm to the Biden home, per WH.

From WH:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Colonel Jason Brugman, Deputy Commander of the 166th Airlift Wing
Major Timothy Stoeckle, Executive Officer of the 166th Airlift Wing

Travel pool report #7 — Arrival at Biden residence

The motorcade reached the Biden residence outside of Wilmington, Del. at 1:53pm.

Pool will be heading to a nearby location to hold.

Travel pool report #8 — Gathering for OTR

Pool has returned to hold outside the Biden residence. We are waiting in the bus for an off the record movement.

Travel pool report #9 — Motorcade rolling

Motorcade is rolling from the Biden residence at 3:54pm.

Travel pool report #10 — Arrival at church for private event

At 3:58pm the motorcade arrived at the president's family church, St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Greenville, Del.

POTUS appeared to be walking inside when our vehicle pulled up. WH has said it's a private event so pool will not be let out of the bus.

Travel pool report #11 — POTUS briefed on power outages in Puerto Rico

Passing along from the WH:

The President has been briefed by Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall on the widespread power outages across Puerto Rico. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm spoke with the Governor of Puerto Rico and at the President's direction offered to provide any federal assistance that they need to speed power restoration.

Travel pool report #12 — POTUS & FLOTUS are attending wedding

Passing on from the WH, info on the OTR stop at St. Joseph on the Brandywine church:

The President and the First Lady are attending the wedding ceremony of Missy Owens and Nic Lutsey.

Travel pool report #13 — Departure from church

The motorcade pulled out of the church complexions at 4:55pm. It started raining just moments before.

We did not see the president but saw a dozen or so people in formal attire walking out the front of the church.

Travel pool report #14 — Arrival at Biden residence

The motorcade returned to the Biden residence at 4:59pm.

Pool is moving to a nearby location to hold once again.

Travel pool report #15 — More on Puerto Rico

From the WH:

The President spoke by phone this evening with Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi to discuss the widespread power outages across Puerto Rico and offer any federal assistance that they need. The President also spoke by phone with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and directed her to continue to offer any assistance the Biden Administration can provide to speed power restoration for the people of Puerto Rico.

Travel pool report #16 — Gathering for second OTR

The pool bus has returned to position outside the Biden residence, holding for a second OTR movement.

Travel pool report #17 — Motorcade rolling

Motorcade is rolling from the Biden home at 6:27pm.

Travel pool report #18 — OTR at Longwood Gardens

At 6:49pm the motorcade arrived at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Penn, an event space about 10 miles north of Wilmington. It started pouring rain as we arrived.

Pool is holding in a room inside.

Travel pool report #19 — POTUS, FLOTUS departing wedding reception

Per WH, POTUS and FLOTUS attended the wedding reception of Missy Owens and Nic Lutsey.

We did not see the president. The motorcade departed the location at 10:12pm, we are rolling.

Travel pool report #20 — Lid

The motorcade dropped POTUS off at his home at 10:30pm.

And we have a lid — happy new year!