Pool Reports by Alex Gangitano, The Hill
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 1, 2024 07:45 |
In-town pool report #1- rolling Good morning. It's a chilly morning at the White House. President Biden is rolling as of 7:44am for the Capitol to attend the National Prayer Breakfast. |
| February 1, 2024 07:50 |
In-town pool report #2- traveling with Passing along-- Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the National Prayer Breakfast: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| February 1, 2024 07:55 |
In-town pool report #3- arrival Motorcade arrived at the Capitol at 7:51am. Pool saw Biden walk in 3 mins later. He answered a shouted question- Some republicans are calling the border deal a non starter, will the border deal get done? Biden: "We'll see, I will try" |
| February 1, 2024 08:14 |
In-town pool report #4- program begins Biden walked in with Speaker Johnson and minority leader Jeffries at 8:11am. Run of show--
Passing along-- Greeting the President upon arrival to the United States Capitol Building: William McFarland, Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives And— Participating in a greet with the President at the National Prayer Breakfast: Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) |
| February 1, 2024 08:19 |
In-town pool report #5 Biden is seated in the front aisle with Johnson next to him and Sen. Gillibrand across the aisle from him. Andrea Bocelli just sang and Reps. Mann and Mrvan are now speaking. Passing along-- In attendance for the President's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast: Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) Pre-Program Speaking Program |
| February 1, 2024 09:05 |
In-town pool report #6- Biden remarks Biden began speaking at the prayer breakfast at 9:04am You can watch in the usual place- https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/ Highlights from earlier- Biden appeared to wipe his eye with a tissue while Bocelli sang Amazing Grace. He sat with his legs crossed and what appears to be a program on his lap. He looked on while Johnson and Jeffries gave readings from the Old Testament and while Senate Chaplain Barry Black gave the keynote address. He looked down, with his head bowed, for a couple seconds at the start of Rep. McBath's reading. Her and Rep. Ciscomani read from the New Testament. When Biden got up to give his speech, attendees all stood up and clapped. |
| February 1, 2024 09:17 |
In-town pool report #7- end of remarks Biden wrapped his remarks at 9:15am. The audience stood up and applauded after his remarks. Sens. Blackburn and Gillibrand are now speaking. |
| February 1, 2024 09:30 |
In-town pool report #8- event wraps Biden watched Bocelli sing his last song and he was the first to stand up to clap as soon as it ended. The president then rushed over to shake hands with him briefly, then returned to his seat. He bowed his head with his hands together in his lap during a prayer from Rev. Kibben. And he stood up and read along during the closing prayer. As soon as the event ended, Gillibrand walked up to hug him. He greeted others and left at 9:29am. Pool is now being ushered out. |
| February 1, 2024 09:38 |
In-town pool report #9- rolling back to WH Motorcade is rolling back to the White House at 9:37am. We did not see Biden leave the Capitol. To note-- right as the event ended, Biden reached out and shook hands with Johnson. Then Gillibrand and Biden hugged. |
| February 1, 2024 09:47 |
In-town pool report #10- back at WH Motorcade returned to the White House at 9:42am. Biden entered the building a few minutes later. |
| February 1, 2024 12:12 |
In-town pool report #11- rolling to JBA Biden is rolling as of 12:12pm for JBA to take off for his Michigan trip. Pool did not see Biden enter the motorcade. |
| February 1, 2024 12:35 |
In-town pool report #12- JBA Biden arrived at JBA at 12:31pm. Handing off to my colleague on out-of-town pool! |
| February 1, 2024 13:12 |
In-town pool report #13- gaggle in 20 Passing along- Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby will gaggle aboard AF1 at 1:30 PM EST. |
Pool Reports below by Brett Samuels, The Hill
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 1, 2024 12:40 |
Travel pool report #1: JBA Good afternoon from JBA. I'll be your travel pooler for the president's trip to Michigan. President Biden's motorcade arrived in front of Air Force One at 12:35 p.m. He stepped out of the vehicle and boarded the plane without talking to reporters. Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby are scheduled to gaggle during the flight to the Detroit area, and you can listen to that on the White House website. We should be wheels up shortly. From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Colonel Angela Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing |
| February 1, 2024 14:04 |
Travel pool report #2: Michigan arrival Air Force One was wheels up from JBA at 12:46 and wheels down at Selfridge Air National Guard Base at 1:56 p.m. Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby spoke for about 22 minutes en route, fielding questions on the EO on the West Bank and the president's travel to Michigan today. Karine said administration officials would travel to Michigan this month to meet with community leaders and hear their concerns. Otter link here in case of issues with the stream, apologies for any stuffy audio. https://otter.ai/u/TfGKcnylv4vZOOdcqGiKDTsbs4g Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI) |
| February 1, 2024 14:14 |
Travel pool report #3: Rolling President Biden deplaned at 2:05 and chatted with greeters. He was followed off the plane by Rep. Dingell and Sens. Peters and Stabenow. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was among those waiting for Biden on the tarmac. Motorcade is rolling as of 2:11 to our first stop. |
| February 1, 2024 14:17 |
Travel pool report #4: Michigan greeters From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Governor Gretchen Whitmer (MI) |
| February 1, 2024 14:46 |
Travel pool report #5: Restaurant stop Motorcade arrived at our first destination at 2:39. We are at a They Say restaurant in Harper Woods, Mich., where dozens of patrons are gathered around the bar and in booths. President Biden entered the building at 2:44 and began making the rounds, shaking hands, chatting with restaurant staff and customers and posing for photos. More to come. |
| February 1, 2024 15:08 |
Travel pool report #6: Restaurant color President Biden made his way around the bar and restaurant at They Say for roughly 20 minutes before pool was escorted out. He stopped at several booths and chatted with customers sitting at the bar, posing for photos, shaking hands and making conversation with each group before moving on. He FaceTimed with someone on at least one customer's phone. His conversations occurred out of earshot of the pool, and we were shuffled around the restaurant to make way as he worked different sides of the bar. Sens. Peters and Stabenow and Rep. Dingell were also in the restaurant and chatted with folks inside as Biden made the rounds. ESPN and Fox Sports One played on large TVs above the bar with coverage of the NFL playoffs and Iowa's Caitlin Clark moving into second all time in women's college basketball scoring. On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign: The President is meeting with Black Faith leaders at a Black-owned restaurant in the Metro Detroit area. |
| February 1, 2024 15:27 |
Travel pool report #7: Rolling from restaurant Motorcade is on the move from the restaurant at 3:27 p.m. Pool did not see POTUS exit the building. |
| February 1, 2024 15:53 |
Travel pool report #8: UAW event arrival Motorcade arrived at our next destination -- a UAW training site in Warren, Mich. -- at 3:50. We are a short drive away from a major General Motors campus Much of the drive was on highways, but your pooler did not spot any protests along the route. |
| February 1, 2024 15:58 |
Travel pool report #9: UAW event details On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign: The President is participating in a political event at the UAW Region 1 Union Hall in Warren, MI, where UAW members will be volunteering at a phone bank ahead of the MI primary. |
| February 1, 2024 16:56 |
Travel pool report #10: POTUS remarks At 4:39 p.m. POTUS entered a large conference area where about 100 UAW members are phone banking ahead of the state's primary on Feb. 27 (see previous pool report). Biden, who was greeted with loud applause, began speaking at 4:49, pacing around the middle of the room as he spoke into a handheld microphone. He spoke for about seven minutes. No news, but some highlights below. "To me it's a basic, basic thing, and I mean this sincerely. Wall Street didn't build the middle class. Labor built the middle class, and the middle class built the country." Biden's mention of trickle down economics drew boos from the room. He spoke about his efforts to secure investments by Samsung during a trip to South Korea. And he credited labor for the U.S. having the "strongest economy in the whole damn world." Biden talked about skeptics who predicted "China's gonna eat our lunch. Well guess what, man? We don't taste that good." Biden was accompanied by UAW president Shawn Fain, Sens. Peter and Stabenow, Rep. Dingell and Gov. Whitmer, who he described as the "best governor in the country." Biden was introduced by Fain, who said "We're going to fight like hell and we're going to ensure Joe Biden is the next president." On one wall, there are red, white and blue posters arranged to spell out "UAW 4 JOE." Another wall has posters that say "Unions heart Joe," "UAW for Joe" and "Joe for UAW." Pool is now holding in a separate room. |
| February 1, 2024 17:52 |
Travel pool report #11: Rolling from UAW hall Motorcade is rolling from the site of the UAW event at 5:50 p.m. Pool did not see POTUS exit the building or get into his vehicle. |
| February 1, 2024 18:00 |
Travel pool report #12: Stop and protesters Motorcade arrived at the next stop at 5:55 after a very short drive. Details below. We have encountered our first visible protest of the day outside the Simple Palate restaurant. Protesters were waving Palestinian flags, chanting "Genocide Joe" "How many kids have you killed today" and "F*** Joe Biden." It's difficult to tell how many protesters there are, but they are being a megaphone to amplify their chants. Pool is holding in vans. On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign: The President is sitting down with local UAW members for a "kitchen table conversation" about the impact his agenda is having on their lives. Among the members he will meet are a worker he walked the picket line with this past Fall, and a UAW mother who is in the union along with both of her adult children. |
| February 1, 2024 18:01 |
Travel pool #13: Details on current stop On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign: The President is participating in a political meeting at Simple Palate Restaurant. |
| February 1, 2024 19:04 |
Travel pool #14: Departing political meeting Motorcade is rolling from the Simple Palate restaurant at 7:02 p.m. after a little over an hour. Pool spent the entire stop holding in vans across the street. The anti-Biden chants mentioned in the previous pool report were audible throughout the stop. |
| February 1, 2024 19:31 |
Travel pool report #15: Departing Michigan Motorcade arrived back at the tarmac at Selfridge Air National Guard Base at 7:26 p.m. after an uneventful drive. Pool did not see POTUS board the plane. We will be wheels up shortly for the flight to Philadelphia. From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Philadelphia International Airport: Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| February 1, 2024 20:47 |
Travel pool report #16: Philadelphia arrival Air Force One landed at Philadelphia International Airport at 8:44 p.m. Karine Jean-Pierre, Ben LaBolt and Gene Sperling came back to the press cabin for an off the record chat during the flight. |
| February 1, 2024 21:06 |
Travel pool report #17: POTUS departs Philadelphia POTUS deplaned Air Force One at 9 pm and made his way over to Marine One without talking to reporters. Marine One lifted for Delaware at 9:05 p.m. Handing off to the supplemental pool from here. Have a great night. From the White House Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base: Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations |
Pool Reports below by S.V. Dáte, HuffPost
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 1, 2024 21:27 |
WH supplemental pool report 1 – arrival at air guard base The president's helicopter set down at the Delaware Air National Guard base in New Castle at 2120. The president stepped out of Marine 1, shook hands with Col. Farmer of the Delaware Air National Guard, and climbed into his waiting SU. At 2126 his motorcade is underway. Per the WH press office: Greeting the President upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base: Colonel Chris Farmer, Chief of Staff, Delaware Air National Guard |
| February 1, 2024 21:44 |
WH supplemental pool report 2 – president at his residence and lid The motorcade traveled the eight and a half miles to the president's home without incident, arriving there at 2140. Once there, WH press declared a lid for the evening. Have a good night. |
Related Images
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of February 1, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/369650