Pool Reports of February 12, 2025

Pool report #1: Two-minute warning for press briefing

Good afternoon,

A two-minute warning was called for today's press briefing with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

Pool report #2: Briefing ends

WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt concluded her press briefing at 1:53 p.m.

Pool report #3: Gather for Oval Office event

The WH instructed pool to gather in the briefing room and head to the Oval at 3:36

Pool report #4: Trump’s remarks at Oval Office ceremony for Tulsi Gabbard

President Trump began his initial remarks at 3:38 pm, and finished speaking at 3:42 p.m., at which time AG Pam Bondi administered the oath

More complete remarks/transcript TK

- Tulsi, I want to just congratulate you, your husband, Abraham, your sister and all of your friends, friends here, you have a lot of friends overall, fighting, fighting for your work
-Gabbard is an American of extraordinary courage and patriotism
- at 21 she became the youngest woman elected to Hawaii state leg
- deployed 3 times in Army National Guard
- continued to serve as lieutenant colonel for the U.S. Army Reserve
- She is a former Vice Chair of the National Democratic Party. Can you believe that? And here she is. But she was never a Democrat
- Throughout our service, Tulsi has always distinguished herself as a leader of the highest caliber, she's earned the respect and admiration the love of Americans on both sides of the aisle as her profound commitment to the values that keep us free, and she really does have those values as much as anybody.

Pool report #5: Gabbard’s remarks in the Oval

After she was sworn in as DNI, Gabbard began speaking around 3:45 p..m. Remarks below:

Mr. President, first and foremost, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for the trust that you have placed in me to fulfill this critical position as director of national intelligence at any time, but specifically during this time.

unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they've seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security.

So I look forward to being able to help fulfill that mandate that the American people delivered to you very clearly in this election to refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.

As you said, Mr. President, this is what I've dedicated my life to, and it is truly humbling to be in this position to serve in your administration help to rebuild that trust and ultimately to keep the American people safe.

Last thing I'll mention that in your National Prayer Breakfast speech, you made a statement about your legacy of wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker. I know that I can speak for many of my fellow service members who are here today, veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, how deeply that resonates with us.

For those who volunteer to put their lives on the line when duty calls, but to have a president, commander in chief who recognizes the cost of that sacrifice and ensuring that war is the last resort, not the first. So thank you for your leadership. On behalf of my friends here and all who wear the uniform, we're grateful

Pool report #6: Oval Office Q&A with President Trump

Around 3:48 p.m., President Trump addressed questions from the pool. The timestamp is 10:02 At the Otter recording link:

https://otter.ai/u/7i3kVvckR3ecR3mHbMGYFH9VqzI

We were escorted out at 4:15 p.m.

Pool report #8: Travel/photo lid

Travel/photo lid was called around 6 pm