Pool Reports of February 2, 2025

Out of town pool report #1: Rolling

Good morning. The motorcade is rolling from Mar-a-Lago as of 9:03 a.m.

President Trump has been posting on Truth Social this morning. He does not have any public appearances on his schedule today, but will advise if anything changes. He is set to return to the White House later this evening.

Out of town pool report #2: Golf club arrival

Motorcade arrived at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach at 9:10 a.m. after an uneventful drive.

Just like yesterday, the pool vans peeled off from the rest of motorcade as it entered the property, and we are holding across the street.

Out of town pool report #3: Leaving golf

The motorcade was rolling from Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach at 2:16 p.m. A small group of supporters had gathered across the street from the entrance with large pro-Trump flags.

Out of town pool report #4: MAL return

Motorcade arrived back at Mar-a-Lago at 2:24 p.m. after an uneventful trip. A couple dozen onlookers were gathered near the entrance.

Pool is now holding at the property.

Out of town pool report #5: Departing MAL

The motorcade was once again rolling from Mar-a-Lago at 4:58 p.m.

Out of town pool report #6: Departing Palm Beach

Motorcade arrived at the Palm Beach airport at 5:05 p.m. The President boarded Air Force One at 5:07, before the pool could get over under the wing to shout questions.

Air Force One will be wheels up for the return flight to JBA momentarily.

Out of town pool report #7: Trump remarks at JBA

Air Force One landed at JBA at 7:01 p.m. after an uneventful flight with no visitors to the press cabin.

President Trump deplaned at 7:15, and he made his way over to the pool and spoke/took questions for about 10 minutes. Fuller quotes to come, but some highlights:

-He spoke about tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He said he is speaking Monday morning with PM Trudeau of Canada and with leaders from Mexico.

To lift tariffs, he said Canada and Mexico would have to balance out the trade deficit and stop fentanyl from coming into the U.S.

Asked if Elon Musk is doing a good job: "I do. I think Elon is doing a good job...smart guy. Very smart."

On USAID: he said "radical lunatics" are running the agency.

He spoke about cutting off funding to South Africa, something he posted about on Trith Social.

Marine One lifted off at 7:30 p.m. Handing off to the in-town pool. Will send fuller quotes ASAP.

Out of town pool report #8: Trump quotes

Apologies for the delay- fuller quotes below. Please check against transcript/video.

On Panama Canal (before Q&A):
"China is running the Panama Canal. It was not given to China, it was given to Panama foolishly. But they violated the agreement, and we're going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen."

Is Elon Musk doing a good job?: "I think Elon is doing a good job. He's a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won't agree with it and we'll not go where he wants to go. But I think he's doing a great job. He's a smart guy. Very smart. And he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal budget."

On possible response to Canada's retaliatory tariffs:
"It's been a one way street. We subsidize Canada to the tune of about $200 billion a year. And for what? What do we get out of it? We don't get anything out of it...Something is going to happen there. If they want to play the game, I don't mind, we can play the game all they want. Mexico, we've had very good talks with them."

Asked about South Africa:
"Terrible things are happening in South Africa. The leadership is doing some terrible things, horrible things. So that's under investigation right now, we'll make a determination, and until such time as we find out what South Africa is doing, they're taking away land, they're confiscating land and actually they're doing things that are perhaps far worse than that."

Asked about possible UK/EU tariffs:
"The UK is way out of line, and we'll see. The UK, but European Union is really out of line. UK is out of line but I'm sure that one, I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union, it's an atrocity what they've done."

Will tariffs lead to higher prices?
"We may have short term a little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world. We have deficits with almost every country, not every country, but almost, and we're going to change it. It's been unfair."

USAID:
"It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out. USAID, run by radical lunatics, and we're getting them out, and then we'll make a decision."

Has he spoken with anyone from Canada or Mexico?
"I'm speaking with Prime Minister Trudeau tomorrow morning and I'm also speaking with Mexico tomorrow morning. And I don't expect anything very dramatic. We put tariffs on. They owe us a lot of money, and I'm sure they're going to pay."

What do Canada/Mexico have to do to have tariffs lift?
"They have to balance out their trade, number one. They’ve got to stop people from pouring into our country, and we’ve stopped it. They haven’t stopped it. We’ve stopped it. They have to stop people pouring in, and we have to stop fentanyl. And that includes China."

In town pool report #1 - arrival at White House - no newa

President Trump arrived back at the White House at 7:45 pm. He walked off Marine One on the South Lawn and did not stop to answer shouted questions. He looked at the press and pumped his fist in the air as he walked into the South Portico.

In town pool report #2 - lid

The White House press office called a travel  / photo lid at 8 pm.