Pool Reports of February 20, 2025

In town pool report #1: Stephen Miller, Mike Waltz To Join Briefing

Good morning! 

I am your in-town pooler today. 

I've gotten a few questions on who the senior officials joining the briefings will be, so flagging this tweet from Karoline. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller will be joining the press secretary at the podium at 1 PM.

https://x.com/PressSec/status/1892579313175740750

In town pool report #2: WH fact sheet passed out

Thirty minutes until the briefing, a White House official passed out a nine page packet outlining the president's first month to those already standing in the briefing room. 

They were also placed on and under unoccupied seats. 

The packet is titled "America is Back  — and President Trump Is Just Getting Started." 

The contents of this packet were sent out by the communications office earlier, it is under the same title.

In town pool report #3: contents of the fact sheet

Attached are the contents of the fact sheet that was passed out. Each page is double sided. 

Your pooler can only send five pages at a time. Another email will follow. 

Please let me know if you have trouble receiving the images and I am happy to text them to you. 

It's come to your pooler's attention that the subject line of pool report #2 said "WH fact sheet passed out, revived by paramedics." After the comma is a mistake. Your pooler regrets the error.

In town pool report #4: more contents of the fact sheet

The other half of the fact sheet attached.

In town pool report #5: 2-minute warning

Until the briefing, called at 1:03 PM.

In town pool report #6: briefing underway

At 1:06 PM.

In town pool report #7: briefing concludes

The briefing ended at 1:55 PM.

In town pool report #8: gathering for Black History Month Event

FPPO, WH says to prepare for entry into the Black History Month event in the East Room at 3:10 PM

In town pool report #9: waiting for the event to start

The poll moved into the East Room at 3:33 PM. Guests were already packed into the room, standing room only, with no seats for attendees.

In town pool report #10: two minute warning

Until the Black History Month Event.

In town pool report #11: event underway, streamed live

The president entered the East Room at 4:06 PM alongside Tiger Woods. 

Attendees started chanting "Trump" and yelled out "we love you, Mr. President." 

The event and his remarks are being streamed live here, on the White House X account: 
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OdKrDrzPqwJX

In town pool report #12: Event Concludes, Pardon Czar

The event concluded at 4:30 PM. The president walked out of the East Room without taking any questions, his exit out of the room was not near the press. 

Some notes from the president's remarks: 

Trump announced that a statue of Prince Estabrook will be added to the new National Garden of American Hero's, established under an executive order he signed last month. 

Included in the garden will also be statues of 
Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin, according to Trump. 

Trump announced that Alice Johnson was at Black History Month event and says she will be his "pardon czar."

Trump announced that the head of Pfizer was in attendance at the event and the attendees loudly booed. 

Secretary Turner was invited up to speak and was cheered for loudly by attendees. 

"We pray for you everyday," Turner said to the president, which was met with loud cheers and shouts of "yes!"

Sen. Tim Scott, congressman John James, Sage Steele and Leo Terrell were also in attendance. 

"Should I run again? You tell me," Trump laughed after talking about black Americans' contributions in the 2024 election. Attendees started chanting "four more years," and Trump joked about the "controversy" his remarks would cause. 

Please check all quotes against the transcript. 
Here is your poolers otter recording: 

https://otter.ai/u/L-dx0_sOmrsPVW66xSBmjtrl8zo

In town pool report #13: dinner lid

Called at 5:09 PM until 6 PM

In town pool report #14: gathering to leave for Republican Governors Association

In town travel pool is gathering by the Palm Room doors to leave for the Republican Governors Association, taking place at the National Building Museum.

In town pool report #15: rolling

The motorcade is rolling to the national building museum

In town pool report #16: arrival

The pool entered the dinner at 7:27 PM. The pool is holding on a balcony over looking the dinner. 

The president has not entered the dinner.

In town pool #16: Trump enters, remarks underway
[APP Note: This is Report #17. See reporter's comment in Report #18.]

Trump entered the dinner at 7:35 PM while Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA played. He received a standing ovation. 

His remarks are now underway.

In town pool report #18: Trump remarks ongoing

Please note there are two #16 pool reports. "Trump enters" should be labeled #17.

The president's remarks are being streamed lived here: 
https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/pres-trump-speaks-at-republican-governors-dinner/431090

At the beginning of his remarks, Trump shoutout RNC chairman Michael Whatley who was in attendance and touted his election integrity efforts in the 2024 election. 

Talking about tariffs, Trump says he has been called by so many big companies that want to "beat" the tariffs. 

The president said that he believes that in the midterms, the GOP will increase their margins "by a lot" and that they will be a "big surprise." 

The president has touted the actions he has taken in the last month on the border, on tariffs, on biological men in women's sports and on energy.

Your pooler will send an otter link at the end of the remarks.

In town pool report #19: Trump's remarks conclude

The president's remarks concluded at 8:23 PM He spoke for 45 minutes. 

The pool moved out to the vans at 8:24PM. your pooler did not see the president exit the building. 

Below is your pooler's otter to his remarks: 

https://otter.ai/u/jKz6tVpo0_12HKkrrcmZWVFZAHI

In town pool report #20: rolling

The motorcade is rolling back to the White House at 8:28PM.

In town pool report #21: arrival at WH

The motorcade arrived at the White House at 8:32 PM.

Your Pooler did not lay eyes on POTUS.

In town pool report #22: lid

Called at 8:36PM.

That concludes Trump's first month of his second administration. 

Have a good night—