Pool Reports of February 27, 2023

Travel Pool Report #1 - Rolling

Good morning from Wilmington. The pool joined President Biden's motorcade near his home at 8:13 AM and we are rolling.

Travel Pool Report #2

President Biden arrived at Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle at 8:21 AM.

Pool loaded an Osprey and did not see Biden board Marine One. We are about to be wheels up.

Handing off to in-town pool.

Travel Pool report #3 - Travelers

One more.

Per the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Marine One from Delaware Air National Guard Base, New Castle, Delaware en route the White House:

Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Ashley Williams, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations

Good morning from the White House. I will be your pool reporter today. It’s 41 degrees in Washington. Your pool reporter is tested.

President Biden is running slightly behind schedule. We are now set to meet at the Palm Room door for the president’s arrival at 9:20 a.m.

Let me know if you have any questions. My contact info is below.

In-town pool report #2 gathering

Pool is gathering at the Palm Room doors for President Biden’s arrival.

In-town pool report #3 Biden arrives

President Biden walked off Marine One at 9:28 am carrying a book or binder under his left arm.

Reporters were gathered at the residence entrance, but Biden walked to the Oval Office and entered there at 9:29 am.

Biden did not take questions from reporters who shouted his way.

In-town pool report #4 brunch lid

The White House at 9:42 a.m. called a brunch lid until 2 pm.

in-town pool report #5

From the White House:

NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby will join Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the press briefing today.

in-town pool report #6 2-minute warning

A two-minute warning for the White House press briefing at 2:36 p.m.

in-town pool report #7 briefing begins

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre – with NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby -- started the press briefing at 2:38 p.m.

in-town pool report #8 briefing ends

The White House press briefing ended at 3:38 p.m. after exactly one hour.

In-town pool report #9

The pool gathered at 4:45 pm outside the Palm Room doors for the White House's African-American Month celebration.

In-town pool report #10

There appears to be a few hundred people in attendance at the White House African-American celebration. The East Room is packed wall to wall and all guests are standing. A green screen to the right of where Biden and Harris will soon speak reads "Black History Month" written in red, yellow and black.

The WH passes along the following:

In attendance for the President and the Vice President remarks at a reception celebrating Black History Month in the East Room:

Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense
Administrator Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency
Chair Cecilia Rouse, Council of Economic Advisers
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08)
Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
Rep. Al Green (TX-09)
Rep. Gwendolynne Moore (WI-04)
Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04)
Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07)
Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24)
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02)
Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05)
Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03)
Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33)
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31)
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14)
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02)
Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05)
Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05)
Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04)
Rep. Colin Allred (TX-32)
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19)
Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02)
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16)
Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11)
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20)
Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06)
Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04)
Rep. Don Davis (NC-01)
Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04)
Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13)
Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12)
Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30)
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)
Delegate Stacey Plaskett (Virgin Islands)

Run of Show
DuWayne Portis Jr., Youth Leader at Chicago Youth Service Corps and High School Senior at Lindblom Math and Science Academy
The Vice President
The President
Anthony Brown and group therAPy perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing"

Additional Performers
The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion Marching Band provided the musical backdrop as guests arrived for the event

In-town pool report #11 event begins

President Biden and VP Harris took the stage at the African-American History ceremony at 5:19 pm.

You can watch their remarks at all the usual spots including Whitehouse.gov/live

In-town pool report #12

After being introduced by DuWayne Portis Jr. — a high school student from Chicago — VP Harris started her remarks at 5:22 pm. She spoke for seven minutes.

"I think he's going to get in," Harris joked after Portis revealed he plans to attend Howard University, Harris' alma mater. "You make us so proud, so proud. You'll get in."

"Black history is American history, living history, a breathing history," Harris said. "History that we create every day, a history that we teach and celebrate."

Harris said: "Let us all be clear. We will not a as a nation ever build a better future for America by trying to erase America's past."

Biden began speaking at 5:30 pm and said Dr. Jill Biden, who just got back from Kenya, hoped to be there. He spoke for 20 minutes.

Biden called his administration "the most diverse" in White House history and acknowledged Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries in attendance.

Biden also gave a shoutout to the "Divine Nine" presidents of the nation's historically Black fraternities and sororities in attendance.

"I may be a white boy but I'm not stupid. I learned a long time ago about the 'Divine Nine.'"

Biden touted $6 billion his administration has given HBCUs, federal contracts to minority-owned companies, a historic number of Black women appointed to the federal judiciary and the SCOTUS appointment of Kentanji Brown Jackson.

"We need Congress to come together to pass police reform legislation," Biden said, also renewing his call to ban assault weapons.

"In America, hate will not prevail," Biden said.

Bide said despite his victories for Black Americans, some aren't aware of the progress. He asked supporters to help promote the wins. (Check quotes here please.)

On student loans:

"I'm confident the legal authority is there" Biden said of forgiving student loan, which is before the Supreme Court.

Biden got his biggest applause at the end when he appears to be reciting a gospel song.

In-town pool report #13

President Biden did not take questions from reporters on his way out of the East Room.

One reporter shouted, "When are we going to learn about the origins of Covid?" Biden walked past without acknowledging the question.

in-town pool report #14 lid

The White House called a lid at 6:10 p.m.

One more add: newly elected Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was among guests spotted in the crowd at the African-American History Month celebration not mentioned in the list from the White House.

Have a great night!