Pool Reports by Todd J. Gillman, The Dallas Morning News
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 29, 2024 10:06 |
Pool report #1/South Lawn The president is heading to the border at Brownsville, Texas. Open press departure from the South Lawn. Press and Marine One are standing by. Happy Leap Day. |
| February 29, 2024 10:23 |
pool report #2/Biden on Gaza as he heads to Texas President Biden emerged from the residence and briefly chatted. Do you expect a cease fire by Monday? "Hope springs eternal" but it might not be Monday. Gaza deaths. Working on it. Will that complicate negotiations? "I know it will" (may not be exactly quote) Something about frozen embryos. Said "I don't agree with that." Strode to Marine One. Chopper revved at 10:20 and lifted a minute later. Blue sky. Chilly and just above freezing. Better quotes to come. |
| February 29, 2024 10:58 |
pool report #3/Biden remarks on departure Apologies for delay and/or if you already saw this. Gmail somehow deleted the original. xxxxx Quotes from report #2 stand but these are more complete. Biden comments at open press Marine One departure as he heads to Brownsville, Texas: On Gaza, do you expect a cease fire by Monday? "Hope springs eternal. I was on the telephone with people in the region....Probably not by Monday, but I'm hopeful." Asked about more than a hundred civilian deaths in Gaza. Biden said he hasn't yet learned what happened. "I don't have an answer yet." Are you worried this will complicate negotiations? "I know it will." Asked about Catholic church calling IVF immoral because human embryos are destroyed. "I don't agree with that position." Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
| February 29, 2024 11:20 |
Pool report #4/gaggle will include Mayorkas Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will join Principal Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton for today's gaggle en route to Brownsville, Texas. |
| February 29, 2024 21:33 |
pool report #5/return to White House Marine One touched down on the South Lawn at 9:32 p.m. |
| February 29, 2024 21:38 |
Pool report #6/back from Texas The president walked from Marine One into the White House at 9:35 pm without stopping. He waved at the gathered press, and either ignored or didn't hear a question about Putin's nuclear threat. |
| February 29, 2024 21:44 |
pool report #7/final Feb. 29 pool report for four years The lid was called at 9:43 p.m. Look for the next Leap Day pool report in 2028. It has been an honor serving as your pooler. |
Pool Reports below by Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor
| Sent: | Reports: |
| February 29, 2024 10:36 EST |
Travel Pool Report #1 – Departure from JBA Good morning from a sunny and chilly morning at Joint Base Andrews. Marine One touched down at JBA at 10:30 and the president stepped off at 10:34, wearing a dark jacket, light blue shirt, and his aviators. He walked straight to Air Force One, waved, and boarded at 10:35. He stopped at the top of the steps to salute. The plane is set to take off shortly for Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport. POTUS is scheduled to give remarks at 3:30 PM CST at the Border Patrol Brownsville Station. Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton will gaggle onboard. It'll be streamed on the White House website. From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Colonel Paul Pawluk, 89th Air Wing Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to South Padre Island International Airport: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| February 29, 2024 13:36 CST |
Travel Pool Report #2 – Brownsville arrival/gaggle on flight AF1 touched down at BRO at 1:31 CST. Olivia Dalton, joined by DHS Secretary Mayorkas, held a gaggle on AF1 for about 27 minutes on various topics including immigration and aid to Gaza. They emphasized that the purpose of the trip is to hear from local officials and to put an emphasis on constructive collaboration across various levels of government. Mayorkas said there would be no executive action announced today. Please check the recording on whitehouse.gov and transcript for quotes. |
| February 29, 2024 13:52 CST |
Travel Pool Report #3 – Motorcade rolling The president deplaned at 1:44 pm wearing a dark blue jacket, grey pants, and black sneakers. He shook hands with the greeters and then he and Ms. Gonzalez hugged. POTUS spoke with the greeters and Mayorkas for a few minutes. He looked over when a pooler shouted a question about speaking to Netanyahu, but it's unclear if the president heard the whole question. He got into a black SUV at 1:47 and the motorcade is rolling at 1:51. From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at South Padre Island International Airport: Mayor John Cowen, Brownsville, TX |
| February 29, 2024 14:05 CST |
Travel Pool Report #4 – at the border Just outside the airport there was a crowd of people waving flags and holding signs. Pool saw a free Palestine sign, a Biden sign, and a 'don't tread on me' flag. One group looked to be an immigrant advocacy group, though pool couldn't make out exactly which one. The motorcade drove along a road with a border fence about 20 feet high running parallel to it, just inside the actual US-Mexico border, which is formed by the river. The motorcade drove through a gate in the fence and along a bumpy dirt road. On the other side of the fence, cars flying Trump flags were parked. The motorcade stopped at 2:02. The president will view the southern border and engage with CBP agents, per the White House. Note that cell service at this location is weak, so sending pool report now and next will follow asap. |
| February 29, 2024 14:17 CST |
Travel Pool Report #5 – viewing the border Pool gathered along the border by a landing on the river. Some CBP personnel were gathered near a truck with a trailer and boat, and some small ATV-type vehicles and another pickup truck. A boat waited in the water as well. There was a drone flying overhead as well. Around 2:09pm, Biden, wearing a blue ball cap, walked up with 2 CBP personnel and they stood looking towards the river and talking. They walked over along the gravel road and joined the larger group of CBP personnel and Mayorkas. Pool was too far to hear anything that was said. The whole group was about 10 people, in addition to the president. It's overcast, cool, and breezy. More to come. From the WH: The President is receiving a briefing at the border: Tour Participants U.S. Customs and Border Protection Participants Traveling with the President via motorcade: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| February 29, 2024 14:29 CST |
Travel Pool Report #6 – motorcade rolling Biden shook hands with a few of the CBP personnel and then walked over towards the ATVs where there were more CBP personnel. They stood next to a pickup truck with what looked like a camera on top of a 30 foot pool in anchored in the bed of the truck, facing towards the river. Pool was taken back to the motorcade while Biden was still speaking with the group by the river. The motorcade is rolling at 2:28. |
| February 29, 2024 15:00 CST |
Travel Pool Report #7 – border patrol station The motorcade drove back along the same dirt road along the border fence. The line of cars was still parked on the other side and a couple dozen people stood on the road flying Trump 2024 flags. Pool saw a handwritten poster that read 'No Mas Joe.' Along the way, the motorcade passed dirt fields lining the road and some clusters of houses. There was another, smaller group waving Trump flags. People stood along the road waving and filming on phones. After about a half hour drive, the motorcade pulled up to the Brownsville Border Patrol Station at 2:56, where, per the WH, the president will receive an operational briefing from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, USCIS, and ICE. From the White House: Jason Owens, Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, has joined the President in The Beast en route the next stop. |
| February 29, 2024 15:41 CST |
Travel Pool Report #8 – operational briefing The president entered a large room in the Brownsville Border Patrol Station at 3:14. Biden walked in through a door at the front of the room and shook hands with a line of people greeting him. The president and the briefers were all wearing microphones. A folding table with printed images sitting on it and two poster boards on stands. Pool couldn't make out exactly what was in the images or on the posters, though could see a map of Texas on both posters. CBP personnel in green uniforms stood at the front of the room. Some sat in seats to one side, as well. There were roughly 50 other people sitting in the audience, and more standing at the back of the room. Briefers spoke about: - the need for mission support technicians and other support personnel - needs with regards to narcotics enforcement - the need for more technology: cameras and sensors - not having a budget "constrains our ability" to secure the border, said Peter Flores, deputy CBP commissioner - Jason Owens, US Border Patrol chief, commended personnel for their work - Gloria Chavez, sector chief US Border Patrol, spoke about the need for drones to increase officers' safety, among other things Quotes: (please check against transcript) "One of the things we're trying to do is get thousands more" personnel, said Biden. (Referring to the families of personnel) "We owe them big for what you do. Thank you, thank you, thank you. We're going to get you more resources, come hell or high water," said Biden. "93,000 lbs of fentanyl - jeez," said Biden, looking at the table with printed paper and images on it. Biden then walked further into the room to stand in front of another poster for the USCIS portion of the briefing. "I love being an asylum officer. I wake up and choose to be an asylum officer every day. I believe in the mission," said Catisha Jackson. "But right now asylum officers are so overwhelmed," adding that she works 6 days a week. "We have the wherewithal to do this. We have the money, we have the capacity to do this," said Biden, referring to getting more asylum officers. "Most Americans don't even understand how complicated this is" said Biden. "I promise you, we're going to fight like the devil to get you this bipartisan proposal," said Biden. "At least you got some overtime. But my lord, it took a long time," said Biden to Ms. Jackson, while shaking her hand. The ICE portion of the briefing started next. "We talk about consequences, and with HSI we are all about consequences," said Katrina Berger, detailing actions that can be taken against cartels. "Support staff is often lacking across the board." "When I was last at the border a year ago, I witnessed the machines that detect fentanyl," said Biden, asking for someone to explain to the room how they work. "I just want the American people to know what we're trying to get done," said Biden, as he asked briefers to explain other detection technology "We can't afford not to do this, and we can afford to do it," said Biden. "I just admire not only your intellect and your courage and your judgement, but also that you're willing to keep at this," said Biden "I think the American people should know just how much combination of brisk work and dedication there is to get this done" From the White House: The President is receiving an operational briefing from CBP, ICE, and USCIS officials. Briefing Participants U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Briefing Participants U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Briefing Participants |
| February 29, 2024 16:06 CST |
Travel Pool Report #9 – Remarks Biden's remarks began at 3:41. It's live-streamed at whitehouse.gov/live. When he stepped up to the podium, he turned to the uniformed personnel behind him and said, "as my mother would say, excuse my back." He started by speaking about the Texas wildfires and help that's been deployed. A few quotes below, but please check against recording/transcript: "We're grateful for the brave first responders, risking their lives to save others." "When disasters strike, there's no red state or blue state where I come from. There's just communities and families looking for help." Now on the topic of the border: "Folks, it's really simple. It's time to act. It's long past time to act" "They desperately need more resources" to secure the border He spoke about agents working overtime, "making major sacrifices," over the last four years. "It's time to step up and provide them with significantly more personnel and capability. We also need more immigration judges to help handle the backlog" of 2 million cases. Cell service and wifi are weak, so sorry for delayed sends. From the White House: In attendance for the President's remarks: Local elected Officials, Stakeholders, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents. Speaking Program |
| February 29, 2024 16:27 CST |
Travel Pool Report #10 – photo line Mayorkas and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez spoke after Biden, who remained standing next to the podium. Mayor John Cowen Spoke last. The event ended at 4:03. Press shouted questions, but Biden didn't answer any and it's not clear whether he heard any specific questions. Pool was escorted out at 4:05 and Biden remains inside. From the White House: Participating in a photoline with the President: Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), and his spouse, Lorena Saenz Gonzalez The President is greeting mayors and local officials. |
| February 29, 2024 16:48 CST |
Travel Pool Report #11 – rolling The motorcade is rolling from the Brownsville Border Patrol Station at 4:48. Pool didn't see Biden enter his SUV. |
| February 29, 2024 17:10 CST |
Travel Pool Report #12 – Brownsville airport arrival The motorcade arrived at BRO at 5:05 after an uneventful ride. Passed people waving along the way. Pool didn't see Biden board AF1. Wheels up shortly for JBA. From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
| February 29, 2024 21:22 CST |
Travel Pool Report #13 – JBA and M1 liftoff Air Force One landed at JBA at 9:04 pm eastern time. The president deplaned at 9:15, holding a folder in his left hand. He saluted, shook hands with Colonel Ochoa, and walked directly over to Marine One, which lifted off at 9:22. During the flight to JBA POTUS spent some time sitting in the middle cabin of the plane with the door open, talking with Secretary Mayorkas and others. Handing it off to in-town pool now. A big thank you to the co-poolers for their help today! Good night! From the White House: Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews: Colonel Angela Ochoa, 89th Air Wing Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the South Lawn: Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of February 29, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/370475