Pool Reports of February 5, 2025

In-town pool report #1

Good morning. Pool is gathered for the 11am Pam Bondi swearing-in, which will take place in the Oval.

In-town pool report #2

Trump congratulated Bondi, calling her "unbelievably fair and unbelievably good"

"I know I'm supposed to say 'she's going to be totally impartial with respect to Democrats' and I think she will be as impartial as a person can be."

Bondi was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas, standing next to her husband and mom.

Bondi has 25 guests here in the room.

In-town pool report #3

POTUS declined to answer a question about his Gaza proposal, saying "this is just not the right time"

Asked what AG Bondi's top priority will be, POTUS: "Very simple, Make America Great Again. That's what we're going to do... She's going to take crime out of the system. As much as anybody can do that, she's going to do. We're going to make America safe again."

In-town pool report #4

Some more color on Pam Bondi's swearing-in for Attorney General:

The event lasted just over 8 minutes, ending at 11:31am.

POTUS spoke at a podium set up next to the Resolute Desk before and after the swearing-in.

After the swearing-in, POTUS and Attorney General Bondi posed for a photo with the official commission signed by POTUS that officially appoints Bondi to the position of Attorney General

In-town pool report #5 - Briefing ends

The press briefing ended at 1:41pm. It began at 1:05pm

Former ESPN host-turned influencer Sage Steele was sitting in the new media seat.

In-town pool report #6: pool gathered for EO signing

POTUS is scheduled to sign the No Men in Women's Sports executive order in the East Room at 3pm

In-town pool report #7: EO signing about to begin

East room is packed as we wait for POTUS.

Military band is playing outside. More than a hundred girls and young women of varying ages are assembled behind the podium and the small table where the women in sports EO will be signed. Many of the youngest ones are wearing uniforms and sports jerseys.

In the room:
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Glenn Youngkin
Lisa McClain
Mike Johnson
Steve Scalise
Greg Abbott
Byron Donalds
James Blair

In-town pool report #8: Trump

"From now on, women's sports will be only for women," POTUS says standing in front of rows of female athletes, parents, and young aspiring athletes.

"If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding."

Also mentions high Army recruitment numbers in December.

He spent most of the time giving shout outs to all the senators, governors, state attorneys general and House members who were in attendance, stopping to banter with some of them.

He's still going down his list, which also included advocates and groups who've worked on the women's sports issue.

In-town pool report #9 - Trump continued at EO signing

POTUS said DHS plans to deny visa applications "made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes."

Noted how packed the East Room was and the overflow outside. "I offered to build a ballroom at the White House...it was going to cost $100 million dollars."

He asked the girls behind him to gather around him before he signed the EO sitting at the table.

He distributed a few pens to the girls and greeted Tom Emmer and Greg Abbott on his way out.

Did not take questions. Pool escorted out of the East room at 4:17pm.

In-town pool report #10: Gov Abbott gaggle

Texas Gov Greg Abbott, who met with POTUS earlier today, took questions at the sticks just now.

Said he and border czar Tom Homan "stay in touch quiet often" and that he and POTUS discussed a number of topics including Texas' progress on securing the border (56 miles of border wall constructed, 18 additional miles in progress) as well has his offer to transfer 4,000 state jail cells for migrant detention.

Also confirmed that he discussed with POTUS his request for his state to be reimbursed $11 billion for its efforts on the border

He'll be back in Washington to push for that, he said.

His remarks ended at 4:53pm.

In-town pool report #11 - travel/photo called 6:15pm

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]