Pool Reports of February 9, 2025

WH travel pool report 1 -- Mar-a-Lago

Good morning from South Florida.

Pool is holding in vans outside the president's Palm Beach country club home.

WH travel pool report 2 -- motorcade moving

At 0827, the president's motorcade is underway. There is no official guidance on where we're going, but it is a weekend morning.

WH travel pool report 3 -- arrival at golf

The president's motorcade turned into his golf course in West Palm Beach at 0836 following an uneventful three and a quarter mile drive.

Pool vans did not go to club, but instead to the hold room.

WH travel pool report 3a — Tiger Woods

Per the White House, the president is playing golf today with Tiger Woods.

WH travel pool report 4 -- back in vans

Pool is again loaded into the press vans, waiting to join the president's motorcade.

WH travel pool report 5 -- back in motorcade

The president's motorcade at 1230 left the president's private golf club in West Palm Beach and is headed east in the direction of his private country club in Palm Beach.

He was at his golf course for 3 hours and 54 minutes.

WH travel pool report 6 -- back at Mar-a-Lago

The president's motorcade turned back into the southwest entrance to Mar-a-Lago at 1238. The trip was uneventful. Small cluster of supporters with very detailed small print signs asking for the FBI to arrest some guy for allegedly doing some very bad thing.

Pool is holding in and around the vans across the street.

WH travel pool report 7 -- motorcade again

At 1428, the president's motorcade is again on the move, this time en route to Palm Beach International airport in West Palm.

WH travel pool report 8 -- at airport

The president's motorcade arrived at the airport at 1436 following the short drive and came to a stop beside Air Force 1.

The usual gathering spot on the causeway on the island side of the bridge had several dozen supporters with signs and flags. One read "keep our President safe."

Several hundred others were along Southern Boulevard, holding signs and waving.

President Trump was already out of the limousine and up the stairs by the time the pool could get to the plane.

We are headed for New Orleans where the president is scheduled to participate in pre-game activities at the Super Bowl and watch at least a portion of the game before heading back to Washington tonight.

The plane is still the modified Boeing 747, tail number 29000, that we flew on Friday to come here.

We will be in the air shortly.

WH travel pool report 8a - Superdome plane

Several senators were on the tarmac and got aboard the flight, including Sens Risch, Scott, McCormick, Britt and perhaps others.

Per the WH:

Upon arrival to Caesars Superdome, the President will participate in a meet and greet with the honorary coin toss participants including family members of the victims from the terrorist attack, members of the New Orleans Police Department, and emergency personnel.

WH travel pool report 8b — travelers

Per the WH:

The President is joined by the following guests on Air Force One:

Eric and Lara Trump
Ivanka Trump and her son
Secretary Doug Burgum and his wife
Representative Tom Emmer and his wife
Senator Dave McCormick and his wife
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator John Barrasso
Senator Tim Scott and his fiance
Senator Katie Britt
Senator Tommy Tuberville
Senator Roger Marshall
Senator Eric Schmitt and his wife

WH travel pool report 9 -- New Orleans arrival — 25 pct steel and aluminum tariffs coming Monday

The president held a 30-minute news conference in the middle third of the flight. Biggest news: Steel and aluminum tariffs coming Monday, 25 pct each. On Tuesday, an announcement of reciprocal tariffs on everyone.

Other topics addressed:

• taking over Gaza
• Need for Greenland for national and international security
• Refused to detail when and how often he spoke to Putin
• Said hostages being released look like Holocaust survivors. "I don't know how much longer we can take it."
• Unhappy with the judges ruling against him
• Would be great for Canada to join country without that "artificial line"
• Said Canada is "not a viable" country that is not spending enough on military because they assume the US will take care of them.
• J6 pardon recipients didn't assault anyone, rather they were the ones assaulted
• Gaza residents won't want to go back after they get other nice places to live
• Claimed that Elon Musk's financial disclosure was in fact public
• Said huge parts of federal spending are waste fraud and abuse and Elon and his group of high IQ people are finding it
• Nippon Steel could have a major "investment" in US steel, but not a majority stake.

More quotes coming after i can access better audio, but look for the transcript from WH and for full video from TV pool.

Air Force 1 touched down at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans at 1528. We were in the air for 1 hour and 34 minutes.

The reason for the press conference was to announce today as Gulf of America Day, to which end he signed a proclamation and had the flight crew announce that AF1 was now passing over the newly renamed Gulf of America.

WH travel pool report 10 -- motorcade

The president from the plane at 1542, came down the stairs and climbed into the limo awaiting him.

At 1545 his motorcade is rolling toward the Superdome.

WH travel pool report 11 -- Superdome arrival

The president's motorcade arrived at the Superdome at 1623, following a 27-minute drive along mainly back roads, much of the route had groups of supporters, waving flags, holding signs, some even saluting.

Pool was hustled inside and into the playing field.

We are awaiting the president's appearance.

WH travel pool report 12 -- president appears

The president came in through the tunnel at the corner of the Chiefs endzone and greeted some of the first responders and victims of the New Years Day terror attack.

He took some photos but then was off the field within two minutes.

A mix of cheers and boos went up when he came on the field.

WH travel pool report 13 — color

The president came on the field as images of various Eagles players were on the screen, so it's unclear how many of those on the stadium were aware he was even there.

Tulsi Gabbard was seated in front row, Eagles cap. She said was a fan of Saquon Barkley. Asked about her confirmation, she said "no comment."

Susie Wiles, asked about Trump's reception, said: "Good, right?"

Thanks to co-pooler Geoff Earle, again.

WH travel pool report 18a - protester on the field

Per TV pooler Jennifer Jacobs:

A man with the Palestinian flag got onto the field at the Superdome during halftime but was tackled by security. White House staff and reporters were already hustling to the motorcade at the time. Photos shared with me by an Iowan in the crowd.

Link.

WH travel pool report 19 — boarding AF1

The motorcade pulled up alongside Air Force 1 at 2027.

The president took some photos with local law enforcement, then waved at the pool under the port wing before climbing the stairs and getting aboard.

The plane should be airborne for Andrews soon.

WH travel pool report 20 — back at Andrews

Air Force 1 was back on the ground at Joint Base Andrews at 2332.

The 1 hour, 51 minute flight a bit bumpy through climb out and then about halfway, but nothing serious.

No visitors from the forward of the plane.

The president emerged from the plane at 2351 and walked down the stairs and to the waiting helicopter about 50 yards away.

He climbed aboard with a salute to the two Marines on either side of the forward door at 2352, and at 2358 Marine 1 was aloft, en route the White House.

Handing over to the in-town pool.

It's been an exhausting pleasure to be your travel pooler this weekend.

Have a good night.

You all should be in bed already, actually.

In-town pool #1 -- gathered for WH arrival

The pool has been called to gather at the Palm Room doors for President Trump's arrival at the White House.

In-town pool #2 — M1 arrival

Marine One touched down on the South Lawn at 12:08 a.m.

President Trump stepped off at 12:12 a.m. dressed in a suit and overcoat.

POTUS crossed the lawn and waved to the pool. He responded to one shouted question about when tariffs will go into effect, a reference to the steel and aluminum tariffs Trump said he would announce Monday.

"Tomorrow," Trump answered. He then added, "We have a meeting tomorrow."

Trump walked into the residence at 12:13 a.m.

In-town pool #3 - travel/photo lid

The White House press office called a travel/photo lid at 12:29 a.m.

Have a good night on this Super Bowl Sunday (now early Monday morning), and congratulations to all the Eagles fans out there.