Pool Reports of January 10, 2025

In town pool report #1 - pool gathering

The pool is gathering for President Biden's Oval Office meeting about the Los Angeles wildfires. That meeting was initially scheduled to begin at 11:30 am.

In town pool report #2 - Oval Office meeting on LA fires ongoing

The pool was ushered into the Oval Office at 12:15 pm. President Biden was seated at the Resolute Desk. Vice President Harris and White House homeland security advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall were seated in learher chairs. A large video screen was set uo next to the desk. Governor Gavin Newsom, Mayor Karen Bass, and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell were on the screen.

Quotes from Biden:
"This is not going to be over even when the fires are out."

"We're going to be around."

The meeting is still in progress.

From the White House:

The President is convening key officials for an update on efforts to suppress the wildfires across Los Angeles and how the Federal resources he has directed are supporting the State and local response.

Participants
The Vice President
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor

Virtual Participants
Governor Gavin Newsom (CA)
Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Mayor Karen Bass, Los Angeles, California

In town pool report #3 - Biden took questions on the fires

Pool was ushered out of the Oval Office at 12:50 pm. After about 30 minutes of remarks from Biden and the officials in attendance, Biden took questions from reporters. C-Span posted video from inside the Oval Office meeting.

Here are some quotes:

Question: Are you coordinating with the incoming administration about this federal response?

Biden: "Everything they know, every single thing they know about this response. My hope is they at least acknowledge we have some significant experience in this. We've done really well on it, and I'm praying they continue to focus."

Question: Have you been told that the loss of life is likely to increase significantly in California?

Biden: "It is likely to increase. Whether it's significantly or not, we don't know yet. There are still a lot of people who are unaccounted for. We don't know where they are."

Question: How concerned are you about looting?

Biden: "That's why I provided more police officers and more military. Look, the DOD is in full bore with this, providing everything from security through military, National Guard, supplementing the National Guard, because there is clear evidence there is looting. There is clear evidence people are going into these survivor's places, even if they're evacuated and it's not all rubble, and people are going in and they're looting. So we know that will continue unless we make sure we are providing the help to prevent that."

Question: What will you be seeking from Congress? Is it a supplemental for this specifically or is it broader?

Biden: "I think whether I'm going to be here, there's just 10 days left, we're briefing the opposition–not the opposition—the incoming administration, on what they're going to have to do. Look, we have an awful lot of experience with this stuff, unfortunately. Climate change has been real. It's been real for the last four years of our administration. We've seen devastating impacts."

Question: Can you estimate the costs?

Biden: "I could tell you based on my experience what I think the costs will be. But I'm not going to do that because you don't know. We want to make sure we get a cost estimate that is real, that is thought through."

Biden: "One of the things that has got to change is we have to change they way we transmit energy. These high tension wire, the things that cause so much— remember we have someone from the other team saying we have to sweep the forest floor so we'll have no fire. The idea is, if we have these wires underground, which is a hell of a lot safer, we wouldn't have as many fires as we have now in the future, but it costs a hell of a lot of money to put it underground. So we are working on all those issues to determine what is needed. When I say build back better, build back in a way that will diminish the prospect that the change in the weather, in the environment is going to continue to cause this devastation. We can protect against much of it, but it is going to cost a lot of money."

In town pool report #4 - Briefing delayed until 2:30 pm, lunch lid

From the White House press office:

The press briefing will now begin at 2:30 PM. Lunch lid until 2:30 PM.

In town pool report #5 - Biden economy remarks added for 5 pm

The White House has added remarks to Biden's schedule for 5 pm.

Update:

In the evening, the President will deliver remarks on today's jobs report and the state of the economy. These remarks in the Roosevelt Room will be covered by the in-house pool.

EST

5:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on today's jobs report and the state of the economy
Roosevelt Room
In-House Pool (Pre-set 4:00 PM; Gather 4:45 PM– Brady Press Briefing Room)

In town pool report #6 - pool gathering for Biden remarks

Pool is gathering for Biden remarks on the economy and jobs report.

Remarks will be live streamed:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

In town pool report #7- 2 min warning

The White House just gave a 2 minute warning to President Biden's remarks.

In town pool report #8 - Biden remarks over

President Biden entered the Roosevelt Room at 5:55 pm. He gave remarks on the economy and jobs report and took questions.

After his remarks, reporters asked Biden about Russia sanctions, Venezuela, Ukraine and Havana syndrome, among other topics. When he was first asked about Havana syndrome, he spoke about the attacks in New Orleans and Nevada. When the reporter repeated the question, he said he hadn't had an updated briefing on Havana syndrome. He walked out of the room around 6:17 pm. Will send quotes shortly.

Biden on the economy: "We did it by fundamentally changing the economic policy of this country after decades of trickle down economics have primarily benefited those at the very top. Kamala and I and our administration have written a new playbook that's growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, that benefits everyone. The new playbook is working, but in ten days, our administration will end, and the new administration will begin, we're going to face another inflection point. Do we continue to grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up, as we have the past four years, or do we backslide to an economy, economic period that benefits those at the very top, while working people and middle class people struggle for their share of growth?"

In town pool report #9 - lid

The White House press office called a lid at 6:22 pm.

In town pool report #10 - Biden quotes

After his economic remarks, reporters asked about Russia sanctions, Pope Francis, Meta's decision on fact checking, pardoning himself, Ukraine, should Harris run again, Havana syndrome and what role he sees for himself after the presidency.

Here are some quotes:

Question on today's Russia sanctions: Can you explain why those sanctions were imposed today and not earlier in the term?

Biden: "The sanctions were imposed today because they will have a profound effect... for the Russian economy." "It will make it more difficult for him to conduct his wars."

Question: Did you speak to Pope Francis about canceling your trip to the Vatican and are you disappointed to not make that visit before leaving office?

Biden: "Well to be honest, I am disappointed. But it's much more important I stay here with all that's going on. He fully understands that. I did not personally speak to him, but the team spoke with the apostolic delegate. But I am disappointed."

Question: Have you ruled out pardoning yourself or any other additional members of your family?

Biden: For myself? What would I pardon myself for? I have no contemplation of pardoning myself. I didn't do anything wrong.

Question: Would you comment on Meta's decision to undo its fact checking operations in the United States? Was that a good decision in your opinion?

Biden: The whole idea of walking away from fact checking as well as not reporting anything having to do with discrimination with regarding TPS, I find to be, just contrary to American justice, American, the way we talk about one another. Telling the truth matters."

Question: Do you regret your decision to run for reelection? Do you think it made it easier for your predecessor to now become your successor?

Biden: I don't think so. I think I would have beaten Trump and would have beaten Trump." "I thought it was important to unify the party and when the party was worried about whether or not I was going to be able to move, even though I thought I could win again, I thought it was better to unify the party."

Question about Ukraine support

Biden: "I had a long talk with Zelensky today. I think as long as we continue to keep Western Europe united with respects to Ukraine, there is a real chance Ukrainians can prevail. Because the cost to Russia is incredibly high."

Question about whether Kamala Harris should run again

Biden: "I think she's competent to run again in four years. That will be a decision for her to make."

Question was asked about a change in the US intelligence assessment on the Havana syndrome. President Biden at first gave an answer about the attacks in New Orleans and Nevada.

When he was asked the question about Havana syndrome again, Biden said: "I don't have a full brief on that right now. I'm not going to comment on that."

Question: Can you give us a sense of what other pardons and commutations you are considering in your last days?

"It depends on some of the language and expectations that Trump broadcasts in the last couple days here as to what he's going to do. The idea that he would punish people for not adhering to what he thinks should be policy as related to his well being is outrageous. But there is still consideration for some folks, but still no decision."

Question: What kind of role will you have post presidency? Will you have a role or will you follow the Bush model where you are kind of out of sight, out of mind?

Biden: "I'm not going to be out of sight or out of mind."