Pool Reports of January 16, 2025

WH in town pool report 2

Pool is gathering by Palm Room Doors at 1:30 pm for POTUS departure to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

WH in town pool report 3

Motorcade is rolling to joint base myer-Henderson hall at 1:40 pm.

WH in town pool report 4 - traveling with POTUS

Passed along from WH:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall:

Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor
Jon Finer, Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy National Security Advisor
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

WH in town pool report 5 - arrival

Motorcade stopped rolling at joint base myer-Henderson hall at 1:49 pm.

WH in town pool report 6 - inside

There are military exercises and the band is playing. POTUS is set to deliver remarks at a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony.

Risers are pretty full for ceremony decked out with American flag banners. The seal of POTUS and the DOD are shining on the walls.

WH in town pool report 7 - greeting

Passed along from WH:

Greeting the President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman upon arrival:

Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense, and his wife Charlene Austin
General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Sharene Brown

WH in town pool report 8 - seats

FLOTUS and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff took their seats at 2:08 pm.

Also Carlene Austin, secretary of defense Lloyd Austin's wife. Along with Joint chiefs chairman Cq Browns wife.

Austin was followed by VP to be introduced.

POTUS was introduced at 2:12 with cheers, claps and fanfare.

Cannons were set off outside. A video of it was played inside

WH in town pool report 9 - color/event

Prayers were given. POTUS walked onto floor and saluted. He was escorted around the room past each group. Claps greeted him when he was done.

He retook his seat at 2:19 pm.

Military exercises proceeded.

Everyone stood for advancement of colors and singing of national anthem.

POTUS and Austin were brought to the floor. FLOTUS was escorted onto the floor.

POTUS received award for distinguished public service. They referred to his support for Ukraine and Israel's right to defend itself.

Austin pinned medal to POTUS and gave him framed certificates.

FLOTUS wearing a bright red ensemble received medal for distinguished public service as well. They cited her support for military members and their families.

Austin placed the medal around FLOTUS's neck. She was also provided with big frame of two certificates.

They went back to their seats at 2:33 pm.

A group sang.

Passed along from WH:

The President is attending the Department of Defense Commander in Chief Farewell Ceremony.

Attendees

The First Lady
The Vice President
The Second Gentleman
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense, and his wife Charlene Austin
Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education
Acting Administrator Jane Nishida, Environmental Protection Agency
Director Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, and her husband David Davighi
Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative, and her husband Robert Skidmore
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administrstion
General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Sharene Brown
Colonel James D. Key, Command Chaplain
Gary Hardy, Chief of Ceremonies, Military District of Washington

WH in town pool report 10 - Brown/Austin remarks POTUS introduced

General Brown gave remarks starting at 2:45. He spoke of POTUS's service. He welcomed everyone to the event.

He thanked POTUS for giving him the opportunity to serve as chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

"Thanks for your leadership," he said.

Austin spoke next starting at 2:51 pm.

He welcomed everyone. He called him a "great foreign policy president".

"He helped America and the world recover from the pandemic."

He credited him for rallying free world" to help Ukraine.

Said he reinforced NATO. Helped Israel's security. Also mentioned ceasefire in Gaza. Crowd clapped after mention of ceasefire deal.

"His Leadership is rooted in his decades of expertise."

Austin thanked FLOTUS for her support for military and their families.

Crowd laughed at little tidbits Austin shared about POTUS.

"Mr. President, it has been an honor to serve with you"

He ended remarks at 3 pm. And introduced POTUS to speak

WH in town pool report 11 - POTUS remarks

POTUS walked down to floor at 3 pm to big applause.

He called military "One patriotic band of brothers"

"Serving as your commander in chief has been the greatest honor of my life"

He shared stories of soldiers and called the military fleet "simply greatest fighting force" in the world.

He said he still carries the list of troops killed and wounded in Afghanistan.

He said troops didn't hesitate to help Ukraine when he asked them too. He said we showed "the world America stands up for freedom."

"If we don't lead the world who will lead the world" POTUS said strongly.

He mentioned ceasefire deal and said road to it wasn't easy.

He mentioned military families and the work FLOTUS has done to support them.

"For the last time as commander in chief I want to say thank you thank you thank you."

He talked about funds used to help vets.

He talked about picking the first female service chief.

He called the US military the smartest, most well trained force on earth

He said we're the only nation in the world built on an idea - that we're all created equal.

He said all military deserves a special place in people's hearts.

He finished remarks at 3:21 to cheers and applause. Band played as POTUS sat down.

WH in town pool report 12 - end

POTUS clapped as groups exited the area and the band continued to play. He had a big smile on his face.

POTUS and official party exited from their seats at 3:32 pm to applause.

Pool was ushered out at 3:33 pm back to motorcade.

WH in town pool report 13 - departure back to WH

Motorcade is rolling from joint base myer-Henderson hall back to WH at 3:42 pm.

WH in town pool report 14 - arrival at WH

Motorcade stopped rolling back at WH at 3:50 pm.