Pool Reports of January 2, 2024

Out of town pool report #1 - call time pushed to 3:45 pm

Greetings from sunny St. Croix where the pool's call time has been pushed from noon to 3:45 pm local time (a reminder St. Croix is one hour ahead of East Coast time).

POTUS is scheduled for departure at 6:45 pm local time.

Out of town pool report #2 - motorcade rolling

At 5:59 pm local time the motorcade is rolling to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix.

Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS.

More tk...

Out of town pool report #3 - airport arrival and photo line

Motorcade arrived at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, at 6:31 pm local time (which is one hour ahead of the East Coast).

POTUS and FLOTUS did a photo line with greeters (see below) and local law enforcement on the tarmac in front of the stairs to Air Force One.

U.S. Virgin Island Gov. Bryan was holding what appeared to be a gift bag. He was holding it while talking to POTUS. Biden aide Jacob Spreyer took the bag.

The Bidens spent about 20 minutes chatting and boarded AF1 at 6:51 pm, evading pool's attempt to call him over for a chat.

Pool observed Natalie Biden and a friend board AF1 via the back stairs while POTUS and FLOTUS were in the photo line.

Ride to airport was uneventful. At various points onlookers waved and held up their cell phones.

At 6:53 pm AF1 is preparing for take off.

Flight time to JBA is approximately four hours.

From the White House:

The President called Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to congratulate her on her inauguration.

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands:

Governor Albert Bryan Jr., USVI
Rep. Stacey Plaskett (USVI)
Kristen Hodge, Director for U.S. Virgin Islands, FEMA
Honica Jeffers
Nadia Bougounea
Christopher Wilson
Bill Bohlke
William Craft
Sanni Craft
Bill and Connie Neville
Local fire and police personnel

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Olivia Dalton, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Olivia Dalton, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

Out of town pool report #4 - wheels down JBA

AF1 was wheels up St. Croix at 7:02 pm local time and wheels down JBA at 9:11 pm eastern time.

There were no visitors to the press cabin during the somewhat bumpy flight.

AF1 is taxing. More tk…

Out of town pool report #5 - Marine One take off

POTUS and FLOTUS exited AF1 at 9:24 pm.

He was followed by granddaughter Natalie, her friend and FLOTUS. He wore a suit jacket but no coat.

Natalie hugged FLOTUS and POTUS. She and her friend walked to the JBA terminal. POTUS and FLOTUS went to Marine One.

It's unclear if POTUS heard shouted questions on whether Senator Menendez should resign and what are his top priorities for the week. He didn't stop or acknowledge the pool.

Marine One was wheels up at 9:32 pm.

Thanks to the great St Croix pool this past week. Handing POTUS off to the in town pool.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to the South Lawn:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

In-Town Pool Report #1 — Arrival

Marine One touched down on the South Lawn at 2142.

POTUS and FLOTUS disembarked and walked towards the residence. POTUS answered one question on what he planned to do about the southern border, responding as follows (please check against official transcript):

"We gotta do something, they gotta give me the money I need to protect the border."

In-Town Pool Report #2 — Lid

White House press office called a lid at 2147

In-Town Pool Report #3 — clarified POTUS quote

After reviewing the audio playback, it appears POTUS said "they ought to give me the money," not "they gotta give me the money".

Again, please check against official transcript when it comes out.

Good night, folks