Pool Reports of January 30, 2024

WH in-town pool report #1/ Still awaiting departure

Hi everyone,

Greetings from the White House on a chilly day. The daily guidance said POTUS would depart from the south lawn at 9.45am but there is no sign of movement yet.

WH in-town pool report #2/ Pool gathers

Pool is now gathered outside the south portico for POTUS's departure.

WH in-town pool report #3/ Traveling with POTUS

From the White House press office:

'Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations'

WH in-town pool report #4/ POTUS speaks for two minutes

POTUS emerged from the south portico at 10.34am, stopped to talk to reporters and removed his sunglasses. He moved up the line and was difficult to hear. Reporters are now piecing together what he said but it does not seem there was any major news. More to follow.

WH in-town pool report #5/ POTUS quotations

Here are highlights from POTUS's comments on departure:

Asked if he has made a decision on how to respond to the attack in Jordan, POTUS replied: "Yes."

Asked if he holds Iran responsible, POTUS replied: "I do hold them responsible in the sense that they're supplying the weapons to the people who did it."

Asked if a direct link to Iran has been established, POTUS replied: "We'll have that discussion."

Asked about deterrence in the Middle East and what would be different this time, POTUS replied: "We'll see."

Asked about the threat of a wider war, POTUS replied: "I don't think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That's not what I'm looking for."

Asked if Donald Trump should be allowed on the ballot, POTUS replied: "[inaudible] that's fine."

Asked about the border, POTUS replied: "I've done all I can do. Give me the power. I've asked from the very day I got in office. Give me the border patrol.... Give the people who can stop this and make it work best."

WH in-town pool report #6/ Air Force One gaggle

The White House press office says the AF1 gaggle will begin at 12.03pm EST.

Live stream here:

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

WH in-town pool report #7/ Pool gathers

Pool has gathered at the south portico for POTUS's return from Florida.

WH in-town pool report #8/ Marine One lands

On a cold, clear night, Marine One touched down on the south lawn at 9.44pm.

WH in-town pool report #9/ No comments from POTUS

POTUS stepped off Marine One at 9.46pm, wearing a suit but no coat despite the cold and carrying a cellphone in his right hand. He saluted and walked alone across the south lawn, acknowledging reporters but not responding to any shouted questions. He went inside the south portico.

WH in-town pool report #10/ Lid

A travel/ photo lid was called at 9.54pm.

Travel pool report #1: JBA

Good morning from a cold and blustery JBA.

We are off on a fundraising swing through Florida.

Marine One landed at JBA at 10:48.

POTUS left M1 after talking briefly with the pilots. He walked directly to AF1, waved to the pool and boarded using the small steps.

We are bound first for West Palm Beach aboard Air Force one with tail number 29000.

Wheels up shortly.

History buffs, the last time AF1 did this we flew in over Mar-a-Lago...

Travel pool report #2: Travelers

From the White House

Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Angela Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing

_______

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Palm Beach International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Olivia Dalton, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Araz Pourmorad, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Presidential Scheduling
Megan Rooney, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Presidential Speechwriter

Travel pool report #3: West Palm Beach International Airport

Apologies for premature sending of arrival pool report. This replaces #3 that some of your received.

AF1 was wheels up from JBA at 11:02. Wheels down West Palm Beach 12:43.

Olivia Dalton and John Kirby gaggled en route for about 25 min. Best news was:

Gold star families call this morning before leaving White House. POTUS to attend dignified transfer

Response to attack will be 'tiered' but still working through exactly who was behind it and forensics of the drone attack.

Jake Sullivan met with Qatari PM sheikh al Thani - read out coming

No other notable visitors.

We did not see Mar-a-Lago as we approached the airport.

Travel pool report #4: greeters/motorcade

AF1 taxied past Trump Force One as we made way to parking spot. It was clearly visible from the starboard windows.

POTUS emerged into the Florida sunshine at 13:00 in his aviators using the short stairs. He saluted and then spoke with greeters for four minutes.

Motorcade rolling at 13:05. We are told it's a 30 min ride.

From the White House:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Palm Beach International Airport:

Mayor Keith James, West Palm Beach, FL
Mayor Maria Sachs, Palm Beach County, FL

From the White House on the Gold Star Families calls:

There were three separate calls.

Travel pool report 5: Holding

A hundred or more Trump supporters were lined up along the road just outside the airport. They held Trump 2024 signs along with homemade ones reading: 'Trump won,' 'Biden treason,' and 'f*** Biden.'

There were more people lined up along road in Jupiter, but these were more generally just a long for the view. We did pass one 'Hillary for prison' sign.

Motorcade passed Burt Reynolds Park and then pulled into the Holtec Center parking lot.

Another crowd of a couple of dozen here included a woman in a prison costume with a Biden mask, a gentleman giving us the finger and a lot of Trump 2024 signs.

Pool van peeled off at some stage and is now holding at the Pelican Club beside the water, just next to the venue where the event is taking place.

Travel pool report #6: event

Room is set out formally, with maybe 80 people in chairs or on stools, arranged in about eight rows. A stage is set up with lectern flanked by two US flags.

A bar is on one side, a view of the water beyond floor to ceiling windows on the other. As well as natural light, the room is illuminated by eight chandeliers.

The program is about to start.

From the White House:

On Behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign:

The President is attending a campaign reception in Jupiter, Florida.

Speaking Program
Sean Domnick
The President

Travel pool report #7: Remarks

POTUS took the stage at 14:07 to a standing ovation. Closes at 14:27

This is a summary of remarks. Newest stuff may be saying he would win in Florida. Nothing on Middle East.

As ever please check with the official version coming later from an actual stenographer...

'Let me start with the simplest message ... you are the reason I am president.'

'You're the reason Kamala Harris is a historic vice president, and you're the reason Donald Trump's the defeated president. You're the reason we're gonna make him a loser again.'

He talked about how he said he 'was running to restore the soul of America' in 2020 and people would ask him what he meant

'People don't ask me that question any more.'

'just think back to the mess Donald Trump left this country. The pandemic... an economy that was reeling.... look how far we have come. We vaccinated the vast bulk of America. We got through the pandemic.

'We know we have to do more and not everyone is feeling the consequences of the investment... inflation is now lower in American than any other country in the world' APPLAUSE

'We are starting to see evidence that the American consumer is feeling confidence in the economy that we are building.'

QUOTES WASHINGTON POST HEADLINE ... 'headline this weekend said quote "falling inflation and rising growth gave us the world's best recovery." The world's best recovery...'

SLAMMED TRUMP FOR HOPING FOR A CRASH

saying 'he hoped it would be in the next 12 months... President of the United States ... it's unbelievable. I think it's close to unamerican. How can anyone, especially a former president of the United States, wish for an economic crash that would devastate the United States

'Here's what he really means. Donald Trump knows the economy is really strong and getting stronger...

'He knows that while it's good for America it's bad for him politically.'

HERBERT HOOVER COMPARISON

'Trump is also the one president who said he doesn't want to be like Herbert Hoover. That's whaty he said.... he's already Herbert Hoover....

He's the only president other than Herbert Hoover who lost jobs ... more jobs ... fweer jobs when he left office than when he came to office.

'Yes. Donald Herbert Hoover Trump' LAUGHTER

GUN CONTROL

'We passed the most significant gun safety law in a decade.' APPLAUSE

'We're going to ban assault weapons in America... the most significant climate change investment in the history of the world...

'Imagine the nightmare if Trump had returned to office.... the recent deadly shool shooting in Perry..

'What did he have to say? It's hard to believe...

'"You just gotta get over it"

'I'm not making it up. It's almost unbelievable.

'We're not going to get over it. We're going to stop it.'

ROE V WADE

'Trump is now bragging about overtunring Roe v Wade.... taking away a woman's right to choose....

'Now they are planning a total ban across every state

'Well guess what, if Republicans pass a aban on the right to choose (WHISPERING) I will veto it.

'It's calle dinsurrection. And Trump says he is 'seeking to terminate elements of the US constitution.' And he embraces political violence.

2024 AND FLORIDA

Ends with 2020call to hold the Senate and win back the house.

'I think we can win Florida' APPLAUSE

Travel pool report #8: West Palm Beach

Motorcade arrived back at West Palm Beach International Airport at 15:24.

A couple of Biden supporters waited for our return to the airport. One held a 'Thank you for saving us' sign.

Motorcycle law enforcement officers lined up to say goodbye to POTUS after he stepped out of the Beast. He chatted with them for a couple of minutes and then boarded AF1 after saluting airmen at the steps.

Wheels up shortly.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Miami International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Olivia Dalton, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Araz Pourmorad, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Presidential Scheduling
Megan Rooney, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Presidential Speechwriter

Travel pool report #9: Florida comments at fundraiser

Apologies. I sent through an early draft of the reception remarks - the Florida line was garbled. It should read:

"We have to keep the White House, we have to keep the Senate and we have to win back the House. Here in Florida you've had a real dose of Trumpism.

At that point he made the sign of the cross, to laughter

"I think we can win Florida,' he added.

Again check with transcript from stenographer.

Travel pool report #10: Miami and Frank Biden

AF1 wheels down at Miami airport at 1605 after making the short hop from West Palm Beach.

Biden spoke with greeter and climbed into the Beast.

Motorcade rolling at 16:17.

We have an update to questions about a family member spotted getting off AF1 in West Palm Beach as we held briefly before departure.

From the White House:

The president was able to say a brief hello to his brother Frank. He lives nearby.

Also from the White House:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Miami International Airport: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County, FL

Travel pool report #11: Holding

Motorcade pulled up at a residential address with the sign Casa del Korge at 16:38 after rolling from airport. Pool is holding on a tennis court. There are a lot of palm trees.

Travel pool report #12: speaking program

Pool is still holding for event. In meantime passing this on from the White House

On Behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign:

The President is attending a campaign reception in Miami, Florida.

Speaking Program
Chris Korge
The President

Travel pool report #13: venue, remarks (no news) and protest outside

The event is set up at the back of the sprawling house. It looks down on a lake and guests are standing in an open air space beneath a canopy of palm trees and other unidentified trees.

A lectern is set up for POTUS on a raised terrace, about 15 feet from the audience. The audience was lit by lights on tall stands in giant, white, spherical lampshades

Queen's Radio Gaga was playing as the pool entered. Darkness was descending as our host Chris Korge began the formal part of the evening. It was hard to see the audience through the fronds of tropical plants from pool's vantage point.

Among the guests we could make out co-host of The View Ana Navarro, and Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County.

Korge in his introductory remarks said the event had raised $6.2 million.

POTUS began his remarks at 18:28. And ended at 18:42. As he finished the crowd started up a chant of 'four more years.'

The speech was the same as the first one, delivered by teleprompt from a stationary POTUS at the lectern. So nothing on Middle East or newsy.

Again it was a list of achievements and repeated hits on Trump and his MAGA friends.

'Trump and his MAGA Republicans want to repeal the historical climate legislation. Well, maybe they don't think this climate change is a problem. But the rest of us know it is.'

Again he ended with an exhortation to win Florida.

'There's truth and there's lies. And we have to make clear we stand with truth and we have to defeat the lies.'

'Here in Florida we have to mobilise and organise... and if we do that we will win Florida.'

Bruce's 'We Take Care of Own' was playing as pool was hustled out.

We are motorcading at 18:58.

As we left the venue we passed a group of maybe two dozen protesters with handmade signs. We could not read them in the darkness and at the speed we were traveling. But we could see a Palestinian flag.

Travel pool report #14: Miami airport

Motorcade pulled up to AF1 at 19:09, way ahead of schedule.

POTUS has already boarded by the time pool arrived.

Wheels up for JBA imminently

From the White House:

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

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Olivia Dalton, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Press Secretary
John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Araz Pourmorad, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Presidential Scheduling
Megan Rooney, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Presidential Speechwriter

Travel pool report #15: JBA

Air Force One wheels down at JBA 21:18.

John Kirby and Olivia Dalton came back for an OTR v informal chat en route

POTUS deplaned from the shirt steps, saluted greeter (deets below) and headed straight to Marine One, not responding to a shouted question.

Marine One was wheels up at 21:35.

Thanks to all my coworkers esp.Ken Thomas.

Handing off to in-town pool.

From the White House:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Angela Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the White House:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations