Pool Reports of January 5, 2024

In town pool report #1

The president emerged from the White House at 11:52 a.m. He acknowledged with a wave some shouts offering him a chance to talk about the border but continued walking in the cold to Marine One. Lift off was at 11:56.

In town pool report #2

From the White House:

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

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

Travel pool report #1 — JBA

Good afternoon from Andrews where it’s a brisk 36F and sunny. I’ll be your pooler for the president’s trip to Valley Forge and into the weekend.

The president landed at JBA at 12:07pm and stepped aboard AF1 at 12:10pm without stopping for questions.

From the White House:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Angela Ochoa, 89th Air Wing, Joint Base Andrews
Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
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

Travel pool report #2 — DANG arrival

Air Force One touched down at Delaware Air National Guard base at 12:41pm. The president stepped out at 12:50pm, kissed the First Lady who joined him and made his way to Marine One for the next leg.

Travel pool report #2a

More details from the WH:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Colonel Robert Monteleone, State Surgeon

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Valley Forge Landing Zone:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Travel pool report #3 — Valley Forge arrival

The president and First Lady touched down in Valley Forge park, PA at 1:19pm and entered the motorcade at 1:22pm.

The president stopped to shake hands and speak to park staff before getting into the vehicle and the motorcade was rolling by 1:25pm.

Details on the arrival from the White House:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Valley Forge Landing Zone:

Rosalyn "Rose" Fennell, Superintendent of Valley Forge National Historical Park
Brent Coons, National Park Service Program Manager
Bethany Dhunjisha, Interpretive Park Ranger
Jennifer McMenamin, National Park Service Facility Manager

Travel pool report #4 — wreath ceremony

The president pulled off within the park to observe a wreath laying ceremony at The National Memorial Arch, a monument to George Washington and his army that memorializes their encampment at Valley Forge over the winter of 1777-1778.

Accompanied by FLOTUS, the president chatted with a park ranger about the monument before observing the ceremony. He joined them in saluting as the wreath was brought under the arch and stayed on while the pool was brought to another stop in the park.

Travel pool report #5 — Washington’s HQ

The president’s motorcade made one more stop in the park to visit George Washington’s headquarters, a stone house he used during the winter encampment here.

The president’s entourage entered the house at 1:52, meeting inside and out of view of the pool.

Travel pool report #6 — park departure

After meeting inside for around 20 minutes, POTUS and FLOTUS left Washington’s headquarters at 2:09pm and spoke to a pair of park staff out front for a while longer.

Their conversation wasn’t audible but the president appeared to step aside and reflect for a few minutes.

The pool is back in the vans and rolling to the event space for the president’s remarks this afternoon shortly.

Travel pool report #6a — rolling

The motorcade was on its way and out of the park by 2:25pm.

Travel pool report #7 — arrival

The motorcade arrived at Montgomery County Community College at 2:50pm and the pool is gathered in the auditorium where the president will speak.

Travel pool report #8 — remarks

President Biden took the stage at 3:22pm to chants of "four more years."

He began by characterizing his remarks as "deadly serious."

Travel pool report #8a — details

Some background on the president’s remarks:

On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Montgomery County Community College:

Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
Senator John Fetterman (PA)
Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-02)
Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03)
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05)
Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04)

The President is delivering remarks at a campaign event. Here is the link to the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ictnsmrAntc

Attendees
Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
Senator John Fetterman (PA)
Senator Tom Carper (DE)
Senator Chris Coons (DE)
Governor Jay Carney (DE)
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM)
Governor Dan McKee (RI)
Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-02)
Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03)
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05)
Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03)
Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04)
Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez (WI)
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell
Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb
Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings
Delaware State Senator Sarah McBride
Florida State Rep. Shevrin Jones (District 35)
Supporters, advocates, stakeholders, and labor leaders

Speaking Program
Justin Douglas, Dauphin County Commissioner
The President

Travel pool report #9 — remarks concluded

POTUS finished speaking at 3:56pm. Pool is holding close by in a media room awaiting instruction.

Travel pool report #10 — departing MCCC

The president left Montgomery County community college at 5:09pm and we’re rolling.

Travel pool report #11 — lifting

The motorcade arrived at the Wings Aviation Center in Blue Bell, Pa around 5:20pm and loaded up to lift back to Delaware. Pool did not see POTUS board.

Travel pool report #11a

One more to share from the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Travel pool report #12 — DANG arrival

Marine One touched down at DANG at 5:54pm and the president was in the car right at 6:00pm. Pool is rolling.

From the WH:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Colonel Malcolm Murray, State Dental Officer

Travel pool report #13 — Delaware

The motorcade reached the president’s residence at 6:16pm, and the White House has called a lid.

Have a great weekend.

Travel pool report #14 -- week ahead

Passing along from the White House:

WEEK AHEAD 1/6 - 1/14

On Saturday and Sunday, the President and the First Lady will remain in Wilmington, Delaware.

On Monday, the President will depart Wilmington, Delaware en route to South Carolina.

In the afternoon, the President will depart South Carolina en route to Dallas, Texas.

In the evening, the President will return to the White House.