Pool Reports of January 8, 2024

Out of Town Pool Report #1

Good morning, I'll be your print pooler for today's marathon day trip from Wilmington to Charleston to Dallas and finally back to Washington. Your pool has been swept and is currently waiting in a pool van for the motorcade to AF1 for the first leg.

Out of Town Pool Report #2

At 9:33 am, the motorcade is on the move.

Out of Town Pool Report #3

The motorcade arrived at DANG at 9:41 am. Accompanying POTUS on the ride, per the White House, were:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations

Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room

POTUS boarded the small AF1 without stopping for questions.

Out of Town Pool Report #4

AF1 wheels up at 9:52 am.

Out of Town Pool Report #5

Traveling with POTUS per WH:

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

Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance

John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications

Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room

Out of Town Pool Report #6

AF1 landed at 11:12 am. KJP and John Kirby gaggled shortly before landing. Kirby said there are no plans to fire Austin and POTUS's main priority now is the secretary's health but added that processes and procedures will be reviewed to "try to learn from this."

KJP said POTUS had "complete confidence" in the secretary and pledged that the White House will be transparent with POTUS's health if anything were to happen.

Quick quotes:

Kirby: "The president's number one focus is on the secretary's recovery and he looks forward to having him back at the Pentagon as soon as possible. The president respects the fact that Secretary Austin took owners for the lack of transparency he also respects the amazing job he's done."

"There is no plan for anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job."

Will listen to tape and try to send more.

Out of Town Pool Report #7

POTUS disembarked without an overcoat on a gusty tarmac that felt colder than the official 50 degrees. He was greeted by Rep. Jim Clyburn, wearing a Black Clover baseball cap with his suit, and Jaime Harrison, the DNC chair. He did not take questions. The motorcade is on the move to Mother Emanuel at 11:35 am.

Others greeting POTUS per the WH:

Colonel Michael Freeman, Commander of the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston

Chief Master Sargent David Snarr, Command Chief for the 628th Air Base Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina

Out of Town Pool Report #8

After an uneventful motorcade, POTUS arrived at Mother Emanuel AME Church at 11:52 am.

Some further quotes from the gaggle and a more precise rendering of one from previous pool report:

Kirby: "The president's number one focus is on the secretary's recovery and he looks forward to having him back at the Pentagon as soon as possible. The president respects the fact that Secretary Austin took ownership for the lack of transparency. He also respects the amazing job he's done as defense secretary."

"We'll take a look at the process and procedure here and try to learn from this experience and" see "if there are changes that need to be made."

Kirby said it was for the Pentagon to respond to questions about the specifics of the secretary's elective procedure and added that he did not know how much POTUS knows about that but noted they spoke on Saturday.

Kirby: "There's an expectation that when a cabinet official becomes hospitalized, that that will be notified up the chain of command. There is that expectation."

He said the Situation Room checks each morning on the location of cabinet secretaries but it is "generic," meaning the city or general location. The Situation Room did not in this case know that Austin was in the hospital until the White House was notified.

Also, KJP pushed back on Trump's reference to Jan. 6 rioters as "hostages," noting that those taken captive in Israel on Oct. 7 were actually hostages. "It is grotesque to make those kind of comparisons," she said.

Accompanying POTUS in the motorcade, per the WH, were:

Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)

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

Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance

Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting

John Kirby, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications

Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room

Out of Town Pool Report #9

POTUS spoke from the pulpit at Mother Emanuel for 32 minutes. His appearance was open press and live streamed. At one point, a handful of protesters interrupted with shouts of "Ceasefire now." As they were escorted out, the audience began chanting, "Four more years."

The WH passes this along from the Biden-Harris campaign:

Pre-Program
Reverend Eric S.C. Manning, Head Pastor, Mother Emanuel AME ChurchBishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., Pastor, 7th District AME ChurchDr. Mary Rice-Crenshaw, 3rd Vice President of the Woman’s Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina.Reverend Helen Thomas, Vice Moderator for Cooper River Baptist Association

Program
Hymnal / Choir songReverend Eric S.C. Manning, Head Pastor, Mother Emanuel AME ChurchRepresentative Jim Clyburn (SC-06)The President

Out of Town Pool Report #10

Your pool held for a while in a small room opposite the church and is now in the vans waiting to depart for the airport. We have not seen POTUS since the end of the speech.

Per the White House:

The President is meeting with faith leaders, family members, and survivors of Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting.

Out of Town Pool Report #11

The motorcade departed Mother Emanuel at 3:52 p.m.

Out of Town Pool Report #12

POTUS is making an unannounced stop to shake hands at Hannibal's Kitchen, a family-owned soul food restaurant known, according to the Internet, for its "crab rice, shark steak & other Southern seafood specialties."

Out of Town Pool Report #13

POTUS, having shucked his tie and clutching a dark baseball cap in his left hand, entered the restaurant accompanied by Jim Clyburn and greeted the owners and patrons for a few minutes before your pool was pulled out.

He first approached the family of owners and addressed L.J. Huger. "Do you know these women?" POTUS asked with a grin, referring to Huger's two daughters standing next to him, Safiya Grant and Felicity Huger.

"I'm the old patriarch, like you," Huger replied jovially.

They chatted for a few minutes about children and grandchildren, then Huger introduced him to someone he called "a union man."

"Hey man, how are you?" POTUS asked.

He moved around the small dining room, taking selfies and chit chatting for a few minutes out of earshot of your pool.

Huger told your pool that he his daughters now run the restaurant. The restaurant's web site says it was founded in 1985 and named after the original family patriarch, Robert Lawrence Huger, who was called Hannibal. It has been a stop for other politicians over the years, including Hillary Clinton.

"Hannibal’s Kitchen isn’t one of those fancy restaurants with an exquisite atmosphere and finery," the web site says, "but it serves some of the best soul food cuisine in the area. Owner L.J. Huger says the family owned & operated restaurant has 'been feeding the soul of the city' for more than 40 years because what the restaurant lacks in ambience, they more than make up for in taste."

Out of Town Pool Report #14

Your pool spotted Mitch Landrieu in the clutch of aides outside the restaurant but he had nothing to say about his shift to the campaign.

The pool is now holding in vans outside the restaurant. WH passes this along from the campaign:

The President is recording an interview with Geno Jones, host of The Geno Jones Show on Star 99.7 FM. The interview will air on January 12th at 7:15am and re-air throughout the afternoon.

Out of Town Pool Report #15

Motorcade departs for the airport at 4:46 pm.

Out of Town Pool Report #16

The motorcade pulled up to AF1 at 5 pm. POTUS, still not wearing an overcoat on a brisk day, chatted with his greeters (listed below) for several minutes and took photos.

From the WH:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Charleston Air Force Base:

Reggie Burgess, Mayor of North Charleston
John Tecklenburg, Former Mayor of Charleston
Tracy Burgess, Wife of Mayor Burgess

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Dallas Love Field Airport:

Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06)
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
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room

Out of Town Pool Report #17

AF1 wheels up at 5:20 pm.

Out of Town Pool Report #18

AF1 was wheels down at 7 pm local time (8 pm DC time). No one came back during the flight.

Out of Town Pool Report #19

POTUS disembarked, still without overcoat but with his tie back on, followed by Jim Clyburn. He headed immediately to the Beast without taking questions and the motorcade was rolling at 7:15 pm.

Out of Town Pool Report #20

POTUS spent about five minutes in the sanctuary of Concord Church paying respects to Eddie Bernice Johnson, the longtime former congresswoman from Dallas who died on New Year’s Eve.

The church could hardly have been more different in appearance than the 19th century building now serving Mother Emanuel in Charleston. An elaborate modern facility, Concord Church hosted the wake in its Faith Sanctuary, a massive auditorium with a capacity of 3,000, a full band on stage, an elaborate audio-visual system and a pair of giant Jumbotron screens live-casting the event.

POTUS’s brief appearance stood in contrast to the program he was joining. Rather than a silent wake, it was a full program with speakers telling poignant and funny stories about Johnson. POTUS, on the other hand, made no remarks but simply entered unannounced after one of the speakers was done. The audience stood and applauded. Joined by Jim Clyburn, POTUS moved down the front row offering handshakes and hugs as a piano played soft background music. He then stopped in front of the casket, which was covered by an array of yellow flowers. He crossed himself, folded his hands together in prayer, kissed his hand and then briefly touched the casket. After greeting some other mourners, he made his way out again.

Rep. Gwen Moore was speaking when your pool was brought in before POTUS entered, followed by Rep. Gregory Meeks. POTUS entered after Meeks spoke. Sitting in the front row were House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other members of Congress including Bobby Scott. In the audience were prominent Dallas figures, including Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel under President George W. Bush. Scores of women wore white in honor of the late congresswoman.

The pool is now holding in vans outside the church.

Out of Town Pool Report #21

Motorcade departed at 8:36 pm local time (9:36 pm DC time) after just under an hour at the church.

Out of Town Pool Report #22

From the White House:

Welcoming the President as he pays his respects to the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson at Concord Church:

Pastor S.M. Wright, II, People’s Missionary Baptist Church
Dr. Micheal Waters, Abundant Life A.M.E. Church
Pastor Michael R. Hubbard, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor Bryan Carter, Concord Church
Dr. Denny Davis, St. John Church Unleashed

Out of Town Pool Report #23

Motorcade arrived back at AF1 at 8:59 pm local (9:59 pm DC time). POTUS boarded the plane and we're wheels up for home at 9:12 pm (10:12 pm).

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
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
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room

Your pool also spotted the DNC's Jaime Harrison.

Out of Town Pool Report #24

AF1 was wheels down at JBA Andrews at 12:22 am. No one came back during the flight.

POTUS disembarked, this time carrying a coat, though still not wearing it. Marine One was wheels up at 12:41 am. bound for the White House.

From the White House:

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

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 Operation
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting

And with that, good night from your pool. Thanks to fellow poolers who made a long day more fun and to the staff who helped us get where we needed to be when we needed to be. Take the rest of the night off.

In-town Pool Report 1/Return

Marine One landed on the South Lawn at 12:50.

President Biden walked into the White House residence three minutes later without responding to shouted questions about Lloyd Austin's health and reporting about Kyiv's mayor.

We have a lid!