Pool Reports of July 1, 2024

WH pool report 1 — Beryl

The WH press shop passes along this:

The President and his team are closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl, and are in touch with territory and local officials. USAID and FEMA have resources and supplies pre-staged in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist. The President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all U.S. citizens in the region. The President urges residents to heed the warnings of local officials.

WH pool report 2 — call time moved up

The press office just informed the pool that call time has been moved up to 1700, in anticipation of an earlier than planned arrival by the president.

WH pool report 3 — statement at 1945

The WH just added this to the schedule:

The President will deliver remarks on the Supreme Court's immunity ruling. These remarks in the Cross Hall will be covered by the in-house pool.

EDT

7:45 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the Supreme Court's immunity ruling
Cross Hall
In-House Pool (Gather 7:30 PM – Palm Room Doors)

WH pool report 4 — Marine 1 arrival at Fort McNair

The president's helicopter touched down at 1848 at Fort McNair, the Army base at the junction of the Anacostia and Potomac rivers.

The president stepped down off the craft onto the drill field grass, in a blue suit, blue tie and aviator sunglasses and accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, and walked to his waiting limousine.

He did not answer shouted questions from the pool but did wave.

The motorcade is underway, en route the White House, at 1854.

WH pool report 5 — return to White House

The president's motorcade pulled into the North Lawn driveway at 1902 following an uneventful 3-mile, eight min drive.

The press vans were too far back to see him enter the building.

Per the WH press office:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to the White House:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady

WH pool report 6 — awaiting the president

Pool was escorted to the Cross Hall and positioned across from the doors leading to the Blue Room at 1940.

A lectern with the presidential seal is set facing the North Portico doorway. Teleprompter screens are to either side.

The president's remarks will be carried live at the White House web site:

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

WH pool report 7 — 2 min warning

[APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.]

WH pool report 8 — Biden begins

The president entered through the Blue Room doors at 1945.

WH pool report 9 — Biden finished, no questions

The president spoke for five minutes with harsh criticisms about the Supreme Court decision.

He took no questions about his decision not to drop out of the race.

Quotes coming ASAP.

WH pool report 10 -- quotes and lid

The press office declared a lid at 1956.

Some quotes from the brief remarks:

"Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what the president can do."

"It's a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, even including the Supreme Court of the United States. Those limits will be self imposed by the president alone."

Biden recounted Donald Trump's incitement of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and said the Americans deserved to have a trial on those actions before the election, but now the court's ruling has made that impossible.

"Now because of today's decision, that's highly, highly unlikely. It's a terrible disservice to the people in this nation."

"The American people must decide whether Donald Trump's assault on our democracy on Jan. 6 makes him unfit for the highest office in the land."

"Perhaps most importantly, the American people must decide if they want to entrust the president, once again, the presidency, to Donald Trump, now knowing that he will be more emboldened to do whatever he pleases, whatever he wants to do."

Biden quoted from Justice Sotomayor's dissent, repeating her fear for American democracy.

"The president is now a king above the law."

"So should the American people dissent. I dissent."

"May God bless you all, and may God help preserve our democracy."