Pool Reports of July 14, 2024

In town pool report #1 - info on Biden Situation Room briefing

From the White House press office:

The President and the Vice President are receiving an updated briefing in the White House Situation Room from the following homeland security and law enforcement officials:

Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Justice
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Christopher Wray, FBI Director
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor
Kim Cheatle, Director of United States Secret Service

The following staff are participating in the briefing:
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Lorraine Voles, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Ed Siskel, Assistant to the President & White House Counsel

In town pool report #2 - Biden remarks scheduled for 1:30 pm

The White House updated the schedule with Biden remarks.

EDT

1:30 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks
Roosevelt Room
In-House Pool (Preset 12:45 PM; Gather 1:15 PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

In town pool report #3 - Biden reschedules Texas trip

From the White House:

The President is rescheduling his trip to Texas, which was originally planned for Monday, July 15.

In town pool report #4 - pool gathered

The pool is gathered in the Roosevelt Room for Biden's remarks.

In town pool report #5 - two minute warning

The White House gave a 2 minute warning for Biden's remarks.

In town pool report #6 - Biden remarks

President Biden walked into the room at 2:05 pm

He was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Biden said he spoke to Trump last night.

"I am sincerely grateful he is doing well."

"We had a short but good conversation."

"We cannot allow this to happen."

He called for "unity."

"Don't make assumptions" about the shooter's motiviation. "Let the FBI do his job."

He said he will give remarks from the Oval Office tonight to talk about coming together as a country.

He walked out of the room at 2:08 pm. He did not take questions. He was asked what he said to Trump and what Trump said to him, but he didn't stop.

I will send full quotes shortly.

In town pool report #7 - Biden adds Oval Office address at 8 pm tonight

From the White House:

Update:

Sunday, July 14, 2024

In the evening, the President will address the nation. This address in the Oval Office will be covered by the restricted pool.

EDT

8:00 PMTHE PRESIDENT addresses the nation
Oval Office
Restricted Pool (Gather 7:45 PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

In town pool report #8 - Biden remarks - fuller quotes

President Biden, speaking at the lectern in the Roosevelt Room:

"Last night, I spoke with Donald Trump. I am sincerely grateful that he is doing well and recovering. We had a short but good conversation. Jill and I are keeping him and his family in our prayers."

"We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed. He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired."

"We are also praying for the full recovery of those who were injured."

"As I said last night there is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter."

"An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything. It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American. And we cannot allow this to happen."

"Unity is the most elusive goal of all but nothing is more important than that right now. Unity. We'll debate and we'll disagree, that's not going to change. But we'll not lose sight of who we are as Americans."

He said he was just briefed in the Situation Room and will continue to be briefed.

"The FBI is leading this investigation which is still in its early stages. We don't yet have any information about the motive of the shooter. We know who he is. I urge everyone, everyone please, don't make assumptions about his motives or affiliations. Let the FBI do their job and their partner agencies do their job."

"I've instructed that this investigation be thorough and swift."

"As this investigation continues, here's what we're going to do. First Mr. Trump as a former president and nominee of the Republican Party already receives a heightened level of security. And I've been consistent in my direction of the Secret Service to provide him with every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure his continued safety. Second, I've directed the head of the Secret Service to review all security measures, all the security measures for the Republican National Convention which is scheduled to start tomorrow. And third, I've directed an independent review of the national security at yesterday's rally to assess exactly what happened. And we will share the results of that independent review with the American people as well. And finally, I'll be speaking more about this tonight at greater length from the Oval Office."

"We must unite as one nation to demonstrate who we are."

In town pool report #9 - lunch lid until 7 pm

The White House called a lunch lid until 7 pm.

President Biden's Oval Office remarks scheduled for 8 pm.

In town pool report #10 - Clarification on Situation Room attendance list

The White House press office sent a clarification on the Situation Room attendance list distributed in pool report #1.

The photo released by the White House showed USSS Deputy Director Ronald Rowe at the Situation Room table with President Biden. When your pooler asked about that, the White House says that Rowe attended in person and USSS Director Kim Cheatle attended virtually.

From the White House press office:

Kim Cheatle, Director of United States Secret Service joined the briefing virtually. Ronald Rowe, Deputy Director of the U.S. Secret Service joined in person.

In town pool report #11 - inside the Oval Office during address

President Biden sat at the Resolute Desk for the address. He spoke for just over 6 minutes. Furniture had been removed from the office to fit television cameras and lights for the live address.

The address was televised and can be viewed online.

Several advisors were seated along the interior wall of the Oval Office to watch his address. Next to the door was Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, then Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, an empty chair, then Anita Dunn, then Michael C. Donilon.

During the speech, Anita Dunn was following along with the transcript, nestled into a large green notebook, occasionally mouthing key lines.

The White House allowed some news photographers to take photos of Biden during his speech from outside the windows going out to the Rose Garden. After he finished speaking, Biden looked over to his right and said, "Who's that guy outside the window?" He had likely seen one of the news photographers.

In town pool report #12 - lid

The White House announced a lid at 8:17 pm