Pool Reports of July 4, 2024

WH in-town pool report #1

Happy Independence Day from the White House.

POTUS is hosting a barbeque with active-duty military service members and their families this afternoon on the South Lawn, followed by a Fourth of July celebration and fireworks viewing later this evening. The First Lady, VPOTUS and the Second Gentleman are scheduled to attend.

The president did not have any other public events on his schedule today, but the White House did confirm he spoke earlier with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The North Portico is adorned with American flags and illuminated in red, white and blue lights. A storm is forecast, but expected to pass quickly.

Your pool is gathering for the start of the barbeque at the Palm Room doors.

WH in-town pool report #2

Gather for the barbeque has been delayed, White House says. The rain has started and your pool has returned inside.

WH in-town pool report #3

Your pool has been called to regather at the Palm Room doors.

WH in-town pool report #4 — POTUS arrives

POTUS emerged with FLOTUS and the secretary of defense from the South Portico at 6:08 pm ET under a light rain. He is wearing a blue suit and blue shirt, with a cap in hand brandished with the presidential seal.

After a prayer, FLOTUS is giving brief remarks. The president is about to begin speaking. Teleprompters are set up for the remarks. You can follow live at whitehouse.gov.

WH in-town pool report #5 — POTUS begins remarks

Defense Secretary Austin spoke after FLOTUS and introduced the president at 6:17 pm ET.

The White House passes along the following:

Attending the President and the First Lady's remarks at a barbecue for active-duty military service members and their families on the South Lawn:

Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense, and his spouse, Charlene Austin
Servicemembers, active-duty and National Guard military families, Cabinet members, and invited guests

Speaking Program
The Reverend Dr. Robert Wright Lee IV
The First Lady
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense and Introducer
The President

WH in-town pool report #6 — POTUS: "I'm not going anywhere"

POTUS began to work the rope line when staff came to talk to him. After an exchange out of earshot, POTUS took a microphone and spoke unscripted to the crowd. "There are 7,000 people waiting to gate to get in," he said, explaining that continuing the rope line would hold up the guests.

One guest yelled a message of support to the president. "I'm not going anywhere," he responded.

Your pooler will get exact quotes for you shortly.

WH in-town pool report #6 — POTUS ends remarks

[APP Note: This likey should be numbered as Report #7.]

POTUS ended remarks at 6:21 pm ET. He spoke for four minutes

WH in-town pool report #8 – POTUS' unscripted remarks

After explaining the number of guests at the gate, the president quoted a poem by John Milton and made other off-script remarks:

"'They also serve who only stand and wait.' I remember, when our son was deployed, my wife would go to the – stand at the sink in the morning, drinking her coffee, and saying that prayer, worried. Worried. Always concerned. And all of you – we owe you. This could not be done without the family's support. So thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

A supporter yelled, "keep up the fight. We need you."

POTUS replied, "you got me man. I'm not going anywhere."

He continued, "I'll come back out when they let – open the gate, okay? Thank you, thank you, thank you. One last thing. When I was senator, there was always congestion on the highways. There's no congestion anymore." The crowd laughed. "There's no congestion. So the way they get me to stop talking, they'll say, 'they just shut down the roads, Mr. President.'"

He said one other thing at the end of the remarks that your pooler cannot make out.

Apologies that the last pool report was numbered 6, when it was No. 7.

WH in-town pool report #9 – Attendees and run of show

Your pool is gathering for the July Fourth celebration.

The White House passes along the following:

In attendance for the President and the First Lady's Fourth of July celebration & remarks to celebrate Independence Day:

The Vice President
The Second Gentleman
Secretary Tony Blinken, Department of State
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense
Acting Secretary Julie Su, Department of Labor
Secretary Denis McDonough, Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Director Shalanda Young, Office of Management and Budget
Chair Jared Bernstein, Council of Economic Advisers
Director William Burns, Central Intelligence Agency
Military and veteran families, caregivers and survivors, National Park Service staff and families, Cabinet members and families, elected officials, members of the Biden-Harris Administration, and senior White House staff and families.

Attendees will enjoy musical performances from The United States Military's Premier Bands; singer-songwriter Angelica Hale; White Ford Bronco; DJ Mel, and country musician Tyler Childers. Musical ensembles from the U.S. Military's Premier Bands include "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, The United States Army Band, The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, The United States Navy Band, and The United States Air Force Band.

Run of Show

Cory Parker, U.S. Navy Chief Musician - The National Anthem
Angelica Hale
White Ford Bronco
The Vice President
The President
DJ Mel
The First Lady
Tyler Childers

WH in-town pool report #10 – Celebration begins

POTUS, FLOTUS, VPOTUS and the First Gentleman arrived on stage at 8:15 pm ET.

VPOTUS introduced POTUS, calling him an extraordinary president. They walked off the stage after very brief remarks to chants of "four more years."

You can follow live on whitehouse.gov.

WH in-town pool report #11 – POTUS on balcony

The president emerged on the South Portico balcony with his family at 9:00 pm, with Tyler Childers performing on stage down the lawn and the sun set. Guests are focused on the president. The fireworks are about to begin.

WH in-town pool report #12 – VPOTUS joins POTUS on balcony

The vice president has joined for the fireworks display with the first gentleman, and they clasped hands to applause as the show started.

WH in-town pool report #13 – POTUS, VPOTUS join hands again

Once the fireworks ended, for a second time, POTUS and VPOTUS joined hands and raised them to applause and chants of "four more years."

They exited the balcony with their families, including the first and second spouses, Hunter Biden, and others, at 9:28 pm ET. The event is over.

WH in-town pool report #14 – Lid

The White House called a lid at 9:50 pm ET. Happy Fourth.

WH in-town pool report #15 – Guest count

An additional note from the White House:

The White House hosted over 8,000 guests for the Fourth of July celebration on the South Lawn.