Pool Reports by Tyler Pager, The Washington Post
| Sent: | Reports: |
| June 13, 2024 09:14 CEST |
Out of town pool report #1: Jake Sullivan briefing Good morning from the president's RON. We are gathered for Jake Sullivan's briefing. It is expected to start shortly and NSC press sent arojnd a Zoom link earlier this morning. |
| June 13, 2024 09:50 CEST |
Out of Town Pool Report #2: Sullivan briefing over Jake Sullivan's briefing ended after about 22 minutes. He gave an overview of the president's schedule for the day, highlighting working sessions focused on Africa and Ukraine followed by a session on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, which will feature the CEOs of Microsoft and Blackrock. Later, Biden will sign the bilateral security agreement with Zelensky followed by a press conference. Sullivan said leaders would also discuss the latest negotiations related to Israel's ceasefire proposal and the increasing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. As always, check quotes against transcript. When asked how upcoming U.S. elections may impact G-7 discussions, Sullivan said, "One of the great things about the G7 is we're all democracies so the leaders here don't get to pick and choose how things go politically in their country, day in, day out." He added: "His goal is going to be to do as much as possible to reinforce the idea that the United States is best served if we are closely aligned with our democratic allies and partners." On the frozen assets deal, Sullivan said, "We are on the verge of a good outcome here," declining to share additional details. Sullivan declined to confirm that the U.S. will send another Patriot missile system to Ukraine and said an announcement would not come today. The pool is now holding ahead of our movement to the summit site. |
| June 13, 2024 11:13 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #3: Motorcade rolling The motorcade started rolling from the RON at 11:11 am. We are headed to Borgi Egnazia for the arrival |
| June 13, 2024 11:22 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #4: arrival After an uneventful though beautiful ride past fields of olive trees, the motorcade arrived at Borgi Egnazia at 11:20 a.mz From the White House: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Borgo Egnazia: Antony Blinken, Secretary of State |
| June 13, 2024 11:32 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #5: POTUS arrival POTUS arrived at 10:25 and greeted PM Meloni with a hug. Meloni had been waiting for POTUS, who was the final world leader to arrive. The two had a brief conversation but the pool was too far away to hear. POTUS then signed a G-7 poster. The other leaders returned to the stage, shaking POTUS' hand as they got in position for the family photo. The photo was taken outside the resort underneath a canopy. POTUS and PM Kishida briefly chatted during the photo. The leaders exited at 11:29 am. |
| June 13, 2024 11:35 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #5a: potus arrival time POTUS arrived at 11:25, not 10:25. Apologies for the typo. |
| June 13, 2024 11:43 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #6: pool spray The pool was brought into a small conference room at 11:35 as PM Meloni was already speaking. The pool was not provided any translation devices and she spoke in Italian the entire time. Her remarks were broadcast on the G-7 livestream so please check feed for her comments. The leaders were seated around a large wood table with POTUS in between Meloni and Kishida. Daleep Singh was seated at a table behind POTUS. POTUS is wearing a blue suit and a blue tie. Once Meloni concluded speaking at 11:38, the pool was escorted out of the room. From the White House: The President is attending Working Session I of the G7 Summit on Africa, Climate Change, and Development. Participants: |
| June 13, 2024 12:12 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #7: SAO briefing The pool is holding at a clubhouse at the San Domenico Golf course, down the street from the Borgo Egnazia. The White House says a senior administration official will come to the pool hold around 12:30 for a background briefing. |
| June 13, 2024 13:22 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #8: POTUS in working session II The pool is still holding but on passing from the White House: The President is attending Working Session II of the G7 Summit on the Middle East. Participants: |
| June 13, 2024 13:41 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #9: SAO briefing The briefing with the SAO just wrapped as the pool is being pulled for the next pool spray. I'm including a link to the otter here and will send quotes and highlights shortly. For awareness, the opening part about the PGI is on the record with Amos Hochstein and the Q&A portion is on background to an SAO. https://otter.ai/u/8BAhmdAqlntUppoafK26KIzSfAI Also, per an SAO, the communique will include language about reproductive rights: "The president felt very strongly that we needed to have at the very least the language that references what we did in Hiroshima on women's health and reproductive rights. The communique will have, will reiterate the commitment made in Hiroshima. I don't have the draft language exactly in front of me, but it will reiterate its commitment that was made in Hiroshima." |
| June 13, 2024 14:38 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #9a: SAO briefing highlights Despite being rushed out of the SAO briefing, the pool continues to hold on the riser where the leaders took the initial family photo. White House officials tell us they have received conflicting guidance on whether we will be allowed in for a pool spray for the next working session. So far, we have only had one brief pool spray. In the meantime, here are some highlights from the SAO briefing. On whether PGI is an anti-China initiative: "PGI is not anti-anything. It is promoting what we believe is in the best interest of economic growth and fair and equitable economic growth for low and middle income countries." On escalation between Israel and Lebanon: "We are very concerned about the escalation on the blue line between Israel and Lebanon over the last I would say about two weeks we've seen the major escalation. Secretary Blinken was in Israel just a couple of days ago and had talks on this issue. We have had consistent and urgent conversations at different times between Israel and Lebanon over the last eight months from the very beginning of this crisis from day one, to keep this from developing into a full out war that would have implications towards, could have issues for escalation to beyond elsewhere in the region. The most important thing about the hostage release and ceasefire deal that's on the table now is that if it's achieved it can have an impact, and so that is an opportunity for us to be able to bring this topic to a full close." "We have said this clearly before it is not enough to just have a ceasefire in Gaza. There has to be specific arrangements in Lebanon on that border because returning to the status quo ante of October 6 in Lebanon is not unacceptable or a viable option. There has to be an agreement that allows Israelis to return to their homes in the north with the security, with security guarantees that it is not October 6." On how the PGI initiative fits into Biden's larger focus on democracy vs autocracy: "That is a major part of the motivation. I think we have to be clear on that - when there is a vacuum, it is filled. And that is not a hypothetical. Just look at the level of what the level of investment that China has done over the last 20 years has resulted in. I don't actually blame them for the effort that they've made. They've invested in mining, processing, infrastructure throughout the world, and that vacuum was filled and what the G7 leaders did an Elmau - when the President came in President Biden came and said we need a response. And it's not a response of a dollar for dollar. It's a value proposition." "The President is not making anybody choose between superpowers. We're presenting an alternative for an investment and partnership and make the choice that is best for you. But here's the deal: If you don't have an alternative on the table, then there is only one option. And everybody will choose a bad investment over no investment." |
| June 13, 2024 14:58 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #10: no pool spray for Zelensky meeting Despite initial guidance, the pool was not brought into the G-7 meeting with Zelensky. The pool is back holding at the golf course. Also, Daleep Singh is now briefing on Zoom. The pool was told it would be in person, but that is not the case. Apologies for the lack of a heads up - we were not given notice that he had started. |
| June 13, 2024 17:08 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #11: Gathering for PGI event The pool has returned to the resort ahead of the PGI event. We expect to go in shortly. From the White House: The President attended Working Session III A of the G7 Summit on Ukraine. Participants: The President attended Working Session III B of the G7 Summit on Ukraine. Participants: |
| June 13, 2024 17:42 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #12: PGI Event starting Pool was brought into the same conference room as earlier for the PGI event at 5:15 pm. POTUS entered at 5:40 p.m. The event is being live-streamed on the White House website. In the background, the pool spotted Tony Blinken, Jake Sullivan and Daleep Singh From the White House: The President is delivering remarks at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Event. Program Participants: |
| June 13, 2024 17:59 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #13: POTUS remarks conclude POTUS started speaking at 5:44 p.m. after PM Meloni opened the session. He concluded his remarks at 5:51. At times, it was difficult to hear Biden so please check the feed/ transcript. A few highlights: "I think we stand at an inflection point in history that occurs every five or six, seven generations, and the decisions that we make now will determine the course of our future." "I'm proud to announce the U.S. has mobilized more than $60 billion in investments around the world. "Together we are showing democracies can deliver" "I strongly hope we keep up the momentum." Other heads of state and private sector leaders are now talking. Jake Sullivan and Tony Blinken have left the room, and Daleep Singh and Amos Hochstein are now seated at a table behind POTUS. |
| June 13, 2024 18:20 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #14: pool escorted out The pool was escorted out at 6:17 as the event was still underway. We are headed to the skydiving demonstration ahead of POTUS |
| June 13, 2024 18:47 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #15: POTUS arrival for skydiving demonstration POTUS arrived in a golf cart at 6:44 as part of a mini-motorcade of golf carts carrying the foreign leaders. They are gathering at the nearby golf course for a family photo and skydiving demonstration. |
| June 13, 2024 19:08 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #16: skydiving demonstration + brief Q&A on ceasefire Before the skydiving demonstration began, POTUS, wearing his aviator sunglasses, had a sidebar conversation with Canadian PM Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. French President Macron then joined their conversation, briefly grabbing POTUS' hand. The pool was stationed too far away to hear what they were discussing. The leaders then trained their gaze on the sky as the skydiving demonstration began. The divers each carried flags representing the participating countries and landed just yards away from the leaders. POTUS and the other leaders clapped as they landed and a few fireworks went off after the last diver jumped out of the plane. After the demonstration concluded, one of the officials briefed the leaders. The pool has asked for more details on who spoke to the leaders and what he shared. POTUS then saluted each of the divers and shook their hands. The leaders posed for a photo with a divers and as POTUS exited, he briefly answered a few questions about the ceasefire deal. Please check against the transcript as POTUS was difficult to hear. When asked if the leaders discussed the ceasefire deal, he said, "Yes." When asked if he's confident they will get a deal, he said "No," adding "I haven't lost hope." He also said, "Hamas has to move." |
| June 13, 2024 19:20 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #16a: clarifying question biden was asked Clarifying the question Biden was asked here: When asked if he's confident they will get a deal soon, he said "No," adding "I haven't lost hope." |
| June 13, 2024 19:14 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #17: Motorcade rolling to RON POTUS was brought back to the motorcade via golf cart, and the motorcade started rolling back to the RON at 7:13 p.m. |
| June 13, 2024 19:26 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #18: arrival at RON The motorcade arrived at the RON at 7:22. We did not see POTUS arrive and are now holding at the site of the press conference. |
| June 13, 2024 20:43 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #19: two minute warning The White House just gave a two minute warning for Biden and Zelensky |
| June 13, 2024 20:48 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #20: Biden/ Zelensky event starting POTUS and Zelensky walked out at 8:46. The event is being live-streamed. Before they entered, a number of officials including Tony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Daleep Singh, Steve Richetti and Karine Jean-Pierre took seats in the front row. Biden's granddaughters, Finnegan and Maisy, as well as Peter Neal, who is married to Naomi Biden, are also in attendance. |
| June 13, 2024 21:18 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #21: event wraps and POTUS says he will not commute Hunter's sentence The two leaders signed the bilateral security agreement. POTUS spoke first followed by Zelensky. The two then took questions from two American reporters and two Ukrainian reporters. POTUS left the stage at 9:16. As he was leaving the stage, POTUS was asked if he would commute Hunter's sentence and he said, "No." |
| June 13, 2024 21:26 CEST |
Out-of-Town Pool Report #22: lid The White House called a lid at 9:25 pm |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of June 13, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/373126