Pool Reports by Danny Kemp, Agence France-Presse
| Sent: | Reports: |
| June 14, 2024 09:33 CEST |
Out of town pool report #1 - Rolling from RON Good morning, The motorcade is moving as of 9.30am from the RON, ahead of POTUS arrival at Borgo Egnazia for day two of the G7. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS. POTUS schedule currently includes sessions on migration, the Indo-Pacific, and AI (also with Pope Francis and non-G7 leaders); plus bilats with Italian PM Meloni (open press) and Pope Francis (closed press), and a group photo. |
| June 14, 2024 09:47 CEST |
Out of town pool report #2 - Arrival Borgo Egnazia Motorcade arrived at Borgo Egnazia at 9.40am after a short drive through the olive groves on a beautiful sunny, breezy day. Pool has still not laid eyes on POTUS and is now at the hold. Awaiting an SAO call for which NSC sent link earlier. Passing on following from the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Borgo Egnazia: Antony Blinken, Secretary of State |
| June 14, 2024 11:50 CEST |
Out of town pool #3 - Meloni bilateral - Sunak remark Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, wearing a pastel lavender suit, arrived first for the bilateral in small, stone-walled room in the Borgo Egnazia resort village at 11.20. At 11.30 she re-exited, before returning shortly afterwards with POTUS, who wore a dark blue suit. They walked together down a long, arched corridor with bougainvillea lining the walls opposite, and entered the room. POTUS and Meloni sat down in front of a blue G7 sign and US and Italian flags. POTUS said to Meloni 'they're just taking pictures?' and she nodded and they did not make any remarks. Pool was asked to leave. On the way out pool asked Biden if he was snubbing British PM Sunak at the summit because Sunak appears to be doing badly in UK elections. POTUS replied 'No.' He didn't respond to questions about whether he could accept a G7 communique without the mention of abortion, and about Ukraine funding. Officials including Tony Blinken Jake Sullivan and Karine Jean-Pierre entered the room ahead of POTUS. A senior administration official said on a call with reporters earlier that Biden and Meloni would discuss Ukraine — ' prime minister Meloni has been very strong and supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. And of course, with Italy's leadership of the G& there was a also important announcement yesterday on unlocking the value of the proceeds from Russian sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine' They'll also discuss China 'and the troubling support that the PRC has provided in terms of dual use equipment and goods to Russia to advance Russia's defense industrial base. Things like optics nitrocellulose, micro electronics, the sorts of items that go directly to the production of armaments that are used, not just in Ukraine, that but that poses a long term threat to the security of Europe.' On reports of a row over whether abortion will be mentioned in final communique, and Meloni pushing for it to be kept out: 'I'm not aware of an intention to discuss that topic. I can tell you that the g7 communique is going to be agreed by consensus by all g7 countries.' Passing on from the WH, from before Meloni bilat: The President is attending Working Session IV of the G7 Summit on Migration. Participants: |
| June 14, 2024 12:35 CEST |
Out of town pool #4 - Indo Pacific session Pool is currently holding but the WH shares this: The President is attending Working Session V of the G7 Summit on Indo-Pacific and economic security. Participants: |
| June 14, 2024 13:44 CEST |
Out of town pool report #5 - Pope session set-up / OTR Restricted pool has been led back to the Borgo Egnazia ahead of the extended meeting on AI and other issues, featuring Pope Francis and a number of non-G7 leaders. Pool is now taking up position in a large conference room with a huge Dr Strangelove-style, white oval table, a large blue G7 Italia graphic showing on a screen, and 25 flags of various countries and international organisations. Currently awaiting the arrival of the leaders. Earlier, Senior Advisor to the President Anita Dunn came to the hold area and held a 45-minute OTR with the pool. |
| June 14, 2024 15:01 CEST |
Out of town pool report #6 - Pope-POTUS handshake and roundtable POTUS entered at 2.44pm, walking into the midst of a fairly chaotic melee of world leaders. Pool saw POTUS greet Argentina's President Javier Milei first, followed by Turkey's Erdogan, Brazil's Lula, the Algerian leader and the IMF's Kristalina Georgieva. After a few minutes POTUS then sat down with Milei, who had his trademark wild hair, on his left and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his right. Japan's Fumio Kishida is second on POTUS's left. Pope Francis, in a wheelchair and wearing white robes, entered at 2.51pm, to a round of applause. He was wheeled round and shook hands with all the world leaders. As POTUS bent over to shake hands with the Pope, Milei was standing and partly obscured the view. Photographers called out to Milei to please move and he looked somewhat taken aback. The pope then took his seat on the opposite side of the large white oval from POTUS. The Pope has France's Emmanuel Macron on his right and Italian PM Meloni on his left. Will file on his remarks and any others separately. Before POTUS and Pope arrivals, officials banged on glasses to say please be seated, the Holy See is coming. Milei earlier shared a jovial hug with Georgieva as he entered. They then went into a huddle with some officials for several minutes. UK's Sunak was greeting India's Modi. The King of Jordan was seen talking separately with Erdogan UN chief Antonio Gutierres and the IMF's Georgieva. Sharing from the WH: The President is attending Working Session VI of the G7 Summit on artificial intelligence, energy, Africa-Mediterranean. Participants: |
| June 14, 2024 15:27 CEST |
Out of town pool report #7 - POTUS listens to Pope speak As the Pope spoke, POTUS listened intently through an earphone in his left ear, occasionally sipping a glass of water or taking notes. Pope Francis was initially barely audible but Meloni leaned over to fiddle with his microphone and the volume increased, though he still spoke quite softly. A translation was not available. The Pope spoke for around 25 minutes, finishing with the word 'grazie', and the leaders applauded. POTUS started arranging his notepad and microphone to speak when the pool was swiftly ushered out at 3.19pm |
| June 14, 2024 19:30 CEST |
Out of town pool report #8 - Family photo Biden walked in for the family photo at 7.11pm talking to EU chief Ursula Von Der Leyen. Biden and VDL were held briefly while some other leaders ascended the rostrum, which is beneath a fabric canopy suspended from fake medieval pillars in the courtyard entrance to Borgo Ignazia. POTUS was stood on the first and lower of two rows, three in from the left. He briefly chatted to a number of leaders, holding the hand of the head of the African Development Bank for about a minute. He then shook hands and spoke with Modi. They clasped hands for about 30 seconds. The pope arrived on a golf cart with Meloni. Biden was intently watching him as the pontiff slowly disembarked, leaning on a cane before walking to his place. The leaders stayed in place for about a minute for photographs then applauded and broke up to talk together. The pope talked to Erdogan. Biden was accompanied by a secret service agent as large numbers of officials started to swarm the courtyard. POTUS then talked to Erdogan and a number of other officials pooler couldn't immediately identify. POTUS was laughing and smiling as he made his way back through the crowd, stopping for another Modi handshake and very brief chat. POTUS exited at 7.27pm NSA Jake Sullivan entered before POTUS and watched the family photo from the side. |
| June 14, 2024 20:52 CEST |
Out of town pool report #9 - Pope bilat A single pool photographer was allowed into the bilat between the Pope and POTUS to briefly take pictures. They were in a small room, accompanied by one translator each. No details available immediately but a senior administration official said we can likely expect a readout |
| June 14, 2024 22:05 CEST |
Out of town pool report #10 - rolling from Borgo Egnazia Pool loaded the motorcade and was rolling in the darkness from Borgo Egnazia as of 10.00pm, 45 minutes ahead of the previously issued WH guidance. |
| June 14, 2024 22:24 CEST |
Out of town pool report #11 - M1 lifts The motorcade arrived at the San Domenico landing zone at 10.10pm after an uneventful drive. Pool was kept in cars until Marine One was wheels up, and did not lay eyes on POTUS. Pool now loading into Chinooks |
| June 14, 2024 22:29 CEST |
Out of town pool report #12 - M1 travelers Sharing from the WH: Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Brindisi Airport: Antony Blinken, Secretary of State |
| June 14, 2024 23:09 CEST |
Out of town pool report #13 - AF1 - Pope meeting 'went well' POTUS stepped out of M1 (Baby version) at Brindisi airport at 10.55pm, accompanied by granddaughters Maisy and Naomi's husband Peter Neal. Biden gave pool the thumbs up and said 'it went well' when asked how his meeting with Pope Francis went. He then climbed up the stairs into AF1. Two Italian military members in ceremonial dress and helmets with red plumes stood on either side of the steps. As of 11.06pm, expecting AF1 to be wheels up shortly. Many thanks indeed to co-pooler Ken Thomas of the WSJ for his sharp eyes and help throughout the day. Sharing from the WH: Greeting the President upon arrival to Brindisi Airport: T.H. Jack Markell, Ambassador of the United States to the Italian Republic, and his spouse, Mrs. Carla Markell Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Antony Blinken, Secretary of State |
| June 14, 2024 23:15 CEST |
Out of town pool report 13a - correction Quick correction before take off — previous note should have read that POTUS was accompanied by granddaughters Maisy and Naomi, and Naomi's husband Peter Neal. Apols for that and ciao |
| June 15, 2024 02:48 EDT |
Out of town pool note #14 - JBA Air Force One was wheels down at a dark JBA at 2.41am. There were no visitors to the press cabin on an uneventful flight. We will be refuelling before heading to Los Angeles for POTUS campaign reception |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of June 14, 2024 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/373125