Pool Reports of June 7, 2024

Out of Town Pool Report #1
Paris
June 7, 2024

Good morning from the RON. As you saw on the schedule, the first public event of the day is the meeting with President Zelensky. The spray was scheduled for 12:15 p.m. but we're still waiting to be taken in. We'll update as we learn more.

POTUS announced another $225 million in aid to Ukraine and apologized that it has taken so long. "The United States will stand with you," POTUS told President Zelensky. He expressed regret for the delay in getting new aid through Congress, citing conservative opposition. "We had trouble getting the bill passed," he said.

Zelensky thanked him for the "tremendous support" and compared it to the US rescuing Europe during World War II. "We count on your continuing support to stand with us shoulder to shoulder," he said. The support lets Ukraine know "that we are not alone."

He thanked POTUS for sending VPOTUS to the upcoming peace summit where he said 100 countries will be represented.

The two were seated in chairs while aides lined up on either side, including Secretaries Tony Blinken and Lloyd Austin as well as Jake Sullivan and Mike Carpenter.

POTUS spoke so softly that we could not hear most of what he said but we are getting a tape and will send further quotes. It sounded as if he said the new aid is for the electric grid but the pool was later told that it is for the usual munitions which would include air defenses that could, among other things, defend the electric grid.

Out of Town Pool Report #3
Paris
June 7, 2024

Here's the quote with POTUS apologizing for the funding delay:

POTUS to Zelensky: "You haven't bowed down. You haven't yielded at all. You continue to fight in a way that is just remarkable, just remarkable. We're not going to walk away from you. I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what's going to pass in terms of funding because we had trouble getting the bill that we had to pass that had the money in it. Some of our very conservative members were holding it up. But we got it done finally."

And he did say today's $225 million aid tranche was "to help you reconstruct the electric grid," although that's different from what officials are saying is actually in the package.

Pool is now holding on a bus waiting to depart for airport.

Out of Town Pool Report #4
Paris
June 7, 2024

More quotes from POTUS-Zelensky pool spray:

POTUS: "The way you've stood in holding onto Kharkiv, you've proven once again that the people of Ukraine cannot and will never be overtaken. And I assure you the United States is going to stand with you. I've said that all during this debate. I continue to say it. The United States is standing with you. You are the bulwark against the aggression that's taking place. We have an obligation to be there."

Zelensky: "Our meeting here is very symbolic. It's very important that you stay with us, this bipartisan support with the Congress. It's very important that in this unity, the United States of America, all the American people stay with Ukraine, like it was during World War II, how the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe and we count on your continuing support standing with us shoulder to shoulder. Thank you so much."

Zelensky on aid package: "It's very important. It's so necessary for the feeling of our people that we are not alone. We are with you, our strategic partner."

Zelensky referred obliquely, it seems, to Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia without saying so explicitly, yet appeared to indicate that he wanted more latitude to use them beyond limited self-defense in the Kharkiv area: "Your decisions have had a very positive influence. I don't want to share everything, all the details with press, sorry, but there are some details on the battlefield that you need to hear from us

Re peace summit: "I hope it will be the first step on the way to peace. We need peace in Ukraine, but we will stay very strong.

Out of Town Pool Report #5
Paris
June 7, 2024

The White House passes this along.

The President is participating in a bilateral meeting with President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine.

U.S. Delegation
The President
T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Mike Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
David Shimer, Director for Ukraine, National Security Council

Ukraine Delegation
President Volodomyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine
H.E. Andriy Yermak, Head of Office of the President of Ukraine
H.E. Mrs. Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime minister, Minister of Economics
H.E. Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
H.E. Oleksandr Kamyshin, Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine
H.E. Roman Mashovets, Military Advisor to the President of Ukraine

Thanks to the awesome Tamara Keith for helping with the audio to make out what was said.

Out of Town Pool Report #6
Paris
June 7, 2024

Motorcade departed the RON at 1:46 p.m. local time en route to Orly for the flight to Normandy.

AF1 landed at 3:10 pm. An official confirmed during the flight that the $225 million aid package for Ukraine announced today is for a series of munitions that will include air defenses that could protect the electric grid, among other targets, and not for rebuilding the electric grid. Otherwise no one came back during the flight.

POTUS boarded Marine One for the flight to the Normandy American Cemetery accompanied by Secretary Blinken and Jake Sullivan. Secretary Austin boarded a second identical Marine helicopter. They were preparing to take off around 3:30 pm.

Also spotted getting off the back of the plane was former Secretary John Kerry.

The WH passes this along:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Normandy American
Cemetery Landing Zone:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Marine One was wheels down at 3:54 pm. POTUS disembarked and got into the Chevy Suburban with small US and French flags flying on the front. Motorcade was on the move at 4:03 pm.

As those who were here yesterday know, service is in and out here so pool reports may be delayed.

The motorcade arrived at 4:20 pm after a picturesque ride through French villages along narrow roads lined with people, old military equipment and US and French flags (and some UK and Canadian flags too).

It is a beautiful, sunny day with a light pleasant breeze here overlooking a calm English Channel -- nothing like that day 80 years ago. The presidential lectern is set up on the same German concrete bunker where Reagan spoke in 1984. Three floral wreaths with roses are placed at the monument.

About 150 guests are here, among them Pfc John Wardell, 99, from New Jersey, who came ashore on June 16, 1944, and was seated in a wheelchair in the front row with a blue blanket over his legs. Secretary Blinken sat next to him and engaged him in conversation.

You saw the excerpts. The speech will be live streamed on the White House site.

You saw the speech. Just a little color — POTUS arrived at the monument escorted on a long walk by Scott Desjardins, the superintendent of the Normandy American Cemetery, which includes Pointe du Hoc. Desjardins (he pronounced the S's) showed POTUS gun casements and the cliff that the Rangers scaled as he explained the history of the place.

Arriving at the platform, POTUS stopped and stood by himself in front of the monument, then turned and walked to the lectern, removed his sunglasses and delivered the speech.

He began by addressing Pfc. Wardell. "John, how are you?" he asked.

After finishing his speech, POTUS walked down to the front row to shake hands with Wardell, who was helped to his feet.

POTUS was then escorted away by Desjardins.

Your pool spoke with Desjardins and will send some quotes in subsequent pool report.

Motorcade is rolling at 5:15 pm.

WH passes this along:

Greeting the President on arrival to Pointe du Hoc:

First Sergeant Gavin Stith, U.S. Army, 2nd Ranger Battalion, and his spouse, Kourtney Stith

The President is delivering remarks to honor the legacy of Pointe du Hoc and democracy.

AttendeesSecretary Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense
Secretary John Kerry

Out of Town Pool report #15
Normandy American Cemetery
June 7, 2024

The motorcade arrived at the helicopter landing zone at 5:30 p.m. and POTUS boarded Marine One before the pool could see him. We're lifted off in our own chopper at 5:42 p.m.

From Pointe du Hoc:

Scott Desjardins, the superintendent who escorted POTUS to the platform, told the pool that during their walk he recounted the history of the Pointe du Hoc battle.

"I explained to him that when the Rangers were still living, they would tell us climbing up the cliff was not the difficult part," Desjardins said. "Holding onto this terrain for two and a half days, being outnumbered, is really the amazing thing about Pointe du Hoc."

Desjardins said the Rangers' assignment was to take out some of the most dangerous guns in the hands of the Germans, 155 mm French cannons with a range of 12 miles that could hit troop transports and cause massive casualties before the invaders could even reach nearby beaches. "So that was the importance of the Ranger mission that day," he said.

The Rangers repelled six German counter-attacks but of the 225 who arrived, only 90 walked away and most of them were wounded. "Most people would say this is a suicide mission," Desjardins said. "That's not what the Rangers thought."

Desjardins said POTUS was moved by the story and commented on the bravery of the Rangers. "He was impressed of course. This is an impressive story. It's hard not to be impressed."

He added that they talked about the NATO alliance. "He made it very clear that this is required. No one can go at this alone anymore." He described POTUS as "very personable, very easy" and said "I felt very comfortable" talking with him.

Out of Town Pool Report #16
Aboard Army helicopter
June 7, 2024

WH passes this along:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Caen Carpiquet Airport:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Out of Town Pool Report #17
Caen Carpiquet Airport: June 7, 2024

Marine One touched down at the airport at 5:55 p.m. POTUS then boarded AF1.

Out of Town Pool Report #18
Caen Carpiquet Airport
June 7, 2024

AF1 taxiing for takeoff at 6:10 pm.

From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Paris Orly Airport:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense
Secretary John Kerry
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Denise Bauer, Ambassador of the United States to France and Monaco
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

POTUS did not stop to answer questions from your pool, just as he has passed on every such opportunity all day. He's now in the Beast and we are rolling for the RON at 7:11 pm.

Motorcade arrived back at the RON at 7:39 pm. Your pool did not see POTUS enter the building. Lid was called at 7:44 pm.

Thanks to our whole pool today for making a busy day as much fun as possible.

Out of Town Pool Report #22
Paris
June 7, 2024

The White House sends this out:

Tonight, as a part of Wear Orange Day, the White House will be illuminated orange in honor of the countless victims and survivors of gun violence.