Pool Reports of March 16, 2022

In-town pool report #1

Happy almost St. Patrick's Day. I am today's print pooler. Below is the schedule of events. Jen Psaki will also have a 2:30 p.m. press briefing.
11:45 AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the assistance the United States is providing to Ukraine; the Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attend
South Court Auditorium

1:45 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at an event celebrating the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA); the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services attend
East Room

7:45 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at The Ireland Funds 30th National Gala
National Building Museum, Washington, DC

In-town pool report #2

Pool is gathering for President Biden's upcoming remarks on Ukraine in the South Court Auditorium. They will be broadcast on C-SPAN as well as the on the White House website.

In-town pool report #2a

We have been told there will be a delay on Biden's Ukraine remarks, so we are not going over there yet. I will update when they provide more info.

In-town pool report #2b

The new time for Biden's Ukraine remarks is 12:30 pm

In-town pool report #3

We are gathering again to head over for President Biden's postponed Ukraine remarks, which are now supposed to happen at 12:30 pm. You can watch it on the White House website

In-town pool report #4

President Biden began his remarks at 1:01 pm. He is standing at a podium with the presidential seal in the South Court auditorium. There are American flags on either side of him, and a blue backdrop that features the White House symbol.

The Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are standing to the side.

In-town pool report #5

Biden ended his remarks on Ukraine aid at 1:09, and then signed paperwork onstage. He would not answer shouted questions about whether he plans to send aircraft to Ukraine

Those on stage with him were:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley
Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks

The Secretary of Defense is traveling for the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting so he is unable to attend, the White House press office says.

In-town pool report #6

Pool is gathering now to head to the East Room for the Violence Against Women Act event, which will be broadcast on the White House website.

In-town pool report #7

Biden entered the event at 2:05 pm with Ruth Glenn, who is CEO of a group that fights domestic violence. Legislators in the room include US Senators Bennett, Schumer, Murkowski, Leahy, Feinstein and Durbin. Rep. Nadler is here, too. Glenn introduced Biden, and he took to the podium at 2:09 pm

In-town White House pool report #7a

The White House press office passed along a more complete list of people attending the East Room event:

In attendance for the President's remarks at the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Commemoration Event:

• Attorney General Merrick Garland
• Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra
• Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco
• Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman
• Senator Michael Bennet
• Senator Susan Collins
• Senator Chris Coons
• Senator John Cornyn
• Senator Richard Durbin
• Senator Joni Ernst
• Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Senator Martin Heinrich
• Senator Patrick Leahy
• Senator Ben Ray Lujan
• Senator Jeff Merkley
• Senator Lisa Murkowski
• Senator Patty Murray
• Senator Brian Schatz
• Senator Kyrsten Sinema
• Senator Tina Smith
• Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
• House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
• Representative Pete Aguilar
• Representative Katherine Clark
• Representative Sharice Davids
• Representative Debbie Dingell
• Representative Veronica Escobar
• Representative Brian Fitzpatrick
• Representative Sylvia Garcia
• Representative Chrissy Houlahan
• Representative Brenda Lawrence
• Representative Sheila Jackson Lee
• Representative Jerry Nadler
• Representative Mary Gay Scanlon
• Representative Elissa Slotkin
• Representative Abigail Spanberger
• Representative Jackie Speier
• Representative Lauren Underwood
• Ruth Glenn, CEO and President of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Actress and activist Angelina Jolie
• Administration officials and advocates

In-town pool report #8

White House press office says the daily briefing is now scheduled for 3 pm.

In-town pool report #9

Biden ended his remarks at 2:34 pm. He greeted people in the crowd and shook their hands on his way out.

In-town pool report #10

President Biden spent a long time shaking hands and chatting with people after his remarks in the East Room. Among those he chatted with were Reps. Jackson Lee & Speier and Sens. Whitehouse and Leahy. He left the room at 2:55 pm

In-house pool report #11

The 2 minute warning has been given for the daily briefing

In-town pool report #11 a

Jen Psaki's briefing started at 3:09 pm

In-town pool report #11b

Psaki's briefing ended at 3:53 PM.

In-town pool report #12

Lunch lid until 6 PM has been announced.

In-town pool report #13

Pool is gathering now for the trip to the National Building Museum where President Biden will address the Ireland Funds 30th National Gala.

In-town pool report #14

The President emerged from the White House at 7:04 pm and got into his limo with the First Lady. Motorcade departed at 7:05 pm.

In-town pool report #15

Motorcade arrived at 7:10 pm. Pool was ushered into the building through a side door and did not see the President leave his limo

In-town pool report #16

The stage where Biden will speak is decorated with green and blue banners. The main floor of the building museum is filled with tables. Guys at the tables are wearing tuxedos, women are wearing dresses. Many of those dresses are green. Folks in the crowd included Terry McAuliffe and Nancy Pelosi. Guys are wearing tuxedos, women are wearing dresses There are large signs that say "Welcome, 30th National Gala, Celebrating the ties, heritage, and friendship between the island of Ireland and the United States."

Tables at the event appear to be sponsored by organizations, including Accenture, Ireland Inc., and Kerry (I am assuming the county, not the politician.). A back area that appeared to have bar food featured Kerrygold cheese. se

The crowd was hushed at 7:35 PM. The organization's CEO, Caitriona Fottrell introduced Biden as one of Ireland's greatest friends. She discussed how his family crossed the ocean, as many others did, in search of opportunities and welcomed him to the stage at 7:38 PM to the strains of "Hail to the Chief."

In-house pool report #16

Bidens' remarks are being livestreamed on the White House website, so you can see them there.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

In-town pool report #18

The White House press people say Ireland's Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, is at this event. Also, my last press report should have been numbered #17. Sorry about that.

In-house pool report #19

Biden stopped speaking at 7:54 pm. We were immediately hustled into the motorcade, which left at 7:58 pm

In-house pool report #20

Motorcade arrived at the White House at 8:02 pm. Biden is now inside. We did not see him leave his limo

In-town pool report 21 - Lid called

Lid was called at 8:09 pm. Have a good night everyone!