Pool Reports of March 26, 2024

In-Town Pool Report 1

See below from White House Press Office:

The President has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the ongoing search and rescue efforts. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day.

In-Town Pool Report 2 - bridge briefing

See below from the White House Press Office:

This morning, the President convened senior members of his team for a briefing on the ongoing response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. During the briefing, the President directed his team to ensure all federal resources be made available to assist in the ongoing search and rescue efforts and response to this incident. The President will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day. White House and Administration officials will remain in close contact with state and local officials.

In-Town Pool Report 3 - remarks gather

The pool is gathering for President Biden's remarks on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge as of 12:37 p.m. The remarks will be in the Roosevelt Room. Phone reception is poor in that room and pool reports may be delayed.

In-Town Pool Report 4 - two minutes

Two-minute warning called at 12:39 p.m. to President Biden's remarks in the Roosevelt Room on the bridge collapse.

In-Town Pool Report 5 - departure

The president's motorcade departed the White House for JBA at 12:56 p.m. Pool did not see President Biden get into his car.

Pool had to move quickly from Roosevelt Room to departure, will send color from Roosevelt Room in a later email.

In-Town Pool Report 6 - calls

See below from White House Press Office:

Today, the President spoke with federal, state, and local officials as part of the ongoing response to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland:

• Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
• Governor Wes Moore (MD)
• Senator Ben Cardin (MD)
• Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD)
• Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)
• Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Baltimore, MD
• Johnny Olszewski, Executive of Baltimore County, MD

In-Town Pool Report 7 - staff

See below from White House Press Office.

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route Joint Base Andrews:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & National Security Council Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach

In-Town Pool Report 8 - arrival

Motorcade stopped at JBA at 1:19 p.m. Pool did not see President Biden board plane. Handing off to travel pool.

In-Town Pool Report 9 - gaggle

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's gaggle has begun. Apologies for delay, announcement message didn't come through.

In-Town Pool Report 10 - rolling

Motorcade is rolling from Joint Base Andrews to the White House as of 7:16 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report 11 - arrival

President Biden's motorcade arrived at the White House at 7:37 p.m. Biden exited his vehicle and walked into the White House shortly after.

In-Town Pool Report 12 - lid

Travel/photo lid called by the White House Press Office at 7:49 p.m.

Travel Pool Report #1: JBA Departure

Good afternoon from your pooler for today's trip to Raleigh, NC.

President Biden's motorcade arrived at JBA at 1:13 p.m.

POTUS boarded AF1 at 1:17 p.m. wearing a blue suit and aviators. He did not stop to talk to the travel pool.

Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to gaggle during the flight. Please keep an eye on updates from the White House for exact timing. The gaggle will be live-streamed as usual at https://www.whitehouse.gov/live

AF1 is rolling at 1:22 p.m.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route Raleigh-Durham International Airport:

Governor Roy Cooper (NC)
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & National Security Council Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach

Travel Pool Report #2: Wheels down in Raleigh

AF1 was wheels down at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 2:12 p.m. after lifting off from JBA at approx 1:25 p.m.

The flight was brief and uneventful. Karine Jean-Pierre gaggled for roughly 10 minutes toward the end of the flight at 2 p.m.

POTUS deplaned at 2:22 p.m. and was greeted by Mayor TJ Cawley of Morrisville and Mayor Leonardo Williams of Durham, per the White House. He was accompanied by Gov. Roy Cooper.

Motorcade is rolling at 2:28 p.m.

Travel Pool Report #3: Arrival at venue

Motorcade pulled up to the John Chavis Community Center in Raleigh at 2:56 p.m. A group of pro-Palestinian protesters were gathered near the venue and could be heard chanting "Genocide Joe" and "Ceasefire Now."

The drive over was otherwise smooth -- some local residents stood outside their homes or along the streets to capture the motorcade passing by with their phones.

Your pool did not see POTUS arrive at the venue, where he and VPOTUS are expected to deliver remarks on healthcare.

The remarks were slated for 3:00 p.m. but will obviously begin a little late. Your pooler will update when POTUS takes the stage. As a reminder, the remarks are open press.

Travel Pool Report #4: Photo line

Vice President Harris is speaking now. POTUS has yet to take the stage.

From the WH:

Participating in a photo line with the President and the Vice President:

Governor Roy Cooper (NC)
Mayor Leonardo Williams, Durham, NC
Mayor TJ Cawley, Morrisville, NC
Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue (NC)
House Minority Leader Robert Reives (NC)
Secretary of State Elaine Marshall (NC)
Attorney General Josh Stein (NC)
Secretary Kody Kinsley,North Carolina Department of Health and Human Service
Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Brian Kaplun, Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
State Auditor Jessica Holmes (NC)
Chair Shinica Thomas, Wake County Board of Commissioners
Chair Nida Allam, Durham County Board of Commissioners, and her daughter

Travel Pool Report #5: POTUS takes stage

Both cell service and Wi-Fi are terrible at this venue, so this may be on slight delay...

POTUS took the stage in Raleigh at 3:43 p.m.

The remarks are being live-streamed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live

From the WH:

The President is delivering remarks at an event about lowering healthcare costs.

Speaking Program
The Vice President
Lori Kelley, Medicaid Beneficiary and Introducer
The President

Travel Pool Report #6: Gaza protesters

At about 3:47 p.m., POTUS remarks were briefly interrupted by a couple of pro-Palestinian protesters who shouted: "What about healthcare in Gaza?"

"Everybody deserves healthcare," Biden responded.

The women continued to shout "Ceasefire now" as they were escorted out of the venue.

"They have a point," Biden said. "We need to get a lot more care into Gaza."

He then carried on with his remarks.

Travel Pool Report #7: Remarks over

POTUS concluded his remarks at 4 p.m. and was joined onstage by VPOTUS and Gov. Cooper.

Your pool was immediately escorted back to the motorcade and is holding.

The group of pro-Palestinian protesters that had assembled near the venue when we arrived is still there. This time they are shouting: "Biden Biden you can't hide, we charge you with genocide."

Travel Pool Report #8: Motorcade rolling

Motorcade is rolling at 4:28 p.m.

Attached is a photo of the protesters and local law enforcement outside the venue where POTUS and VPOTUS spoke. Your pooler counted 50+ demonstrators in the crowd.

Travel Pool #9: Arrival at Marriott

Motorcade pulled up to the Raleigh Marriott City Center at 4:32 p.m.

Your pool did not see POTUS, who is scheduled to participate in a fundraiser with VPOTUS at 5:30 p.m.

Pool is currently holding in a ballroom.

Travel Pool Report #10: Remarks at fundraiser

POTUS entered the ballroom at 5:19 p.m. and spoke for roughly 20 minutes. He exited the stage at 5:39 p.m.

The fundraiser raised more than $2.3 million, according to Gov. Cooper's remarks at the beginning of the event.

Summary of Biden's remarks below -- as always, please check quotes against the official transcript.

"Folks, with your help, we're going to win North Carolina up and down the ticket," Biden said.

He noted there is "incredible enthusiasm" across the country and that so far 1.3 million people have contributed to the campaign. Biden also pointed out he is now up in several polls.

"I know everyone is not feeling the enthusiasm," Biden said, reiterating a joke about former President Trump facing debt.

"The other day, a defeated guy came up to me and said, 'Mr. President, I'm being crushed by debt -- completely wiped out.' I had to look at him and say, 'Sorry Donald, I can't help you,'" Biden said to laughs.

Biden then criticized Trump's handling of Covid-19 and touted the economic recovery since he took office in 2021.

Noting he and Harris were in town to mark the 14th anniversary of the ACA and touted steps his administration has taken to lower prescription drug costs.

Biden said Trump "increased the deficit more in one term than any other president has. I've lowered the deficit."

"If anyone doubts that Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, just listen to what he's been saying the last few weeks," Biden added.

He took other shots at Trump and his "extremist MAGA friends."

Biden vowed to once again make Roe v Wade "the law of the land."

He attacked Trump for calling insurrectionists "patriots" and promising to pardon those who participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

"What the hell's going on? I'm serious," Biden said. "There's no place in America for any political violence -- period, period, period."

Biden said there's been a lot of focus on how old he and Trump are and joked he is "40 x 2 + 1."

"How old are our ideas?" is the real question, Biden said.

"I'd be happy to compare physical characteristics," he equipped of Trump. "Granted, I don't have his orange hair."

He said Trump's vision for America was one of "anger, hate, retribution..."

"I see a future for all Americans," Biden said. "We demonize no one. We give hate no safe harbor."

--

VPOTUS spoke ahead of POTUS for about 10 minutes.

"This is the most existential, consequential and important election of our lifetime," Harris said.

She said a lot of world leaders have asked her: "Kamala, is America going to be ok?"

Harris said this November, the election is a binary choice.

She characterized former President Donald Trump as "a former president who openly praises dictators and says he will be a dictator on Day One."

"What kind of country do we want to live in?" Harris asked.

--

Gov. Cooper spoke first, focusing on the importance of protecting democracy and telling the crowd: "It is all on the line this November."

"You want a president who wakes up every morning thinking about the American people or you want a president who wakes up every morning thinking about himself?" Cooper said.

He called on the people in the room to make sure North Carolina turns blue for the first time since 2008.

From WH:

The President is participating in a campaign reception in Raleigh, NC.

Speaking Program

Governor Roy Cooper (NC)
The Vice President
The President

Travel Pool Report #11: Motorcade rolling

Motorcade departed fundraiser and is rolling at 5:46 p.m.

Travel Pool Report #12: Raleigh departure

Motorcade arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 6:10 p.m.

Your pool didn't see POTUS board the plane.

AF1 is taxiing at 6:20 p.m. en route to JBA. From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route Joint Base Andrews:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & National Security Council Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Krystal Ortiz, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Political Engagement
Tori Taylor, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Political Outreach

Travel Pool Report #13: Landed at JBA

AF1 was wheels down at JBA at 7:05 p.m.

POTUS deplaned at 7:14 p.m. and went straight into his vehicle.

Just to be clear re: previous pool report on Raleigh departure: Due to the long nature of the motorcade, your pooler and some others in the pool who were toward the back did not make it to the plane in time to see POTUS board AF1. Some others in the pool did see him board.

Handing over to the in-town pool to take it from here.

Have a great evening!