Pool Reports of March 29, 2024

Travel pool report #1 — rolling for campaign event

Motorcade departed RON at 11:03am for a campign event, destination unknown.

Pool has not seen POTUS this morning

Tktk

Travel pool report #2 —

Motorcade stopped and pool is moving on foot to unknown destination as of 11:11am.

Pool spotted one pedestrian holding a hand-written "Trump" sign… red ink on white paper… near the corner of 49th and Park Ave.

Still no sign of POTUS

TKTKT

Travel pool report #3 — travelers

Passing along from WH

Traveling with the President via motorcade:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
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 #4 — National Finance Committee Meeting

POTUS is hosting a meeting of campaign donors, following the Obama-Clinton fundraiser last night.

The event is in a ballroom at the Intercontinental. Large "Biden Victory Fund" signage was on display behind the stage, with gray table-clothed tables arrayed in rows throughout the rest of the room.

POTUS is delivering brief remarks, full quotes to follow

Tktk

Travel pool report #5 — remarks

Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez opened the event and introduced POTUS, who was wearing a dark suit and off-white Oxford (no tie).

Biden began speaking at 11:18am and concluded at 11:45am.

No real news to report. POTUS stuck to recent comments/rhetoric on Trump but see highlights below. Pool will endeavor to send full quotes when possible, but as you've seen, our movement schedule back to Camp David and then DC is erratic today.

"I came to say thank you… a couple of us have been doing this for a year or two. I don't ever remember an event like last night.

It was good being with Barack and Bill," noted his extensive past-government work both. "I was impressed"

I'm the president but was looking out there, Holy God.

Biden offered "Chris" a set of Aviators as a birthday gift and led the room in singing "Happy birthday"

"It's hard turning 40 but you'll get over it"

Biden thanked the room for helping raise more than any Democratic president in history

POTUS claimed the fundraiser last night quieted his credits and said that the polls show him "ahead" of Trump.

"It's a lot of campaigning, and our grassroots organization" is kicking up

The president specifically touted new donors this cycle, 95% of which is under $200.

"If that isn't grassroots, then I don't know what is," joking that people in the room were probably wondering why they had to donate so much themselves.

"In several national polls were leading, since the state of the union address," and Biden predicted more were on the way.

POTUS repeated his new quip about Trump coming up and asking him for help paying legal fees… "Donald, I can't help you"

The president also repeated past rhetoric about Trump's handling of the COVID pandemic… "remember he told Americans to inject bleach? I tell you what man, he told people they should just hit the body with UV light"

"Then after losing the 2020 election, he sent a mob to attack Capitol Hill. I don't want to repeat it all, but look at how far we've come"

"Donald Trump is President in his mind. I'm president"

Biden additionally knocked Trump for his last comments on Hitler, Kim Jong Un, and Putin

"Look where the MAGA extremists will take the country if they win," including terminating ACA and rolling back Biden's health care reforms

"He brags about why he's the reason Roe v. Wade was ended and eliminated… and now he's calling for a national ban in every single state. I tell you what, you guys elect me again and give me a little of to help in the Senate, and we're going to restore Roe v. Wade across the country"

POTUS said Trump is the most un-Democratic president since the Civil War and repeated his comments from Thursday night about Trump propping up the January 6 "patriots" and his plans to pardon them if he beats Biden in 2024.

"Trump says if he loses again in November there will be a bloodbath. What the hell's wrong with this guy?"

"Almost everyone one of the world leaders" tells Biden "you can't let him win… my democracy is at stake"

"This is a guy who walked away from NATO. He told Putin he can do whatever he wants."

"I'm not so special, but I'm not Trump… They're scared to death he's going to win again."

Biden claimed all Americans should be unified in saying "there is no place for violence in the American political system. Ever… you can't only be for your country when you win."

"The real question is — I shouldn't say it… if it weren't Good Friday then I'd probably say it"

"The question is how old are our ideas. Donald trumps vision for America is based on a completely different set of values than ours… if I said that a year ago, you'd probably think that was an exaggeration."

"Will we be better off four years from now? That's our goal. I think we've made it a hell of a lot better than it was 4 years ago."

"I see a future where we defend our democracy," protect civil liberties, builds the economy for the middle class.

"I'm pro-labor because they're the best workers in the world."

The president also mentioned restoring manufacturing jobs, specifically for semiconductor chips.

"By the way, I made a commitment. Nobody earning less than $400,000 will pay a penny more in taxes"

"I think it's time for us to redouble our efforts. I mean this sincerely… I've never been more optimistic about our future. We have a chance to change our next six decades"

"I've never seen a time in my career, it's short I know, where there's this much movement in the world… we have to remember who we are… we're the United States of America… there's nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together… this room is the reason I'm standing here. That's not hyperbole either."

"We can't be a nation espousing a value set that's contrary to what we believe."

POTUS said he doesn't blame Trump supporters "for being mad at me" but criticized society for killing dialogue.

"We're the most unique country in the world. Last comment I promise… we're the only country based on an idea. Not a joke… we've never fully lived up to it… but we've never walked away from it. That's why the rest of the world looks at us the way they do…"

Travel pool report #6 — campaign bg

Passing along from Biden campaign

On behalf of the Biden-Harris campaign:

President Biden will deliver remarks at the Biden Victory Fund National Finance Committee meeting in New York.

Travel pool report #7 — rolling to WSLZ

Motorcade departed the Intercontinental at 12:02pm. No sign of POTUS entering his vehicle.

It's a weird couple of stops coming up… Helo to JFK, fly to JBA, fly to Hagerstown, motorcade to Camp David.

Tktk

Travel pool report #8 — LZ/travelers

Smooth uneventful drive to the LZ. Motorcade arrived at 12:20pm.

Pool did spot one fun sign, a billboard on a side of a storage facility visible from FDR Dr. reading "Store Old Things Here, Not The White House," accompanied by caricatures of Biden and Trump.

PPTUS loaded on M1 before press arrived. We're in ospreys, wheels up imminently

Passing along

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Travel pool report #9 — JFK

Helos touched down at JFK at 12:36pm.

Pool is in position for any remarks under wing

Tktktk

Travel pool report #10 — no questions, wheels up shortly

POTUS exited Marine One at 12:43pm with family… Hunter, Melissa, Ashley, and baby Beau… and boarded without stopping for questions. We're wheels up for JBA shortly

Travel pool report #12 — JBA

Air Force One touched down at 1:38pm after a bumpy flight.

We'll be switching to the smaller plane for the trip back up to Hagerstown.

Tktk

Travel pool report #13 — wheels up for Hagerstown

POTUS and FLOTUS disembarked AF1(big) and walked toward the small plane at 1:58pm before fielding two questions.

He'll visit Baltimore "next week" with the governor.

Asked about Evan Gershkovich, he said he isn't "giving up"

Wheels up soon on small plane.

Tktk

Travel pool report #14 -- travelers

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Hagerstown Regional Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady

Travel pool report #15 — wheels down in Hagerstown

… at 2:35pm. Will move to the motorcade shortly.

Tktk

Travel pool report #16 — rolling

POTUS, now wearing a black ball cap, and FLOTUS disembarked at 2:45pm, waved to pool, and hopped in the motorcade.

We're rolling to Camp David as of 2:48pm

Tktk

Travel pool report #17 — CD arrival

Motorcade arrived at Camp David at 3:23pm

Pool did not see POTUS exit his vehicle, as the press van left the motorcade at the front gate. Pool now heading back to DC