Pool Reports of May 19, 2024

WH out of town pool report #1/ POTUS on the move

Hi everyone,

Greetings from Atlanta on an overcast day. POTUS's motorcade started rolling from the RON at 8.21am. First stop of the day is expected to be Morehouse College.

WH out of town pool report #2/ Traveling with POTUS

From the White House press office:

'Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Morehouse College:

Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Steve Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President'

WH out of town pool report #3/ Arrival at Morehouse

POTUS's motorcade arrived at Morehouse College in Atlanta at 8.37am after an uneventful journey. On the approach to the college, a lone protester was holding up a handwritten sign that said 'Genocide Joe' among other things.

WH out of town pool report #4/ POTUS on stage at Morehouse College Commencement

A speaker asked the audience at Morehouse to welcome POTUS and there was applause and some cheers. At 9.19am POTUS walked on stage, again to applause. Some people took photos on their phones.

POTUS is wearing a maroon gown with three black stripes on the arms and maroon tie. He is standing just behind the lectern and to the speaker's left.

White chairs are arranged in neat rows on the Century Campus lawn, with guests seated further back and able to watch big screens. The lawn is surrounded by red brick buildings and trees. At the front a stage has been erected with a black awning; college officials are seated there and behind them is a maroon backdrop that says 'Morehouse' in giant letters. Two giant screens are showing the event, including close-ups of graduates who smile, wave or look surprised.

The 2024 graduating class was announced to cheers and entered accompanied by organ music. Men in suits carried red banners, followed by graduates wearing black gowns and black mortar boards with gold or black sashes. Most are wearing Kente stoles with the Morehouse seal, although some have other colourful stoles. Morehouse alumni followed, many wearing maroon jackets and straw hats with maroon bands. Each man is standing in front of a seat on the lawn.

So far the mood seems joyful and normal, although rain is possible.

WH out of town pool report #5/ Photoline

From the White House press office:

'Participating in a photoline with the President:

Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)

The President is delivering the 2024 Morehouse College commencement address.

Program
Rev. Hardy S. Bennings leads the Ringing of the Bell
Rev. Dr. Clayborn Lea delivers the evocation
Army Color Guard Corps performs the Presentation of Colors
Morehouse College Glee Club performs the National Anthem and "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
Vice President Henry Goodgame
President David Thomas
Board Chairman Willie Woods
Provost Kendrick Brown
Vice President Henry Goodgame
Provost Kendrick Brown
President David Thomas
DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher, 2024 Valedictorian
Morehouse College Glee Club performs "Hehlehlooyuh"
Provost Kendrick Brown
President David Thomas
The President
Morehouse College Glee Club performs "I Ain't Got Weary Yet"'

WH out of town pool report #5b/ Photoline add

The White House press office added an update:

'Participating in a photoline with the President:

Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03)
Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)'

WH out of town pool report #5c/ Photoline add

A further add from the press office:

'Program

Rev. Hardy S. Bennings leads the Ringing of the Bell
Rev. Claybon Lea delivers the evocation'

WH out of town pool report #6/ Valedictorian references Gaza

A few graduates and faculty staff are wearing Keffiyeh scarves among their garments at the commencement.

There was a powerful evocation from the Rev Claybon Lea Jr, a pastor from California. He said: "Thank you God for this woke class of 2024 that is in tune with the zeitgeist, the spirit of the times." He made a brief reference to the plight of Palestinians among others.

There were renditions of The Star-Spangled Banner and Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing.

David Thomas, president of Morehouse College, acknowledged the disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic. He told graduates: "Today we celebrate your achievements and the collective spirit of determination that has defined your journey... You have demonstrated unparalleled fortitude in the face of adversity... You persevered, showing unwavering dedication to your education and your future."

Past alumni, going all the way back to 1954, stood to be recognised.

Valedictorian DeAngelo Jeremiah Fletcher was roundly cheered. He said: "Class of 24, we exhibited humanity's greatest strength: perseverance as a community." He spoke of the dehumanisation that African Americans have long endured and said Morehouse has instilled pride "in our combined identities as Black and human".

He turned to global politics and referenced Morehouse graduate Martin Luther King. He said: "The Israel-Gaza conflict has plagued the people of its region for generations. It is important to recognise both sides have suffered heavy casualties since October 7. We are calling for the release of all hostages."

POTUS was staring ahead. Fletcher called for an "immediate and permanent ceasefire" in Gaza. POTUS applauded, as did many others.

The commencement is ongoing.

WH out of town pool report #7/ POTUS is applauded but one graduate is protesting

POTUS walked to the lectern at 10.29am. Graduates and alumni rose to their feet and applauded. There were some cheers. Everyone then sat down to listen.

But one graduate is standing at the back. Wearing a mortar and blue gown, he is standing completely still with his back turned to POTUS and his right fist raised. Pool is too far away to tell whether he is saying anything.

A live stream of POTUS's address is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygAW_nW-Uo

WH out of town pool report #8/ POTUS addresses Gaza

POTUS finished speaking at 10.55am to applause and a few approving whistles.

At one point he said: "I support peaceful nonviolent protests. Your voices should be heard and I promise you, I hear you."

He described the war in Gaza as "heartbreaking" and spoke of the horror of Hamas's attack on October 7. POTUS went on: "Innocent Palestinians are caught in the middle of this... It's a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. That's why I've called for an immediate ceasefire."

The audience burst into applause. POTUS said he was also looking to the future. "What after? What happens in Gaza? What rights do the Palestinian people have? I'm working to make sure we get a two state solution."

His address also spanned democracy, racism, student debt, gun violence and the climate crisis. He said of HBCUs: "I'm investing 16 billion more dollars, the most in our history, because you're vital to our nation."

POTUS also noted that insurrections are "called patriots by some. Not in my house."

A lone graduate continued to stand with his back turned to POTUS and his right fist raised. There were no disruptions of the address, which can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygAW_nW-Uo

WH out of town pool report #9/ Honorary doctorate

An honorary doctorate was bestowed on POTUS, who had a mischievous expression as if showing off, then smiled and laughed and pointed at someone in the audience. He said: "I'm not going home."

Some people chanted: "Four more years!"

WH out of town pool report #10/ Pool has left commencement

Pool left the commencement moments after POTUS received an honorary doctorate and is now back in the press vans.

WH out of town pool report #12/ Travelling with POTUS

From the White House press office:

'Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport:

Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Steve Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President'

WH out of town pool report #13/ POTUS boards AF1

POTUS greeted police officers on the tarmac at Atlanta airport, then boarded AF1 at 11.34am. We are awaiting takeoff to Detroit.

WH in-town pool report #15/ Greeting POTUS at airport

From the White House press office:

'Greeting the President upon arrival to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport:

Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13)

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (MI)

Attorney General Dana Nessel (MI)

Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Joe Tate (MI-02)

Pastor Douglas Jones, Welcome Missionary Baptist Church

Reverend Doctor Steve Bland, Liberty Temple Baptist Church

Pastor Tellis Chapman, Galilee Missionary Baptist'

WH out of town pool report #16/ POTUS meets and greets

POTUS descended the stairs from AF1 in hot and sunny Wayne County, Michigan at 1.19pm. He was wearing aviators, blue suit, white shirt, blue patterned tie and black shoes.

POTUS shook hands and chatted with a group of six church leaders and elected officials standing in line. He then got in deeper conversation with the church leaders.

The pool shouted questions about Iran but POTUS did not respond. The motorcade started rolling at 1.29pm.

WH out of town pool report #17/ Campaign event and other business

From the Biden-Harris campaign:

'President Biden is participating in a campaign event at the CRED Cafe on the Eastside of Detroit, where he will be greeted by the owners, the Crawford family, including former NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford, and will meet with local supporters and leaders.'

Also, a couple of updates/ requests from the White House press office:

• Pool report #15 gave a list of POTUS greeters at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport that included Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. In fact Secretary Benson was not there.

• A pool report yesterday said POTUS spoke at a campaign reception at the Arthur M Blank Family Foundation in Atlanta. They would prefer it be referred to as the Arthur M Blank Family Office.

WH out of town pool report #18/ POTUS at campaign event

POTUS entered the CRED Cafe in Detroit at 2.18pm to applause. Music played as POTUS worked the room, meeting and greeting guests, of whom there were roughly 50.

POTUS took a handheld mic at 2.25pm and began speaking for four minutes. Among the highlights:

"We've got a long way to go in this election but we're feeling real good because of folks like you."

He took a swipe at trickle down economics. "We're building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up."

He joked about three reverends in the room and asked them to "pray like hell for me".

"The guy we're running against wants to back up all the prospects, all the progress we made... As they say where I come from, this guy's a different breed of cat."

POTUS then said he wanted to walk around and talk to guests about what's on their minds.

The rectangular room had an industrial feel with bare brick walls, exposed silver air ducts and a ceiling made of rough and ready wood panels. Lining the walls were audio cassettes, CD, VHS videos, XBox games, a guitar and a dartboard.

The back wall was plastered with 'Michigan for Biden Harris' campaign posters in blue and white/ white and blue. Four big TV screens also said 'Biden Harris'.

More detail to follow.

WH out of town pool report #19/ More detail from POTUS remarks at campaign event

POTUS said at Cafe CRED in Detroit: "We're - you've got a long way to go in this election but we're feeling real good because of folks like you. We're working real hard.

"We're going to make sure that we - you know, we used to have this theory in American economics which was everything will trickle down. You know, like, the wealthy did very well and made enough wealth for everybody else. My dad used to say, 'Nothing trickled down to our table, Joey.' Nothing trickled down to our table.'

"So we're building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up and the wealthy can still do well but they ought to start paying taxes so we can do more things. Anyway, so far we've been pretty good. The lowest unemployment rate for a long, long time.

"We've been in a situation where we've forgiven an awful lot of debt for folks with college debt, billions of dollars so people can start their lives again, people be in good shape. Anyway, there's a lot going on. I just want to tell you, I was talking to - you've got three reverends back there. In addition to asking them to pray like hell for me, I asked their advice on a bunch of things."

POTUS went on to say that he comes from Delaware, which has the eighth largest African American population in the country as a percentage. He told how it was racially segregated and this led him to become a lawyer. The assassination of Martin Luther King resulted in the National Guard being stationed on every street corner in Wilmington for nine months. POTUS said he was the first in his family ever to go to college. He quit working as a lawyer, became a senator and "one thing led to another".

POTUS added: "The bottom line is the guy we're running against wants to back up all the prospects, all the progress we've made. He wants to do away with the environmental stuff."

He added that millions of people, including African Americans, have gained health insurance but his opponent wants to take that away. "He wants to cut all of that across the board. So, as they say where I come from, this guy's a different breed of cat, not your typical Republican."

Motorcade started rolling at 3.02pm.

WH out of town pool report #20/ Pool holding in downtown Detroit

Motorcade came to a halt in downtown Detroit at 3.10pm. Pool did not spot POTUS and is now holding inside a hotel.

WH out of town pool report #21/ Note from Biden-Harris campaign

The Biden-Harris campaign sent the following:

'President Biden attended a campaign event at the CRED Cafe on the Eastside of Detroit, where he was greeted by the owners, the Crawford family, including former NBA players Joe and Jordan Crawford, and met with local supporters and leaders.

Former NBA players and siblings, Joe and Jordan Crawford, opened CRED Cafe as a family business that's a coffee shop by day and a speakeasy by night. The cafe is run by their mother, Sylvia Crawford, who serves as the cafe's president and CEO. CRED Cafe received a grant for renovations and the purchase of equipment from Motor City Match, a Detroit city program that connects local entrepreneurs to an array of business service providers. It is a unique partnership between the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act intended to benefit Detroit's entrepreneurs.

After greeting with the Crawfords, President Biden met with local supporters and volunteers, including members of Birth Detroit, the first freestanding birth center in Detroit, which will provide safe and culturally-relevant care to the communities of color that are facing high rates of maternal and infant mortality. State Speaker of the House Joe Tate, other local electeds, and Pastor Douglas Jones were also in attendance.'

WH out of town pool report #22/ POTUS on the move

Motorcade started rolling in downtown Detroit at 6.33pm. POTUS is scheduled to speak at the annual Freedom Fund Dinner hosted by the NAACP Detroit Branch, which is open press.

WH in-town pool report #23/ Protest signs

Motorcade came to a halt at a convention center 6.37pm. Along the way a few people held 'Genocide Joe' signs and one man was shouting something inaudible.

A note from the Biden-Harris campaign:

'President Biden is delivering remarks at the 69th annual NAACP Detroit Branch Freedom Fund dinner.

Speakers:
Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, President, Detroit NAACP
Mike Duggan, Mayor, City of Detroit
Gretchen Whitmer, Governor, State of Michigan
Gary Peters, U.S. Senator, State of Michigan
Leon Russell, Chair, NAACP Board of Directors
The President'

WH out of town pool report #24/ POTUS enters dinner in Detroit

POTUS walked on to the main stage at the NAACP Detroit Branch Freedom Fund dinner at 7.41pm. Guests stood and many cheered and raised their phones to take pictures. POTUS sat down beside other prominent guests against a backdrop of NAACP logos.

Earlier Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer praised POTUS's record on issues including gun safety, health care and the appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She added: "Thanks to legislation he fought for and signed into law, we are fixing the damn roads!"

Whitmer was competing with a constant hum of guests talking and food trolleys being pushed. But she received a big cheer when she finished speaking.

Senator Gary Peters of Michigan said: "President Joe Biden has always stood behind the state of Michigan. He has helped create good paying jobs. He was also the first President of the United States to stand on the picket line with the folks of the UAW... Joe didn't just talk the talk, he literally walked the walk... He's been a fierce advocate of civil rights."

Peters added: "I can tell you personally from my experience that Joe Biden cares deeply about Michigan. He cares deeply about the city of Detroit."

The dinner is taking place in a vast, cavernous hall at the Huntington Place convention center. Thousands of guests are sitting at round tables with black table cloths. There is a high ceiling with round lights and a bare concrete floor. Pool spotted Reps. Debbie Dingell, Elissa Slotkin and Shri Thanedar.

The dinner is open press and available on C-SPAN:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?535764-1/president-biden-naacp-freedom-fun...

WH out of town pool report #25/ POTUS begins speaking

POTUS, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and blue tie, began speaking at 8pm. Guests rose to their feet and chanted: "Four more years! Four more years!"

WH out of town pool report #26/ Highlights of POTUS remarks

The POTUS speech was open press but some highlights:

He said Trump wants to pardon January 6 insurrectionists. POTUS said: "Let me ask you. What do you think he would have done on January 6 if Black Americans had stormed the Capitol? No, I'm serious. What do you think? I can only imagine."

POTUS began the remarks with: "I don't feel tired. I feel inspired!"

Later he said: "You're the reason Donald Trump was defeated for President. You're the reason Donald Trump is going to be a loser again." The audience roared.

POTUS spoke of the "most significant investment ever" in climate. He cited $35 a month for insulin instead of $400 a month. He mentioned expanding the Affordable Care Act. He touted a $16 billion investment in HBCUs and appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court.

POTUS said Trump wants to "terminate" the Affordable Care Act. He said Trump's $2 trillion tax cut benefited the wealthy and corporations. POTUS promised to protect Medicare and Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share.

POTUS said, "I'm a union guy", prompting a big cheer. "I walked the picket line with union workers here in Michigan. At the same time, Trump went to a non-union stop to show his disrespect for union workers."

POTUS referred to the threat of book banning and erasure of history.

He said: "The threat that Trump poses in a second term is greater than the first." adding that "something snapped in Trump" after his election defeat in 2020. "He can't accept he lost.... He's not only obsessed with losing in 2020. He's clearly unhinged."

Remarks ended at 8.19pm

WH out of town pool report #27/ POTUS on the move

POTUS was presented at the dinner with the James Weldon Johnson lifetime achievement award.

POTUS has departed the convention center. Motorcade started rolling at 8.26pm.

WH out of town pool report #28/ POTUS on AF1

Motorcade reached the airport at 8.54pm. Pool did not see POTUS board. We are awaiting take off to Philadelphia.

From the White House press office:

'Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Philadelphia International Airport:

Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Steve Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
John McCarthy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Political Engagement
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President'

WH out of town pool report #29/ AF1 lands in Philadelphia

AF1 took off at 9.04pm and touched down in Philadelphia at 10.07pm after an uneventful flight.

WH out of town pool report #30/ Traveling with POTUS to Delaware

From the White House press office:

'Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President'

WH out of town pool report #32/ POTUS in Delaware

Marine One touched down at DANG at 10.40pm and taxied. POTUS emerged at 10.47pm and was greeted by an officer in military uniform then got into his vehicle. He was too far away for pool to shout questions. Motorcade is now rolling.

WH out of town pool report #33/ POTUS home and lid

The motorcade reached the Biden residence at 11.01pm. A lid was called a minute later.

Special thanks to Nikki Schwab of the Daily Mail and Franco Ordoñez of NPR for all their help with pooling this weekend.