Pool Reports of May 26, 2023

In-town pool report #1 -- checking in

Good morning from your in-town print pool reporter for today. Here's the president's schedule:

9:30 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Closed Press

2:00 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host a ceremony for the Louisiana State University Tigers Women's Basketball team to celebrate their 2022-2023 NCAA Championship season; THE VICE PRESIDENT delivers remarks; THE SECOND GENTLEMAN attends
East Room
Pre-Credentialed Media and Pooled for TV (Gather 1:45 PM – Palm Room Doors)

5:00 PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes the University of Connecticut Huskies Men's Basketball team to the White House to celebrate their 2022-2023 NCAA Championship season; THE SECOND GENTLEMAN attends
East Room
Pre-Credentialed Media and Pooled for TV (Gather 4:45 PM – Palm Room Doors)

6:30 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart the White House en route to Camp David
South Lawn
Open Press (Gather 6:20 PM - Palm Room Doors)

In-town pool report #2 -- lunch lid

The White House has called a lunch lid until 1:15 p.m.

In-town pool report #3 -- gathering for LSU event

The pool is gathering at the Palm Room Doors, for the ceremony with the Louisiana State University Tigers Women's Basketball team.

In-town pool report #4 — two-minute warning

Two-minute warning.

The East Room is packed with guests, among them administration officials and a good number of LSU supporters decked out in the university's purple and gold colors.

From the press office:

In attendance for the President, the Vice President, and the First Lady's remarks celebrating the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers Women's Basketball team's 2022-2023 NCAA Championship season are LSU leadership, LSU Women's basketball players, coaches, and staff, and state and local elected leaders:

The Second Gentleman

Rep. Garret Graves (LA-06)
Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04)
Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02)
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Mission to the United Nations
Director Shalanda Young, Office of Management and Budget
Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor & Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator
Chair Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality
Under Secretary Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Department of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
Under Secretary Don Cravins Jr., Department of Commerce for Minority Business Development
Marshall Pierite, Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe
Kim Mulkey, Head Coach of the LSU Women's Basketball team
Angel Reese, Forward & Team Captain of the LSU Women's Basketball team
Emily Ward, Forward & Team Captain of the LSU Women's Basketball team

Additional players expected to attend:
Amani Barlett, Forward
Izzy Besselman, Guard
Jasmine Carson, Guard
Flau'jae Johnson, Guard
Alexis Morris, Guard
Last-Tear Poa, Guard
Kateri Poole, Guard
Sa'Myah Smith, Forward
Alisa Williams, Forward
LaDazhia Williams, Forward

Run of Show
The First Lady
The Vice President
The President
Kim Mulkey, Head Coach of the LSU Women's Basketball team
Angel Reese (Team Captain) and Emily Ward (Team Captain) present team jerseys to the President and the First Lady

In-town pool report #5 — remarks underway

President Biden walked into the East Room at 2:19 p.m., accompanied by the vice president and first lady, shortly after members of the champion Louisiana State University Women's Basketball Team entered and took the stage.

FLOTUS kicked off the program.

The White House is streaming the event.

In-town pool report #6 — event interrupted/team member medical issue

POTUS stopped his remarks after a member of the LSU team collapsed on stage with a medical issue.

The player is being attended to by medical personnel as the president and team members look on.

In-town pool report #7 - LSU event resumes

The LSU team player who collapsed on stage has been taken out of the East Room in a wheelchair.

President Biden resumed his remarks at 2:40 pm., and the ceremony is back underway.

In-town pool report #8 - event over

POTUS wrapped the event and left the East Room at 2:49 pm.

Biden did not respond to shouted questions from the pool about the debt ceiling.

In her remarks, the LSU coach said the player who was taken out of the ceremony was "fine."

In-town pool report #9 — gathered for UConn event

Pool is gathered to head into the East Room for the UConn event.

In-town pool report #10 — two-minute warning

Two-minute warning for the East Room event celebrating the UConn men's basketball team title.

The press office sends this:

In attendance for the President's remarks celebrating the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies Men's Basketball team's 2022-2023 NCAA Championship season are UConn leadership, UConn Men's basketball players, coaches, and staff, and state and local elected leaders:

The Second Gentleman
Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT)
Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education
Chair Brenda Mallory, Council on Environmental Quality
Chairman Rodney Butler, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Attorney General William Tong, Connecticut
Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut
Comptroller Sean Scanlon, Connecticut
Treasurer Erick Russell, Connecticut
Mayor Luke Bronin, Hartford, Connecticut
Mayor Antonia Moran, Storrs, Connecticut
Dan Hurley, Head Coach of the UConn Men's Basketball team
Andre Jackson Jr., Guard & Team Captain of the UConn Men's Basketball team
Adama Sanogo, Forward & Team Captain of the UConn Men's Basketball team

Additional players expected to attend:
Nahiem Alleyne, Guard
Joey Calcaterra, Guard
Donovan Clingan, Center
Hassan Diarra, Guard
Yarin Hasson, Forward
Jordan Hawkins, Guard
Emmet Hendry, Guard
Andrew Hurley, Guard
Andre Johnson, Guard
Samson Johnson, Forward
Alex Karaban, Forward
Tristen Newton, Guard
Apostolos Roumoglou, Guard
Richie Springs, Forward

Run of Show
The President
Dan Hurley, Head Coach of the UConn Men's Basketball team
Andre Jackson, Jr. (Team Captain) and Adama Sanogo (Team Captain) present a team jersey to the President

In-town pool report #11 — remarks begin

President Biden entered the East Room at 5:11 p.m., after the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball team took the stage. Biden was accompanied by the UConn team's coach.

The East Room is filled with Huskies fans, lawmakers from Connecticut, and others.

The White House is live streaming the event.

In-town pool report #12 — UConn event over

President Biden left the East Room at 5:25 p.m., after the UConn event concluded.

Biden did not respond to shouted questions from the pool on his way out about negotiations on the debt ceiling.

In-town pool report #13 — Awaiting departure

The pool has gathered near the South Portico entrance for President Biden's departure.

In-town pool report #14 — debt ceiling quotes/M1 liftoff

President Biden stopped to speak briefly on the debt ceiling talks on his way to Marine One.

"Things are looking good, I'm very optimistic," Biden said.

"I hope we'll be able to know by tonight whether we have a deal," Biden said.

Asked if he would bow to Republican demands on work requirements, Biden said "I don't bow to anybody."

It was very difficult for the pool to make out Biden's comments over the noise from M1.

Check partial quotes against the transcript.

After taking a few questions, Biden walked across the lawn and boarded M1.

M1 lifted off at 6:20. Handing off to out-of-town pool.

In-town pool report #15 -- debt ceiling quote update

An update on this quote: "I hope we'll be able to know by tonight whether we have a deal," Biden said.

"I'm hopeful we'll know by tonight whether we are going to be able to have a deal," Biden said.

Thanks to everyone who helped with remarks at departure.

And per the White House:
Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Camp David:
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & National Security Council Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

In-town pool report #16 — Camp David arrival

From the White House:

President Biden arrived at Camp David at 6:53 p.m.

In-town pool report #17 -- week ahead guidance

Week ahead guidance, from the White House press office:

Week Ahead (5/27)

On Sunday, the President and the First Lady will travel from Camp David to New Castle County, Delaware.

In the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will return to the White House from New Castle County, Delaware.

On Monday, the President and the First Lady will host a breakfast in the East Room in honor of Memorial Day.

After, the President and the First Lady will participate in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The Vice President and the Second Gentleman will attend.

Then, the President will deliver the Memorial Day Address at the 155th National Memorial Day Observance at Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. The Vice President, the First Lady, and the Second Gentleman will attend.

In the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will travel to Wilmington, Delaware.

On Tuesday, the President and the First Lady will return to the White House from Wilmington, Delaware.

On Thursday, the President will deliver the commencement address at the United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado.

On Friday afternoon, the President will attend the Friday Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington.