Pool Reports of May 28, 2023

Out of town pool report # 1 — wheels up for DE

Marine One lifted off from Camp David at 8:31am, per White House.

Pool is standing by at Summit Aviation Landing Zone in Middletown ahead of POTUS' arrival in the 9:00am hour

Out of town pool report #2 — travelers

Passing along…

The President and the First Lady departed Camp David at 8:31 AM.

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to Summit Aviation Landing Zone:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Out of town pool report #3 — wheels down in DE/rolling

M1 touched down in Middletown at 9:19am.

POTUS and FLOTUS disembarked at 9:23 and hopped directly into the motorcade.

MC is rolling, destination unknown, as of 9:25.

Out of town pool report #4 — motorcade travelers

Passing along…

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade from Summit Aviation Landing Zone:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Out of town pool report #5 — arrival, St. Andrew's School

Motorcade pulled into the gate at St. Andrew's School at 9:46am. POTUS and FLOTUS are attending the high school graduation of their granddaughter, Natalie, per White House. Pool did not see the Bidens exit the motorcade, and we're now moving to a local restaurant for a hold during the ceremony

A scattering of onlookers watched and waved at the motorcade throughout the uneventful ~15 minute ride. Pool did spot one home flying the US flag above a Trump-stylized "Impeach Biden" flag, roughly a half-mile from the school.

Out of town pool report #6 — heading back to M1

Pool linked back up with the motorcade at 12:18pm and we're rolling toward the airfield as of 12:22.

Pool did not catch a glimpse of POTUS or FLOTUS before moving

Tktktk

Out of town pool report #7 — airfield

Motorcade arrived back at the airfield at 12:44pm. Pool is moving into position for departure.

Tktktk

Out of town pool report #8 — no questions/wheels up

POTUS and FLOTUS stepped out of the motorcade and onto M1 as pool was moving into position at 12:46pm.

M1 was wheels up as of 12:51pm.

Handing off to in-town/supplemental pool for WH arrival.

One note: same M1 travelers as earlier. From the White House…

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Marine One en route to the White House:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Out of town pool report #9 — one more traveler

Passing along from WH…

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff, traveled with the President for today's trip to Middletown, Delaware.

In town pool report #1

Potus returned to the White House earlier than scheduled, landing in Marine One on the South Lawn at 1:33 p.m.

He stopped for just a minute to talk with the pool and said he plans to speak with Kevin McCarthy at 2 p.m. Asked if he is confident the deal will reach his desk, he said, "Yes." Asked what the remaining sticking points are, he said, "None."

In-town pool report #2

Update: Potus said the call with McCarthy will be at 3 pm., not 2 p.m.

Fuller quote: "I'm going to call McCarthy now at 3 o'clock to make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted. I think we're in good shape."

In-town pool report #3

Correcting quote: "I'm about to go in to call McCarthy now at 3 o'clock to make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted. I think we're in good shape."

In-town pool report #4

For those wondering, the call between POTUS and Speaker McCarthy still hasn't started, but is still expected to happen. No official word on whether POTUS will speak with the pool after it's over.

In-town pool report #5

Update:

On Sunday afternoon, the President will deliver remarks on the bipartisan budget agreement. These remarks in the Roosevelt Room will be covered by the in-house pool.

6:25 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the bipartisan budget agreement
Roosevelt Room
In-House Pool (Gather 3:50 PM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

In-town pool report #6

The White House passes along this detail-rich statement:

"The President spoke to Speaker McCarthy about the bipartisan budget agreement."

Your pool is now in the Roosevelt Room awaiting POTUS.

n-town pool report #7

Two minute warning.

In-town pool report #8

POTUS appeared at a lectern in the Roosevelt Room and praised the agreement he has reached with Speaker McCarthy: "It's a really important step forward. It takes the threat of catastrophic default off the table, protects our hard-earned economic recovery and the agreement also represents a compromise which means no one got everything they want but that's the responsibility of governing."

Asked about Democrats who worry that he gave away too much, he said, "They'll find I didn't."

Asked about critics who say the deal may take food out of the mouths of poor people, he said, "It's a ridiculous assertion."

POTUS offered no criticism of how McCarthy handled the issue. "I think he negotiated with me in good faith. He kept his word." As for whether the speaker has the votes to pass the deal, POTUS said, "I expect he does."

In response to a question, he offered no comment on the election in Turkey and said only that he has not spoken with President Erdogan.

In-town pool report #9

We have a lid at 6:45 p.m.

Will send fuller quotes in a minute.

In-town pool report #10

Some fuller quotes from hard-to-hear tape -- note a couple words different than in the previous pool report. But it's always good to check the transcript later.

POTUS: "We've got good news. I spoke with Speaker McCarthy and we've reached a bipartisan agreement that we're ready to move to the full Congress. And I think it's a really important step forward. It takes the threat of catastrophic default off the table, protects our hard earned and historic economic recovery and the agreement also represents a compromise that means no one got everything they want, but that's the responsibility of governing. This is a deal that's good news for, I believe you'll see, the American people. The agreement prevents the worst possible crisis, a default for the first time in the nation's history and economic recession, retirement accounts devastated, millions of jobs lost but also protects key priorities and accomplishments and values that congressional Democrats and I have fought long and hard for. ...

"As the Speaker and I made clear from the start, the only way forward was a bipartisan agreement. That agreement now goes to the United States House and to the Senate. I strongly urge both, both chambers to pass that agreement. Let's keep moving forward on meeting our obligations and building the strongest economy in the history of the world."

In response to questions, he denied that he had reversed his vow not to negotiate the debt ceiling. "I'm not negotiating the debt ceiling." He was negotiating spending issues in order to get to the debt ceiling, he said. "You want to try and make it look like I made some compromises on the debt ceiling. I didn't. I made a compromise on the budget."

He also said that he would look at invoking the 14th Amendment at some later point, in a year or so. "But that's another day."

On whether McCarthy negotiated in good faith: "I think he negotiated with me in good faith. He kept his word. He said what he would do. He did what he said he would do. I have no idea if he has the votes. I expect he does or I don't think he would have made the agreement."

On Erdogan: "I have not spoken with him yet."

And with that, good night and have a great holiday tomorrow.