Pool Reports of May 7, 2021

In-town print pool report #1

Good morning from the White House. I’m your in-town print pooler for today.

POTUS is schedule to deliver remarks on the April jobs report from the East Room at 11:30 a.m. He has a couple of other meetings on his schedule that are closed press. At 5:30 p.m., he’s set to depart the White House for Camp David.

Jen Psaki’s press briefing is scheduled for 12:30.

I’ll let you know if there are any other changes to the schedule.

In-town print pool report #2: East Room

Pool has gathered in the East Room for the president’s remarks on the April jobs report.

The remarks are scheduled for 11:30 am and will be live streamed, so I will not be providing a transcript. I will provide color as warranted.

In-town print pool report #3: East Room

We are still awaiting the president’s remarks, which were scheduled for 11:30. ?I’ll send a schedule update if/when it’s provided.

In-town print pool report #4: East Room remarks

Two-minute warning

In-town print pool report #5: Remarks begin

POTUS entered the East Room at ?12 pm, removed a black face mask and began speaking.

In-town print pool report #6: Remarks conclude

POTUS wrapped up his remarks at 12:?11 pm. He spoke 11 minutes and then took a couple of questions.

Asked why he entered the room wearing a face mask, he said, "I'm worried about you." But he quickly added, "that's a joke."

On a possible meeting with Putin, POTUS said he was confident there would be a meeting but he did not have an update on the timing.

He exited the room at 12:13 pm.

Check quotes against transcript.

In-town print pool report #7

Two-minute warning for daily briefing ?

Print pool report #8: Briefing begins

The briefing began at 12: 29 p.m.

In-town print pool report #9: Briefing ends

The briefing ended at 1:33 p.m.

In-town print pool report #10: Lunch lid

We have a lunch lid until 4 p.m.

In-town print pool report #11: The Ellipse

Pool has gathered on the Ellipse for the president’s 5:30 pm departure aboard Marine One for Camp David.?

A light rain is falling.

A few minutes ago, Secretaries Buttigieg, Fudge, Granholm, Walsh and Raimondo gaggled outside the West Wing following the Jobs Cabinet’s meeting with the President and Vice President. Quotes from that gaggle to come.

In-town print pool report #12: Marine One departure

The president’s motorcade arrived at The Ellipse at 5:54 pm as a light rain fell.

POTUS, wearing a rain coat and carrying an umbrella, exited the van, waved to the pool and immediately boarded Marine One.

The chopper was wheels up for Camp David at 5:58 pm

In-town print pool report #13: Lid

From the White House:

Traveling with the President on Marine One are Steve Ricchetti and Yohannes Abraham.

We have a photo/travel lid as of 6:10 p.m.

I will be sending highlights from the cabinet secretaries’ gaggle shortly.

In-town travel pool report 13(b): Correction

A small correction to pool report #12:

Your pooler should have said the president exited an SUV instead of a van. Apologies.

In-town print pool report #14: Secretaries' gaggle

Treasury Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm spoke to the press for a few minutes outside the West Wing entrance following the Jobs Cabinet meeting with the president and the vice president. HHS Secretary Marcia Fudge was also there but did not speak.

Raimondo said the meeting ran a little over an hour.

Some highlights from the gaggle:

--Walsh said they talked about the American Jobs Plan and what it would do for the American people and the economy. He said the president again stressed the importance of the plan as an infrastructure plan that's not just about roads and bridges, but also about people.

--Raimondo: "It was a terrific meeting with the president." She said she updated the president on her efforts to reach out to Congress and the business community, with a particular focus on broadband. She said every governor she has spoken to, Democrat and Republican alike, have agreed on the importance of having broadband in every community.

--Buttigieg said the meeting was a good opportunity to update the president on what he has been hearing and seeing around the country in terms of transportation infrastructure. "There's clearly bipartisan interest and enthusiasm to do big things in infrastructure and transportation," he said. "It's often said that this is a competitive business. We see allies and strategic competitors like China making a major investment in their transportation infrastructure. We have got to make sure America doesn't fall behind."

--Granholm on whether the administration can win Republican support: She said there are energy components of the plan that Republicans in the Senate say will they support, such as the ability to have carbon capture and sequestration. "You see people who have -- Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the Senate -- who have voted in the past for some of these energy measures." There is optimism that there will agreement on large parts of the plan, she said.

In-town print pool report #14(b): Correction

Pete Buttigieg is transportation secretary, obviously. Your pooler hastily – and erroneously -- gave him the treasury secretary’s job in pool report #14.

Again, apologies.

In-town print pool report #14(c): Correction

Another correction to pool report #14, which referred to Marcia Fudge as HHS secretary. She’s HUD secretary, obviously.

Most of you know that, of course. Your pooler knows it, too. But sometimes his fingers work faster than his brain.

In-town print pool report #15: Next week's meetings

Background from a White House official:

Next week, the President will continue to engage with Members of Congress around the American Jobs Plan.

On Wednesday, May 12, the President will meet with bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate: Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy. They will have a dialogue about policy areas of mutual agreement and identifying common ground on which they can work together and deliver results on the challenges facing American families.

The President is eager to talk in-person with the Congressional leaders about how they can partner on the goals of restoring trust in government, ensuring that government delivers for the American people, and keeping the nation safe and competitive in the world—especially as the nation continues to sacrifice to defeat the pandemic and we turn our economy around after the worst downturn since the Great Depression.

On Thursday, May 13, the President and Senator Capito will continue their negotiations about the best ways to invest in American infrastructure.

President Biden will host Senator Capito at the White House, joined by a number of additional Republican Senators who serve as ranking members of relevant committees: Senator Barrasso, Senator Blunt, Senator Crapo, Senator Toomey, and Senator Wicker.

The President appreciates their engagement and the ongoing dialogue on this high priority, and is looking forward to speaking with the group.