Pool Reports of November 12, 2024

In town pool report #1: briefing at 2:30 pm

Good morning,

The White House shares the following update:

The Press Briefing will begin at 2:30pm.

In town pool report #2: Herzog in the Oval

(The original pool report #2 was the gather, and it appears to be lost in transit.... if it arrives later apologies for the double reports.)

Spray began at 11:55 am.

A reporter asked a question as we were still filing in. Biden appeared to respond by asking if the pool was entirely in the room. More TK on that.

He welcomed Herzog back to the White House.

Herzog opened with rocket attacks in Lebanon. He called Tehran the "empire of evil" in his remarks. He said that he was here to thank Biden. More TK from his remarks.

He brought Biden a gift, an artifact from the foot of Temple Mount in Jerusalem that has the word "Joseph" on it.

The spray lasted 5 minutes. POTUS didn't respond to questions. Quotes coming momentarily.

In town pool report #3: Oval Office participants

The White House shares the following:

The President is meeting with PresidentIsaac Herzog of Israel.

U.S. Delegation
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Jon Finer, Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor
T.H. Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant to the President & Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, National Security Council

Israel Delegation
H.E. Michael Herzog, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the United States
Ms. Diklah Cohen Sheinfeld, Chief of Staff to the President
Mr. Amos Amit Zarouk, Foreign Policy Adviser to the President

In town pool report #4: quotes from the pool spray with Herzog

When the pool entered the room, the two leaders were seated next to one another in chairs – President Herzog on the left, and President Biden on the right.

After the pool fully entered the room, Biden made very brief remarks before turning the floor to Israeli President Herzog. "Alright. Thank you all. Well, Mr. President. Welcome back to the Oval Office…"

He said that "you know that our commitment to Israel is ironclad, and we share a deep a friendship."

Herzog offered more expansive remarks, lasting several minutes.

He thanked Biden and said, "It's always a great honor to be here in the Oval Office and to be with a friend such as you, Mr. President."

He then talked about the "sad news of the day" and said that in the last two hours, "two Israelis were murdered by rocket attacks from Lebanon in the northern town of Nahariya, a beautiful seashore town in the northern part of Israel." He said that kindergarten teacher of special needs children, rescued toddlers from a drone attack. "This is what we're going through from Lebanon, Mr. President, and you know it all too well. We're fighting hard, we're protecting our people….and I know that you're working very hard to make sure that this war will end and that will there will be, first and foremost security for the people, of Israel, as well as for the people in Lebanon."

In Gaza, he said there are 101 hostages for 400 days. "I know Mr. President that you know you are day in and out, actively seeking their safe return home, as they're going through hell."

Biden is clearly thinking and working toward the day after the war.

"But first and foremost, we have to get the hostages back home."

Biden responded then to say, "I agree."

Herzog said, "It all starts in Tehran. It all starts in the empire of evil."

Iran, he said, is seeking to erase stability and peace in the region and nuclear weapons. "And Mr. President, this has to be a major objective all throughout in your term and the next term of the next president, because we have to make sure that they cannot fulfill their evil intentions," Herzog told Biden.

He said Iran is a driver of antisemitism, and then thanked Biden as an "incredible friend" of the Israeli people and said the country will "never forget" how Biden stood up for the country in its "darkest hour, which became our finest hour" and how he came to Israel a few days after the attack.

"This is a great legacy that you stood up with the Jewish people."

He then gave him the artifact that read "Joseph," because Joseph was said in the Bible to strengthen Israel.

Biden told him own father was a "righteous Christian" and Herzog told him it was a "great legacy" with his father.

It was hard to hear Biden, as he spoke, but he brought up a comment he made about not needing to be Jewish to be a Zionist years ago in the Senate and Herzog responded by saying that, "I know you are, clearly a Zionist, Mr. President."

Biden replied, "God love you."

He did not respond to shouted questions as pool was lead out of the Oval Office.

In town Pool report #5: herzog at the sticks & lunch lid.

Lunch lid until 1:40pm. Also, Israeli President Herzog is currently at the sticks.

In town pool report #6: Harris appearance

As Herzog was addressing press at the sticks, from the EEOB steps there was loud cheering suddenly. The steps were filled with White House staff -- several hundred based on our approximation. It was unclear initially what they were cheering for repeatedly.

It turns out it was VP Harris, who was arriving for her lunch with President Biden.

Thanks to our TV friends, who caught it on video. Here's some quotes based on the video we reviewed.

They shouted "MVP" for Madame Vice President.

She got out of her SUV and clapped and waved.

"We still have a lot of work to do," she said over loud cheering. "So thank you all very much. Listen, we do the best work anybody could do, which is to dedicate ourselves to the people, to public service, to lifting folks up, knowing we have the power, and when we do that work, we make a difference, and you all are a part of doing that work every single day, and I am so grateful to each of you. So let's get back to work, because we still have work to get done. And I am sending all my love and thanks. Thank you, everyone."

There was loud cheering again at the end.

In town pool report #7: awaiting Indonesian president & Rose Garden dog sighting

The pool is lined up near upper press awaiting the spray with the Indonesian president.

If you're running to catch the WH briefing, it seems it won't start on time based on the fact the spray hasn't taken place yet.

Also, earlier, just before pool entered the first Oval Office spray with Herzog, it saw a brown dog in the Rose Garden that none of us recognized. It was not a German Shepherd. I've attached a photo. It's unclear who it belongs to and what breed it was.

In town pool report #8 Oval for the Indonesian president

Pool entered the Oval Oval at 2:45 pm.

President Biden and the recently inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (who our visiting press tells us goes by his first name, pronounced Prah-bo-woah) were seated across from each other.

Biden said something again at the top as pool entered.

He then, reading from two pieces of white paper that looked like card stock, welcomed Prabowo to the White House.

"Good to have you here."

Biden said he was proud of the partnership between the two nations.

He said that among the topics they would discuss is the Indo-Pacific, the "climate crisis," the supply chain, Gaza and the South China Sea.

Prabowo spoke briefly also. He said, "thank you for receiving me" and said that the US had been a "great friend" to Indonesia, and he would work "very hard" to strengthen the two counties' relationship.

Biden said he looked forward to their discussion.

He did not respond to shouted questions at the end.

It lasted 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Biden didn't answer questions.

***Also thank you to Emily Goodin, who determined that the aforementioned, unknown dog appears to belong to Naomi Biden and Peter Neal. He goes by the name "Charlie." Mystery solved.

In town pool report #9: Oval Office participants for Prabowo

Per the White House:

The President is hosting a bilateral meeting with PresidentPrabowo Subianto of the Republic of Indonesia.

U.S. Delegation
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Kurt Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State
T.H. Kamala Lakhdhir, United States Ambassador to Indonesia
T.H Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania

Republic of Indonesia Delegation
H.E. Sugiono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
H.E. Teddy Indra Wijaya, Cabinet Secretary

In town pool report #10

The press briefing is about to begin.

In town pool report #11: hostage families at the sticks

The White House just announced overhead that families of hostage families are heading to the sticks following a White House meeting.

In town pool report #12: Lid

The White House called a travel/photo lid at 5:05pm. Have a great evening everyone.

Foreign Pool report #1 POTUS meeting with Israel President Isaac Herzog

Good Morning from the White House, I am going to be your foreign Pooler for the meeting of President Biden with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the Oval Office at 11:15 AM . The purpose of this meeting is to address several critical issues:

1. Ongoing Conflicts: The leaders will engage in discussions regarding the current situations in Gaza and Lebanon, with a particular focus on U.S.-mediated cease-fire efforts. These discussions are timely, as the Biden administration endeavors to advance peace initiatives prior to the transition to President-elect Donald Trump's administration in January.

2. Humanitarian Concerns: There is international concern regarding Israel's role in facilitating humanitarian aid into Gaza. The U.S. had previously established a 30-day deadline for Israel to enhance aid flows, which coincides with the date of today's meeting. Aid organizations have reported a deterioration in the situation over the past month, underscoring the urgency of addressing this issue.

3. Regional Stability: The meeting will also address broader regional stability, including the threat posed by Iran and its proxies, as well as the potential for normalization agreements between Israel and neighboring countries.

President Herzog has had previous meetings with President Biden:

1. October 26, 2022: President Herzog visited the White House for a bilateral meeting with President Biden.

2. July 18, 2023: Another meeting took place at the White House, during which they discussed various bilateral issues.

3. October 2023: President Biden and President Herzog met in Tel Aviv during Biden's visit to Israel.

Consequently, including today's meeting, President Herzog has held four meetings with President Biden, with three of these meetings taking place at the White House.

It is noteworthy that President Isaac Herzog is the brother of Michael Herzog, who has been serving as Israel's Ambassador to the United States since November 2021.

In a recent address to the Jewish Federations' General Assembly, President Herzog expressed gratitude to President Biden for his unwavering support during challenging times. He also extended congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump on his recent election victory, indicating a commitment to maintaining robust U.S.-Israel relations regardless of the administration in power.

Foreign Pool Report #2

The Motorcade of President Herzog arrived at the White House at 11:36 am . Pool is gathering now.

Foreign Pool #3 POTUS spray with Israel President at the Oval

President Herzog said he would start with the sad news of two Israelis were killed in the city of Nahariya, in Northern Israel by rockets fired from Lebanon.

He described Iran as an " evil empire", and " they are a major engine of antisemitism"

"We had 101 hostages held over 400 days. "First and foremost we have to get the hostages back."

More to come.

Foreign Pool #4 POTUS meeting with Israel President

Pool entered the Oval at 12:50 PM, both leaders were seated, POTUS welcomed President Herzog stating that his commitment to Israel is "ironclad" and the friendship is deep as he said. His remarks were very short.

President Herzog started talking of sad news that happened two hours ago, he reported that two Israelis were killed by rockets fired from Lebanon into the northern town of Nahariya.

He added that "we're fighting hard. We're defending our people, our brave soldiers and pilots, and I know that you're working very hard to make sure that this war will end".

President Herzog who talked at length mentioned that 101 hostages are still heled in Gaza for 400 days, he added that " there will there will be first and foremost security for the people, as well as for the people of Lebanon and in Gaza".

He acknowledged that POTUS was working actively for their release and he touched on the next stage of the war.

"Clearly you're thinking and working about the day after as well, which perhaps should be a trajectory of hope to the people of the region, and the ability to have our neighbors, as well as us, live in security and peace." he said.

He linked the hostage crisis directly to Iran, he said, its all starts in Tehran, "It all starts in the empire of evil, where, in Tehran, with its proxies, they are doing whatever they can to derail stability and security and peace, calling for the annihilation of the State of Israel and seeking nuclear weapons."

He added ,"Mr. President, this has to be a major objective all throughout your term and the next term of the next president, because we have to make sure that they cannot fulfill their evil intentions.

He described Iran as "a major engine of antisemitism, Mr. President, and I know how much you put a focus on fighting and conducting antisemitism."

President Herzog thanked POTUS on behalf of the Israeli people using the Hebrew words " Toda Raba",

"you've been an incredible friend of Israel and the Jewish people for decades, and we will never forget, ever in history, how you stood up with us in our darkest hour which became our finest hour, how you came to Israel few days after the barbaric attack of October 7, how you helped us and supported us with words and deeds".

He also presented a gift to POTUS for what he described as his great legacy of standing with the Jewish people. The gift was an archeological artifact from the foot of what the Israelis call the Temple Mount , also know to Palestinians as Haram Al Sharief , which has the word, Joseph.

"as you know, in the Bible, it is said that Joseph will strengthen Israel. And clearly, Mr. President, that was done. Thank you very much" said Herzog.

They both agreed that Biden is a Zionist . No questions were answered despite the press shouting few.

As always please check against the transcript.

Foreign Pool report #5 Background on Indonesian President Prabowo's Visit to the White House

Hi everyone, I'm your foreign pooler for President Biden's bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo. Below please find some useful information and background about today's visit.

The White House announced a biateral meeting between newly inaugurated Indonesian President Prabowo( Indonesians often refer to public figures by their first names) and President Biden on Monday November 10th. The White House statement can be found here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/11/10/statement-from-white-house-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-the-visit-of-president-prabowo-subianto-of-indonesia/

President Prabowo arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C. around 4pm EST on November 10th, coming directly from a state visit to Beijing. This visit marks the beginning of his first international tour as president, where he will engage in several bilateral and multilateral meetings.

Before starting his tour, President Prabowo stated: "I believe Indonesia's role and stance are highly anticipated by many. This is an honor for us, and we will continue to maintain strong relations with all parties."

Accompanying him to the U.S. were Foreign Minister Sugiono, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. The Indonesian government's official statement is available here. The official statement from Indonesia government can be found here: >https://setkab.go.id/en/president-prabowo-arrives-in-washington-d-c/<

After his visit to the U.S., President Prabowo is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru, followed by the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Trump Call

President Prabowo also personally congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in a recent phone call, expressing a desire to meet in person. On Sunday he told Trump that "If possible, I would like to call you personally. Wherever you are, I am willing to fly to congratulate you personally, sir."

Trump responded enthusiastically, commending Prabowo's English fluency, to which Prabowo replied, "All my training is in America, sir."

The three-minute call is available on X. (https://x.com/prabowo/status/1855981733646356732)

Meeting Priorities

According the White House, President Biden will celebrate the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Indonesian relations and pay tribute to those affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. The two leaders will also explore ways to strengthen U.S.-Indonesian cooperation as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries elevated the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Nov 13, 2023.

The leaders will coordinate on sustainable approaches to food security, the clean energy transition, democracy and pluralism, regional peace and stability, and people-to-people ties, as well as advancing our cooperation on humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Visit to China

President Prabowo's three-day state visit to Beijing included a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on November 9th. This meeting served as an opportunity to strengthen Indonesia-China relations, which Prabowo highlighted as historically deep-rooted.

He emphasized China's significance as a strategic economic partner, and on November 10th, he and Xi witnessed the signing of $10 billion in agreements across sectors like food, energy, and technology.

President Prabowo called for collaboration with China instead of confrontation. He said:"I am optimistic about the future cooperation between Indonesia and China, which will serve as a stabilizing factor for the region and foster regional cooperation. It is essential to demonstrate that cooperation and non-confrontational measures are the keys to achieving peace and prosperity in this modern era."

On the South China Sea

Indonesia's foreign ministry said it is a non-claimant state in the South China Sea and has no overlapping jurisdiction with China. In their joint statement released this weekend, Indonesia and China will jointly create more bright spots in maritime cooperation. The statement also noted that the two sides reached a significant consensus on joint development in areas of overlapping claims. However, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry clarified that any cooperation will be conducted within the legal frameworks and regulations of each country.

In a separate statement, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry reiterated its stance: "Indonesia maintains its well-known position that the claim lacks an international legal basis and is tantamount to undermining the UNCLOS 1982. Therefore, the cooperation shall, under no circumstances, affect Indonesia's sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea."

Full text of the joint statement: https://news.cgtn.com/news/files/Joint_Statement_between_China_and_Indonesia.pdf

President Prabowo Bio

Born in Jakarta on October 17, 1951, Prabowo Subianto is a retired Army lieutenant general, businessman, and former Defense Minister. After two unsuccessful bids, he won the presidency in 2024.

For years, Prabowo was banned from entering the U.S. due to alleged human rights abuses by members of the Kopassus special forces unit in Timor-Leste. The ban was lifted in 2020 under the Trump administration, allowing then-Defense Minister Prabowo to make official visits to the U.S.

Prabowo's father, Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, was a prominent economist who served under both Presidents Sukarno and Suharto, although later opposed Suharto, resulting in the family's exile. Prabowo spent much of his childhood abroad, attended the American School in London, and trained at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.

Prabowo was married to Titiek Suharto, the daughter of former Indonesian President Suharto, but the couple separated shortly after Suharto's fall in 1998. Known for his love of cats and horses, Prabowo adopted a stray named Bobby Kertanegara in 2017. Following Prabowo's inauguration as President on October 20, 2024, his cat Bobby moved with him into Merdeka Palace and has occasionally been spotted during formal meetings.

Foreign Pool report #6 Prabowo Arrival

The President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto's motorcade arrived at the White House around 2:10pm where the honor guard lined the path to welcome him.

According to the Indonesian Embassy, President Prabowo has no plan to talk to press after the meeting.

Since my colleague Nadia sent out 4 foreign pool reports earlier today, I'm tagging this pool report as #6; the previous one should be #5.

Foreign Pool report #7 President Prabowo Remarks

The pool entered the Oval Office around 14:45. President Biden spoke first, followed by a brief speech from President Prabowo, which lasted about a minute. He thanked the President for congratulating him on his election victory and promised to strengthen bilateral relations.

Full quote: "Thank you. President Biden. Thank you for receiving me. I also like to thank you. You phone me yourself upon my election. And. very quickly. Thank you very much. And then finally, I could make it. And if you receive me today, United States for us is a great friend. United states supported us in our struggle for independence and help us many times in our time of need. Therefore, I will work very hard to strengthen Indonesian- United States relationships. And I would like to work towards this end that we have a strong cooperation. Once again, President Biden, thank you very much."

Neither president responded to shouted questions. As mentioned in the background report, President Prabowo had expressed his desire to meet President-elect Trump during a recent phone call, though nothing is confirmed yet. His next destinations are the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru, followed by the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.