Pool Reports of November 14, 2024

Pool report #1: Gather for POTUS departure

We're gathered at the Palm Room Doors for the president's departure via motorcade.

Pool report #2: motorcade rolling

Motorcade departed from the White House at 10:41 a.m.

Pool report #3: Arrival at JBA

Motorcade pulled up to JBA at 11:01 a.m.

Pool report #4: Traveling with POTUS

From the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Former Senator Chris Dodd (CT)
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ariana Berengaut, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor
Julia Reed, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Pool report #5: Greeting POTUS at JBA

From the WH:

Greeting the President on arrival to Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Angela Ochoa, 89th Air Wing Commander

Pool report #6: AF1 is wheels-up/motorcade leaves JBA

AF1 was wheels up at 11:18 a.m. and the motorcade headed back to the White House

POTUS travel pool report #1 - JBA and depart for Lima

Good morning from an overcast and rather chilly JBA. I'll be your pooler for today's flight to Lima as President Biden begins a six-day trip to Peru and Brazil, his first foreign trip since the election and likely one of his last in office.

The motorcade pulled up by Air Force One at 11.04am. POTUS, wearing a blue jacket and open necked shirt, got out of the Beast, while granddaughter Natalie (we are told by WH) got out of the other side. They greeted the greeters then climbed the short steps at 11.06 am. POTUS didn't respond to questions about his message to world leaders or his discussion with Trump.

We will shortly be wheels up for Lima, as of 11.10am. NSA Jake Sullivan and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre are due to gaggle during the flight, per WH.

Per WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Jorge Chavez International Airport:

Former Senator Chris Dodd (CT)
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ethan Rosenzweig, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Ariana Berengaut, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor
Dan Benaim, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Speechwriting and Strategic Initiatives
Dan Erikson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Western Hemisphere
Julia Reed, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Charles Fromstein, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Visits & Diplomatic Affairs, National Security Council
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

POTUS Travel pool report #2 - Wheels down Lima

AF1 was wheels up from JBA at 11.15am and wheels down at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport at 5.41pm after a mainly smooth flight of 6 hours and 26 minutes.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre came to the press cabin about two hours before landing and gaggled for more than 45 minutes. Hopefully it was streamed, but broadly Sullivan answered questions on subjects including the SKorea-Japan trilat at APEC, the Xi meeting, what POTUS Biden hopes to achieve with the Trump administration incoming, and on Trump's nominations of Huckabee and Gabbard. On North Korea, Sullivan warned that 'I do not think we can count on a period of quiet with the DPRK.' On the Middle East and Ukraine, Sullivan said 'there would be continued activity on both of those accounts. Nothing's on hold between now and January 20th'

KJP fielded questions on Matt Gaetz, the Trump-Biden WH meeting, POTUS's feelings on this trip, and why POTUS has stopped his pre-election warnings that Trump was a threat to democracy. On Gaetz she spoke of "the importance of the department of justice being independent, and especially as it relates to investigations."

MSNBC played throughout the flight, with news of Trump tapping RFK Jr for health and human services breaking just before landing.

POTUS Travel Pool report #3 - Deplaning and rolling

A Peruvian military cordon in blue uniforms marched up and formed two lines to welcome POTUS off Air Force One. It's a fairly warm evening with golden sunset light.

POTUS, still tieless and now wearing his aviator sunglasses, deplaned down the short steps at 5.54pm with daughter Ashley and granddaughter Natalie and met the greeters before heading past the guard of honor to the motorcade. He waved to a small group of spectators then climbed into the Beast. No interaction with pool.

AF1 was parked next to a Russian government aircraft on the tarmac.

Motorcade is now rolling.

From the WH:

Greeting the President upon arrival to Jorge Chavez International Airport:

T.H. Stephanie Syptak, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Peru
H.E. Gustavo Adrianzen, Prime Minister of the Republic of Peru
H.E. Elmer Schialer, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Peru
Major General Julio Cesar Gutierrez Gonzalez, Commanding General of Base Aeronaval del Callao

POTUS Travel Pool #4 - RON

People lined parts of the (rather bumpy) road from the airport into Lima, with many taking pictures with their phones. Trucks marked Policia at regular intervals as we passed shops, restaurants and low apartment blocks, then a freeway. As the motorcade stretched out a bit, and darkness descended, a few pedestrians, cyclists and motorists took their lives in their hands to dash across its path.

The motorcade arrived at the RON at 6.30pm. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS

From the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade:

T.H. Stephanie Syptak, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Peru
Former Senator Chris Dodd (CT)
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Ethan Rosenzweig, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Ariana Berengaut, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor
Dan Benaim, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Speechwriting and Strategic Initiatives
Dan Erikson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Western Hemisphere
Julia Reed, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Charles Fromstein, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Visits & Diplomatic Affairs, National Security Council
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

POTUS travel pool #5 - Lid

The White House called a lid at 6.39pm. Goodnight from Lima!