Pool Reports of November 26, 2023

Out of Town Pool Report #1 - Rolling Ahead of Schedule

Good morning from Nantucket, Mass.

President Biden's motorcade is rolling from the vacation home where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday at 11:37 a.m. ET.

Note that we are running roughly 90 minutes ahead of schedule.

More TK.

Out of Town Pool Report #2 - Remarks at Noon

Noting White House updated guidance that President Biden plans to address the release of hostages from Gaza at Noon ET from Nantucket.

More TK.

Out of Town Pool Report #3 - Remarks Upcoming

President Biden's motorcade arrived at the White Elephant Hotel in Nantucket at 11:50 am ET.

He will be speaking on the hostage releases at Noon. We are told that it will be carried live on Whitehouse.gov/live.

Out of Town Pool Report #4 - 2 min warning

We have a 2-minute warning at 11:54 am ET.

Out of Town Pool Report #5 - Remarks on hostage releases

President Biden began speaking from a conference room of the White Elephant Hotel in Nantucket at 11:57 am ET.

Biden said of 4-year-old Abigail Edan "is free and she is in Israel now." He noted that she had been through "a terrible trauma."

"What she endured is unthinkable," Biden said of the girl, noting that she is among the 13 hostages released Sunday from Gaza.

The President noted his recent work with leaders in the Mideast and thanked Qatar's Emir.

Biden expressed hope that the pause could be extended.

"This is a day by day approach," Biden said. "Hour by hour, nothing is guaranteed."

"Thank God she is home," Biden said of Edan.

More TK.

Out of Town Pool Report #6 - Biden Q/A

During the question and answer portion, President Biden was asked for an update on when the other Americans will be released. He said, "I don't have anything firmly to tell you at this moment."

He was also asked if he might use this as an opportunity to extend the pause in fighting. "I get a sense that all the players in the region are looking for a way to end this so the hostages are all released and …. Hamas is completely no longer in control of Gaza."

Asked about Abigail's condition, he said, "I haven't gotten that information" but he was aware that she was "safely ensconced in Israel."

He was then asked how long he would like to see a pause in fighting. "As long as prisoners keep coming out."

Please check quotes against video/transcript.

Biden ended his remarks and Q/a at 12:05 pm

Motorcade was rolling at 12:09 p.m.

Thanks to co-pooler Lisa Friedman of The NY Times.

Out of Town Pool Report #6a - Thanking pool at end of remarks

Some additional details on the end of President Biden's statement; he thanked the White House press pool for responding quickly to his unscheduled appearance at the end of his Thanksgiving vacation.

"I know we had to call you — I know you said what's he calling me with only 10 minutes or so? That's the notice I get," Biden said.

"I didn't want to be having this press conference if they weren't physically - even when they were in the Red Cross ambulance - I didn't want to do it because they were not out - they were still in Gaza."

"Thanks for your patience," Biden said, and then departed the White Elephant Hotel conference room.

Note: First Lady Jill Biden was in the room for his remarks and stood to his right along the wall.

Out of Town Pool Report #7 - Back at the house

At 12:20 p.m. ET, President Biden's motorcade returned to the vacation home in Nantucket, Mass.

We are holding.

Out of Town Pool Report #8 - Biden Briefed on Vermont Shooting

The White House passes along the following:

The President was briefed on the three young adults who were injured in a shooting in Burlington, Vermont last night. He will continue to receive updates as law enforcement gathers more information.

The pool is continuing to hold in our bus near the vacation home.

More TK.

Out of Town Pool Report #9 - Departing house

At 2:18 p.m. ET, President Biden's motorcade is rolling.

Out of Town Pool Report #10 - ACK

President Biden's motorcade arrived at Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) at 2:28 p.m. ET. A scattered number of people watched along the motorcade route waving or bearing iPhones to record the moment. Your pooler spotted two children who held an outstretched American flag.

The president emerged from his vehicle, joined by the First Lady. He is wearing the dark suit he wore during his remarks. He is wearing an overcoat. He spoke to a group of Massachusetts State Police on the tarmac, giving one officer a slap on the arm, and then shook hands with three people. The pool has asked for their identities.

He then shook hands with another group of Massachusetts State Police officers and appeared to be giving them challenge coins. He took some photos with those gathered.

The president saluted the Air Force officers standing along the entrance of the aircraft steps and then boarded Air Force One with the first lady at 2:35 pm.

He did not stop for additional questions with the pool.

We are flying the smaller Air Force One and will be wheels up shortly.

The White House passes along these details:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Nantucket Memorial Airport:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Traveling with the President and the First Lady aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary

Out of Town Pool Report #11 - JBA

Air Force One was wheels down at Joint Base Andrews at 3:55 p.m. ET after a flight of more than an hour. (AF1 departed Nantucket at 2:48 p.m.).

It was an uneventful flight. There were no visitors to the press section of the aircraft.

A steady rain is falling here at the base.

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden disembarked AF1 at 4:05 p.m. The president was wearing a blue baseball cap and carried a newspaper under his left arm. They stepped inside their vehicle.

Several members of the president's family also exited AF1, including Hunter Biden, who held hands with his son, Beau, followed by wife Melissa Cohen, as the rain fell. The family boarded vehicles and the president's motorcade was rolling at 4:10 p.m.

From the White House:

Greeting the President and the First Lady upon arrival at Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Angela Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing
Captain Eric Anderson, Deputy Director of Flight Line Protocol, 89th Airlift Wing

Handing it over to the in-town pool.

Thanks.

intown pool report #1/pool heading to JBA

POTUS will motorcade from Joint Base Andrews to the White House this dreary afternoon.

The intown pool has loaded into vans and is heading to JBA to await his arrival from Nantucket.

Pool report #2/hostage family and Netanyahu calls

From the press office:

This afternoon, following the release of Abigail Edan by Hamas, President Biden spoke by phone with members of Abigail's family in the United States and Israel.

President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza and the recent release of hostages, including Abigail Edan, by Hamas. A readout of the call will follow.

Intown pool is at JBA awaiting AF1 arrival from Nantucket.

Pool report #3/AF1 arrival at JBA

Air Force One touched down at 3:55 pm on a wet tarmac. It is taxiing.

Pool report #4/Andrews departure

President Biden and Jill Biden emerged from Air Force One at 4:04 pm in a steady light rain. They were in the SUV a moment later.

Motorcade is rolling at 4:09 pm ert White House.

Pool report #5 / back at the White House and lid

President Biden's motorcade arrived at the White House at 4:34 pm, after an uneventful drive from JBA.

Light rain. Pool didn't see him enter the residence.

And we have a lid.