Pool Reports of October 10, 2024

In-town pool report #1 - Biden briefed on Hurricane Milton

Good morning all,

Passing this along from the WH press office —

This morning, the President was briefed by Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell about the initial impacts of Hurricane Milton, as well as the Federal government's ongoing support to State and local officials, who are focused on life-saving response efforts today. The President will continue to be briefed about Federal response and recovery efforts in the wake of both Hurricanes Milton and Helene throughout the day.

In-town pool report #2 - DeSantis call

From the WH press office —

President Biden spoke to Governor DeSantis this morning about the impacts of Hurricane Milton on the people of Florida. The Governor said they are still assessing the damage across the state. He thanked the President for the extensive Federal support to prepare for and respond to the storm. The President reiterated that he will provide any support the state needs to speed response and recovery. FEMA Administrator Criswell participated in the call and will be surveying the impacts with the Governor this morning. Criswell will brief the President again immediately afterward.

In-town pool report #3 - lunch lid

WH press office has called a lunch lid until 12:50 p.m.

In-town pool report #4 - schedule change

Flagging update to schedule with press briefing moved up to 1 p.m. and Biden giving remarks on Hurricane Milton at 2 p.m.

EDT

2:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the initial impacts of Hurricane Milton, as well as the Federal government's ongoing support to State and local officials, who are focused on life-saving response efforts today
South Court Auditorium
In-House Pool (Pre-set 12:30 PM; Gather 1:45 PM – Stakeout Location)

Briefing Schedule

1:00 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas

In-town pool report #5 - Biden holding situation room meeting on hurricanes

From the WH press office --

The President is convening a meeting with the Vice President and members of their Administration in the White House Situation Room on the Federal Government's response to the impacts of Hurricanes Milton and Helene across the Southeast, and the role that the Department of Defense and Coast Guard are playing in support of FEMA's mission.

Virtual Participants
The Vice President
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Homeland Security
General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the Coast Guard
General Gregory M. Guillot, USAF, Commander, US Northern Command
Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks, Federal Emergency and Management Agency
Major General Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In-Person Participants
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Lorraine Voles, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications

In-town pool report #6 - Biden calls with Florida officials

Passing along from WH press office --

Today, the President spoke with several Florida officials following the impacts of Hurricane Milton across the Florida Peninsula, including: Senator Rick Scott; Representative Anna Paulina Luna; Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward; Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson; Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings; and Pasco County Chair Ron Oakley. The President told each of these leaders to call him directly if they need additional assistance on rescue, response, and recovery efforts. The President also emphasized that he will be with them and their communities – no matter how long it takes.

In-town pool report #7 - two minute warning for press briefing

Two minute warning for the White House press briefing

The WH would like to send the following correction to the list of attendees in the situation room meeting

Virtual Participants
The Vice President
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Defense
General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the Coast Guard
General Gregory M. Guillot, USAF, Commander, US Northern Command
Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks, Federal Emergency and Management Agency
Major General Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In-Person Participants
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Steve Ricchetti, Assistant to the President & Counselor to the President
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Lorraine Voles, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications

In-town pool report #8 - press briefing over, pool gathering

The press briefing began at 1:12 p.m. and wrapped at 1:55 p.m.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joined the briefing virtually for about 23 minutes, taking several questions.

Pool now gathering to head over for Biden's comments about the hurricanes, which are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

In-town pool report #9 - two minute warning for Biden

Two minute warning for Biden's remarks

In-town pool report #10 - Biden comments

Biden began speaking about the hurricanes from the South Court Auditorium around 2:02 p.m. and spoke for about eight minutes, including taking several questions.

Questions were on FEMA funding, SBA funding, whether Congress should return before the election to approve emergency spending legislation and whether Biden has spoken with Trump about misinformation related to natural disaster recovery.

Will send quotes in next pool report but please check against livestream/tape.

In-town pool report #11 - Biden quotes from Q&A

Biden Q&A in South Court Auditorium following comments about hurricanes - please check against livestream/tape.

Q: On FEMA funding - How much time does Congress have to act before FEMA or the SBA run out of money?
Biden: That's in discussion now but I don't want to mislead you. I think in terms of the SBA it's pretty right at the edge right now. And I think the Congress should be coming back and moving on emergency needs immediately. They're going to have to come back after the election as well because this is going to be a long haul for total rebuilding. It's going to take several billion dollars. It's not going to be a matter of just a little bit. But we're fighting now to make sure people have the emergency relief they need. The dollars just to be able to get a prescription filled, to get a baby formula done. That $750 that they're talking about -- Mr. Trump and all those other people know it's a lie to suggest that's all they're going to get. That's bizarre. It's bizarre. They've got to stop this. I mean, they're being so damn un-American with the way they're talking about this stuff. But there's going be a need for significant amounts of money. We're already underway of trying to calculate what the cost will be because you don't want to mislead anybody, you want to make sure all the costs are able to be covered.

Q: Have you spoken to Speaker Johnson about coming back before the election to vote?
Biden: No I haven't.

Q: Are you calling on Congress to come back early?
Biden: I think Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is Small Business

Q: The Vice President said yesterday that FEMA has what it needs, there's enough resources, that Congress does not need to come back right away
Biden: FEMA has its needs, that's different than SBA.
Q: So they need to come back for SBA?
Biden: Yeah, but they're going to need a lot more.

Q: What did Prime Minister Netanyahu tell you about his plans related to retaliation?
Biden: He's coming over to help with the storm.

Q: Have you spoken with former President Trump at all?
Biden: Are you kidding me?
Q: About misinformation?
Biden: Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, get a life man, help these people.

Q: Will you hold him accountable? You said you were going to hold those accountable?
Biden: The public will hold him accountable. You better in the press hold him accountable because you know the truth.
Q: Do you plan to speak with former President Trump?
Biden: No

In-town pool report #12 - lid

The WH press office has called a lid for today.