Pool Reports of October 17, 2024

In town pool report #1 / gathering

Good morning from the White House, where skies are clear, temperatures are crisp, and POTUS is scheduled to depart momentarily from the South Lawn and begin his Germany journey.

Will update shortly, so stay tuned in case there are any remarks.

In town pool report #2 / brief comment and Marine One lifts

POTUS walked out from the residence door just before 8:30am. As he walked past the gathered reporters he initially ignored questions. He appeared to hear one, pausing when asked about Trump's comment that Harris was the worst vice president in history.

With the caveat that it was difficult to hear, your pooler heard this: You don't listen to Donald Trump do ya?

He boarded Marine One, which lifted at 8:33am.

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, according to the WH:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
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
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Handing over to the out of town pool, gathered at JBA.

In town pool report #3 / briefing

From the WH:

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will gaggle aboard Air Force One at 2:15 PM EDT.

POTUS travel pool #1 - JBA departure

Joint Base Andrews
October 17, 2024

Good morning from Joint Base Andrews.

Marine One was wheels down at 8:41 am.

POTUS, wearing a jacket, baseball cap and aviators, disembarked at 8:45 am and boarded Air Force One at 8:46 am. He waved to pool but didn't come over to chat.
Next stop: Berlin Brandenberg

Flight time: 7 hours 40 minutes

Karine Jean-Pierre and Jake Sullivan will gaggle en route.

Air Force One is wheels up shortly.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Berlin, Germany:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Ethan Rosenzweig, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Former Ambassador Amy Gutmann, U.S. Ambassador to Germany
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
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
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

POTUS travel pool #2 - wheels down Berlin

Berlin
October 17, 2024

Air Force One was wheels up JBA at 8:55 am ET and wheels down Berlin Brandenburg at 9:58 pm local time.

The flight experienced a lot of turbulence the majority of the way over.

Jake Sullivan and Karine Jean-Pierre gaggled for about 30 minutes. Sullivan talked about the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, noted POTUS expected to speak with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shortly and made clear the administration thinks this will help achieve a ceasefire.

He pushed back at requests to reconsider that POTUS hold a press conference during the trip.

KJP took questions on the shortness of this trip and POTUS' relationship with former President Obama and Speaker Emeritus Pelosi. She also said POTUS plans to hit the road in the final few weeks of the 2024 campaign.

Gaggle should have played out online but if something didn't come through, please reach out.

There were no other visits to the press cabin.

Air Force One is taxing. More tk

POTUS travel pool #3 - arrival ceremony and POTUS quotes

Berlin, Germany
October 17, 2024

POTUS disembarked at 10:12 pm.

The red carpet was rolled out with German soldiers lining either side. A full moon was in the sky. The other 747 was already on the ground when Air Force One arrived, having brought support staff.

He talked to the greeters and then came over to the press to make a statement. He said he is sending Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel in the next 4 or 5 days. He is more "hopeful" about a cease-fire.

"I called BiBi Netanyahu to congratulate him ok getting Sinwar. He had a lot of blood in his hands, American blood, Israeli blood and others. ... Further that now is the time to move on. Move on, move toward to a ceasefire in Gaza, make sure that we move in a direction that we're going to be in a position to make things better for the whole world. It's time for this war to end and bring these hostages home. So that's what we're ready to do. And I'm sending Tony Blinken to Israel. I guess he's going five days, four days, four or five days. Anyway, he's going. I talked with Bibi about that. We're going to work out what, what is the day after now. How do we secure Gaza and move on."

He took two questions.

Ask if he feels more hopeful about a ceasefire: "I do. I did feel hopeful."

Asked if he has a sense when the war will end: "Hopefully very soon."

At 10:22 pm the motorcade is rolling toward the RON. as always, please double check the transcript.

From the White House:

President Biden is the first U.S. President to arrive at Berlin Brandenburg International Airport. Greeting the President on arrival to Berlin Brandenburg International Airport:

Ambassador Karin Marschall, Chief of Protocol of the German Federal Foreign Office
Mr. Alan Meltzer, United States Charge d'Affaires to the Federal Republic of Germany
Lieutenant Colonel Steffen Nehrkorn, Protocol for German Federal Ministry of Defence
Alexandra Dilsky, Head of the Protocol Office, Government Terminal, Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Jennifer Davis, Protocol Officer, German Federal Foreign Office
Alexander Moehring, Protocol Officer, German Federal Foreign Office
Kerstin Schmid, Protocol Officer, German Federal Foreign Office

POTUS pool report #4 - arrival at RON

Berlin
October 17, 2024

Motorcade arrived at the RON at 10:59 pm. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Drive was uneventful. A small crowd was in front of the Brandenburg Gate to watch the motorcade go by.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President via motorcade:

Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Ethan Rosenzweig, Acting Chief of Protocol of the United States
Former Ambassador Amy Gutmann, U.S. Ambassador to Germany
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
John Kirby, Assistant to the President & National Security Communications Advisor
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Ariana Berengaut, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the National Security Advisor
Mike Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
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
Kelly Scully, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Press Secretary
Meg Freshwater, Director for Visits and Diplomatic Affairs, National Security Council

POTUS travel pool #5 - Lid and a note

Berlin
October 17, 2024

White House called a lid at 11:14 pm.

From the White House:

This evening through Friday night, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Mammography Day on October 18th, the White House will be illuminated pink to encourage everyone to check with their doctor about whether it's time for a mammogram or other cancer screenings.

In addition, throughout the month of October, the First Lady is reminding White House visitors about the importance of cancer screenings with a new sign on display along the public tour route that features the following message: Cancer screening saves lives. Talk to your doctor about what screenings are right for you. [Photo available via White House Flickr HERE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/54073918086/) ]

Thanks to co-pooler Cleve Woodson for his help today.