Pool Reports of October 18, 2024

POTUS Berlin pool report 1 leaving RON

Guten morgen from Berlin. I'm your pooler for POTUS's busy day in the German capital.(Rough schedule is below.)

POTUS is rolling from RON at 10:19 am Berlin time en route to Bellevue Palace. First up are a flurry of largely ceremonial events.

The schedule:

Friday, October 18, 2024

The President will arrive to Bellevue Palace. This arrival will be open press.

The President will participate in a guest book signing. This signing at Bellevue Palace will be covered by the out-of-town pool.

The President will greet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and will participate in an official Welcome Ceremony. This ceremony at Bellevue Palace will be open press.

The President will deliver remarks at the Order of Merit Ceremony. This ceremony at Bellevue Palace will be covered by the out-of-town pool.

The President will arrive at the Chancellery and will greet Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. This arrival and greet at the Chancellery will be open press.

The President and Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany will deliver joint statements to the press. These joint statements at the Chancellery will be covered by the out-of-town pool.

The President will participate in meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. This meeting at the Chancellery will be closed press.

The President will participate in a family photograph with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. This photograph at the Chancellery will be open press.

The President will participate in a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. This meeting will be closed press.

The President will depart Berlin, Germany en route to Joint Base Andrews. The departure from Berlin-Brandenburg Airport will be open press.

The President will depart Joint Base Andrews en route to Camp David. The departure from Joint Base Andrews will be covered by the out-of-town pool.

The President will arrive to Camp David. This arrival will be closed press.

POTUS Berlin Pool Report 2 Bellevue Palace ceremonies

Motorcade arrived at Bellevue Palace at 10:31 am.

POTUS (dark suit, diagonal striped tie) exchanged brief words with Steinmeier then they shook hands and smiled for photos on a red carpet. The pair then proceeded inside where Biden signed the palace guestbook. (Just his signature). The two could be seen exchanging words but your pooler could not make out what they said. Will check with other poolers to see if there's audio, but seemed to be mostly pleasantries.

At 10:39 POTUS and Steinmeier came out for a troop review at the back of the palace. Both leaders stood, hands at their sides, while their nations' anthems played. Then the pair walked on a red carpet past the troops before greeting the countries' delegations.

The two leaders went back into the palace for a photo spray of them seated.

Pool is holding for the Order of Merit Ceremony, which will be streamed on white house.gov/live

Uneventful drive. Dozens of folks waving at and photographing the motorcade.

From the White House:

The President is greeting President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and participating in an official Welcome Ceremony.

U.S. Delegation

T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Mr. Alan Meltzer, Charge d'Affaires to the Federal Republic of Germany
T.H. Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff
T.H. Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
T.H. Benjamin LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Communications
T.H. John Kirby, Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Strategic Communications, National Security Council
T.H. Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff and Counselor, National Security Council
T.H. Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
Ms. Laura Daniels, Director for Western Europe, National Security Council
T.H. Ambassador Amy Guttman, Former Ambassador to the to the Federal Republic of Germany

German Delegation

Mr. Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence
Ms. Dr. Drte Dinger, State Secretary, Head of Federal President's Office
Mr. Dr. Thomas Bagger, State Secretary, Federal Foreign Office
Mr. Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr
Mr. Wolfgang Silbermann, Head of Foreign Policy Division, Federal President's Office
Ms. Cerstin Gammelin, Spokesperson of the Federal President
Ms. Daniela Lerner, Head of the Personal Office of the Federal President
Mr. Joost Schmallenbach, Head of Unit, Federal President's Office
Ms. Gabriele Voy, Head of Protocol, Ministry of Defence
Mr. Thomas Braun, Liaison Officer of the Ministry of Defence to the Federal President's Office
Mr. Christian Hannemann, Policy Advisor, Federal President's Office
Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the Bellevue Palace:
Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
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
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
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 Berlin pool report 3 Order of Merit ceremony, Steinmeier remarks

Reminder: the ceremony is streamed on White House.gov/live

Ceremony is backdropped by a floor-to-ceiling painting and flags of the United States, Germany and the European Union.

Ceremony started at 11:08 am. POTUS and Steinmeier exchanged pleasantries with guests on the front row. Inaudible from where the press is seated. Please check remarks against the transcript.

Steinmeier spoke in German but mostly English.

He noted that 44.5 years ago when Biden came to Germany as a senator a young civil servant made a note & and being German we still have that note. Steinmeier said the civil servant noted This senator might look to, and I quote, a significant political figure.

Steinmeier: When you were elected president you restored Europe's hope in the transatlantic alliance literally overnight. Then came Putin's attack.

Steinmeier: NATO is stronger and more united than ever and that is in no small part thanks to you Mr. President.

Steinmeier also spoke about the coming U.S. election.

So in the months to come, I hope that Europeans remember America is indispensable for us, and I hope that Americans remember your allies are indispensable for you. We are more than just other countries. We are partners. We are friends. The choice on november 5 is only America's choice too, but we as Europeans have a choice too.

He also called Biden a beacon of democracy.

POTUS received an extended standing ovation then delivered remarks. Midway through, after a few coughs and throat clearings, an aide brought POTUS a glass of water.

Said the nations have risen together to meet our moment.

POTUS: Germany and the United States stood together to support the great people Ukraine in their fight for freedom, democracy, for their very survival.

POTUS: We should never underestimate the power of democracy. We should never underestimate the power of alliances.

From the White House:

President Biden is receiving the highest class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germanythe Grand Cross Special Class (Sonderstufe des Grokreuzes). The award acknowledges political, economic, and scientific achievements, as well as contributions to peace and Germany's standing abroad and other accomplishments. President George H.W. Bush is the only other U.S. president to have received the Order of Merit, in 1994, for strengthening the U.S.-German relationship in the aftermath of the Cold War.

The President is delivering remarks at an Order of Merit Ceremony.

Speaking Program

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany
The President

Also from the White House: Before the President received the Order of Merit, he greeted prominent individuals, including Ms. Margot Friedlander, a 102-year-old Berlin native with dual German and American citizenship, Holocaust survivor, and active anti-hatred educator, who has received countless awards for her work. Ms. Friedlander was liberated from Theresienstadt concentration camp and emigrated with her husband to the United States, where she lived until 2010. She learned decades after her emigration that her mother, father, and brother had died in Auschwitz concentration camp. In July 2024, as President Steinmeier just mentioned, President Biden sent Ms. Friedlander a letter thanking her for her work combatting hatred.

POTUS Berlin pool report 4 leaving palace, chancellery remarks

Motorcade departed Bellevue Palace 12:14 pm en route to the chancellery and arrived at 12:24 pm.

The beast pulled into the chancellery at 12:28 with POTUS waiting inside.

PM Scholz greeted a smiling Biden and the pair exchanged pleasantries, shook hands and smiled for a circle of press then went upstairs to make joint remarks. As always, check against the transcript.

Scholz: It is all the more important that we stand together.

Scholz: It is thanks to your leadership that Putin failed. That Ukraine wasn't overrun in just a few days.

Scholz: Putin has miscalculated. He cannot sit down and ride out this war.

Scholz: From the very beginning of the war, we closely coordinated ourselves across the Atlantic. It made us strong.

Scholz: Israel has the right to defend itself. It is important for me to say this clearly. We stand by Israel's side.

Scholz: We now see a tangible prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza.

POTUS started speaking at 12:40 pm. He spoke mostly about joint efforts regarding Ukraine and the Middle East.

POTUS: You showed the wisdom to know that (Russia's invasion of Ukraine) marked a turning point.

POTUS: America and Germany are the two largest supporters of Ukraine in its fight for survival &. I know the cost is heavy but it pales in comparison to the cost of living in a world where aggression prevails, where large states attack smaller ones simply because they can.

POTUS said Sinwar's killing represented a moment of justice. & I told the prime minister yesterday, let's also make this moment an opportunity.

POTUS also thanked Scholz for helping to facilitate the release of hostages from Russia.

POTUS: I don't see how we maintain stability in Europe and around the world without a tight US-Germany relationship.

POTUS didn't respond to shouted questions about Ukraine's potential NATO admittance or Zelensky's plan for ending the war.

POTUS Berlin pool report 5 family photo

At 2:20 pm POTUS, Scholz, Macron and Starmer posed for a family photo. POTUS didn't respond to a shouted question about what he hoped to accomplish. He did jokingly tell people gathered on a balcony don't jump.

From the White House:

The President is participating in a family photograph with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom.

Belatedly from the White House.

The President is greeting Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany.

U.S. Delegation

T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Mr. Alan Meltzer, Charge d'Affaires to the Federal Republic of Germany
T.H. Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
T.H. Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Press Secretary
T.H. John Kirby, Assistant to the President & Coordinator for Strategic Communications, National Security Council
T.H. Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff and Counselor, National Security Council
T.H. Michael Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
Ms. Laura Daniels, Director for Western Europe, National Security Council

German Delegation

Ms. Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of the Federal Chancellery & Federal Minister for Special Tasks
Mr. Steffen Hebestreit, Secretary of State & Spokesperson of the Federal Government
Mr. Jens Pltner, Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor
Dr. Hans Jrg Kukies, Secretary of State
Mr. Steffen Meyer, Economic & Fiscal Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor
Dr. Undine Ruge, European Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor
Ms. Jeanette Schwamberger, Head of the Federal Chancellor's Office
Mr. Alexander Eberl, Head of Unit Bilateral Relations with US, Canada, North/West/South Europe, and Trkiye

POTUS Berlin pool report 6 meetings end, headed to airport

POTUS meetings with the quad and Scholz have concluded. Motorcade departed chancellery at 4:31 en route to the airport. Pool did not have eyes on POTUS.

White House National Security Communications adviser John Kirby also briefed reporters as we awaited POTUS. (Reporters had access to that via NSC zoom)

From the White House

The President is participating in a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom.

U.S. Delegation

T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State

German Delegation

H.E. Jens Pltner, Foreign Policy and Security Advisor

French Delegation

H.E. Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor

United Kingdom Delegation

Sir Tim Barrow, National Security Adviser

POTUS POOL REPORT 8 wheels down

AF1 was wheels up at 6:08 p.m. Berlin time. And wheels down at Joint Base Andrews at 7:30 pm DC time.

Uneventful flight. No visitors to the back of the cabin.

POTUS came off the plane at 7:38 pm. No questions. He boarded Marine 1 at 7:39 pm for the flight to Camp David.

From the White House:

Greeting the President on arrival to Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Paul R. Pawluk, Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing
Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Camp David:
Marc Gustafson, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

POTUS Pool report 9 Camp David

From the White House:

The President arrived at Camp David at 8:24pm.

And that's it for me and the rest of the out-of-town pool.

Have a good night everyone.