Pool Reports of October 26, 2024

Travel pool report #1 — Wilmington check in

Good morning from Wilmington! I will be your pooler this weekend.

Pool has been swept and is holding outside the president's residence. He's headed to Pittsburgh today to participate in a get-out-the-vote event with the Laborers' International Union of North America, followed by a political event. He returns to Wilmington this evening, per WH guidance.

Travel pool report #2 — Rolling to DANG

Motorcade is rolling to DANG as of 10:51am. We did not see the president.

From the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

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
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Sheila Grant, Special Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool report #3 — Boarding M1

The motorcade arrived on the tarmac at 11:00. Marine One was standing by. We did not see the president board, pool was loaded onto an Osprey.

We lifted at 11:06 en route to Philadelphia International Airport where we'll tale Air Force One to Pittsburgh.

From WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Philadelphia International Airport:

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
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool report #4 — Boarding Air Force One

We touched down at 11:18. The president stepped off Marine One at 11:25 wearing a dark suit and blue and yellow striped tie.

He answered a few questions but it was very hard to hear. Asked about Donald Trump's comments calling the country a trash can he said he had "no class."

Men that don't support Harris "are making a mistake."

"Yes" got a heads up from Israel on strikes. He was late today because was just on the phone with the intel community. "I hope this is the end."

On China hacks he has to find out more but if so there will be repercussion.

He boarded at 11:28.

We will be wheels up shortly to Pittsburgh International Airport.

Travel pool report #5 — AF1 landed, natsec call, more from gaggle

We were on the big plane, wheels up at 11:35 and landed at 12:21pm.

More complete quotes from the gaggle earlier:

On Israel strikes: "I was on with the intelligence community for the last half hour. It looks like they didn't hit anything other than military targets. I hope that this is the end."

Asked if he was concerned about Trump doing diplomacy, speaking to Bibi while not representing the U.S., he said "I'm not surprised."

Please check tape for the complete remarks.

From WH:

This morning, President Biden convened a call with Vice President Harris and their national security team to receive a briefing and discuss the latest developments in the Middle East following Israel's precise response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1st. President Biden directed that every effort be taken to protect our forces and help defend Israel against any potential responses from Iran and its proxies.

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

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
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Sheila Grant, Special Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool report #6 — Rolling to GOTV event

President Biden got off Air Force One at 12:34 and spoke at length with the greeters including Senator John Fetterman, who initiated a group selfie. Fetterman was wearing a Carhartt hoodie and basketball shorts. Biden was no longer wearing his tie when he got off the plane.

He got in the limo at 12:38. We are rolling from the Pennsylvania Air Guard base outside of Pittsburgh Airport.

From the WH:

Greeting the President upon arrival to Pittsburgh International Airport:

Senator John Fetterman (PA)
Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17)
Former Rep. Conor Lamb (PA-17)
State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (PA-34)
Rich Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission

Travel pool report #7 — Arrival at event

We arrived in downtown Pittsburgh at 1:01pm and did not see the president. We were led into LiUNA Local 1058's union hall. It's a small room and there are roughly 100 people here, most of them dressed in bright orange LiUNA sweatshirts.

The president is scheduled to speak at 1:15.

Travel pool report #8 — Biden speaking

The president is on stage speaking to LiUNA workers in downtown Pittsburgh.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

The President is delivering remarks at a LiUNA GOTV kick-off event at LiUNA District Council 12.

Speaking Program:
Brent Booker, LiUNA General President
The President

Travel pool report #9 — Remarks concluded

Biden's remarks were live streamed by CSPAN. It was very difficult for the pool to hear him so please check quotes.

Biden began speaking at 1:24pm. He came out to big cheers from the crowd.

He opened, "you guys build bridges and you can't be in a better city."

He looked for Senator John Fetterman in the crowd and praised him.

Repeated much of lines about unions, that they built the middle class.

On the election, "the choice couldn't be clearer. The choice couldn't be more stark."

As Biden was criticizing Trump as not hardworking a man shouted out: "We're not gonna let him win!"

Biden went on "Trump has no character," adding "he couldn't give a damn about unions" is only concerned about his own wealth.

"The last thing we need is for Trump to get elected."

"No one's taking about a recession on our watch."

He finished at 1:43 to more cheers and a few wolf whistles. He then stepped down into the crowd to shake hands and chat for several minutes. Mostly men, not as many women in attendance.

Travel pool report #10 — Motorcade rolling

Pool was loaded back into the vans and the motorcade was rolling to an unknown destination at 1:54. The political event is next on his schedule.

We didn't see Biden get into the beast.

We encountered a few protesters on the drive. It's beautifully clear and sunny in Pittsburgh.

Travel pool report #11 — Biden meets phone bank volunteers

At 2pm the motorcade pulled up to the Allegheny County Labor Council Headquarters. We were led to a small room upstairs where 13 volunteer phone bankers were sitting at tables with laptops and cellphones. Lots of Democratic posters on the walls local and national.

Biden walked into room at 2:06 holding a box of pizza, others who walked in handed out additional pies. John Fetterman came in as well.

Biden was introduced to the volunteers. One, an older woman in a grey sweatshirt, showed him on her phone what seemed to be a selfie from the last time they met. He suggested they take another one. She fumbled with the phone a bit trying to pull up the camera, saying "you know how it is, I'm nervous."

Right before we were ushered out at 2:08 a reporter asked Biden how he was feeling about Pennsylvania, he responded that he was feeling pretty good. "We're gonna win Pennsylvania," he said and pumped his fist in the air.

We passed what appeared to be dozens of other volunteers including children in adjoining rooms waiting to meet him as well.

We were escorted out and are holding in the vans.

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

The President is dropping by Allegheny County Labor Council Headquarters to offer his thanks to volunteers.

Travel pool report #12 — Motorcade rolling

We are rolling as of 2:42. We did not see the president depart.--

Travel pool report #13 — Arrival at airport

The motorcade pulled onto the tarmac at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:00 and the president got out of the beast at 3:02. He stopped to take a photo with law enforcement, looked like Pittsburgh police and PA state troopers. Biden climbed up the steps to Air Force One a minute later.

We expect to be wheels up shortly, heading back to Wilmington via Philadelphia, per guidance.

Additional note: the pizza Biden brought to volunteers earlier was from Fiori's Pizzaria.

Travel pool report #14 — Travelers

From the WH:

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

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
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Sheila Grant, Special Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool report #15 — Landed, lifting to DANG

Air Force One was wheels up in Pittsburgh at 3:12, wheels down in Philadelphia at 3:54.

The president came down the steps at 4:12. He waved to the press and walked straight to Marine One.

Pool was loaded in an Osprey and we lifted at 4:19pm.

Travel pool report #16 — Rolling from DANG

We touched down at DANG at 4:28. Biden got off Marine One at 4:39. We are rolling.

Travel pool report #17 - On Marine One

From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff
Sheila Grant, Special Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Travel pool report #18 - Arrival at Biden residence

Motorcade arrived at the Biden residence outside Wilmington at 4:50pm. Pool is holding nearby.

Travel pool report #19 - Motorcade rolling

We are rolling again as of 4:58pm.

Travel pool report #20 - Arrival at church

Motorcade has arrived at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, the president entered at 5:02pm.

Travel pool report #21 - Leaving church

The president left the church at 5:44 and stopped right outside to chat with a parishioner. He also spoke with a second parishioner as he walked to his vehicle. No family appeared to be with him.

Motorcade is rolling at 5:49pm

Travel pool report #22 — Shopping

At 5:52pm we pulled into strip mall in Greenville. We just saw the president walk inside Jos. A. Bank.--

Travel pool report #23 — Biden bought nothing, motorcade rolling

Pool was allowed to leave the van after some time and wait in the parking lot for him to exit. He left 6:18.

Asked what he bought, he waved his hands to signal he hadn't bought anything.

We are rolling at 6:20.

Travel pool report #24 — Lid

Motorcade returned to the president's residence at 6:24. We have a lid. Good night!