Pool Reports of October 30, 2023

Out-of-Town Pool Report #1 — Rolling

Good morning from a brisk fall day in Wilmington.

The pool van has caught up with POTUS motorcade at 9:36.

Your pooler has not laid eyes on POTUS.

We are headed to DANG. Our expected departure time of 9:40 will likely be delayed by at least a few minutes.

We are returning to JBA on AF1 because of a weather call. While it is cloudy and grey in Delaware, it is not currently raining.

Out-of-Town Pool Report #2 — Arrival/Travelers

The motorcade arrived at DANG at 9: 44.

Ride was the uneventful.

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

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

Terry Wolff, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa

Out of Town Pool Report 3 — Boarding/UAW quote

POTUS and FLOTUS boarded AF1 at 9:47.

He responded to one question about the UAW deal.

"I think it's great," he gave a thumbs up.

He said, "I'll talk to you later," suggesting he'll have more to say.

POTUS was wearing a blue pants and a blue jacket

Out of Town Pool Report 4 — Wheels Up

AF1 Wheels up at 9:56.

Out-of-Town Pool Report #4 — Wheels down

[APP Note: See reporter's comment about numbering in Report #6.]

AF1 Wheels down at 10:19.

Out of Town Pool #6 — Number fix

The last pool report was supposed to be number 5. I mistakenly sent it as #4.

The next pool Report will be #7 and will keep that number going forward.

Sorry for the confusion.

Out of Town Pool Report #7 — Departure from AF11

POTUS and FLOTUS stepped off AF1 at 10:27

They hopped into the motorcade from JBA at 10:28

The motorcade departed at 10:29.

Kicking it over to In-Town Pool.

That’s all from me, and as always, it was a pleasure being your pooler.

Pool Report 1/Motorcade

President Biden's motorcade was rolling from JBA toward the White House at 10:29.

Pool Report 2/WH Arrival

The motorcade came to a stop at 10:53 on West Executive Ave following an uneventful drive. The South Lawn is decorated for Halloween.

President Biden walked right into the West Wing.

And the White House shares the following:

Traveling with the President and First Lady via motorcade en route to the White House:

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

Terry Wolff, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa

Pool Report 3/Lunch Lid Until 2

We have a lunch lid until 2 p.m.

Pool Report 4/Gathered

The press has gathered for President Biden's East Room event on AI, scheduled to start at 2:30.

Pool Report 5/2 mins

We have a 2-minute warning for President Biden's AI remarks, which will be streamed live on the White House website.

Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ro Khanna are sitting front and center in the seats nearest to the podium.

Pool Report 6/Attendees

The White House shares the following:

In attendance for the President and the Vice President’s remarks highlighting the Administration’s commitment to advancing the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of Artificial Intelligence:

Secretary Gina Raimondo, Department of Commerce
Acting Secretary Julie Su, Department of Labor
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
Arati Prabhakar, Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY)
Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17)
State and local elected officials, leaders from the private sector in key industries including technology, finance, healthcare, and defense, union leaders, academics, and civil rights and civil society leaders.

Pool Report 7/Qs

President Biden began his remarks at 2:49 and concluded at 3:06 before signing the AI EO.

He started by mentioning the UAW strike breakthrough, hailing the "record contract" with a 30% raise and benefits boost. He said it was "another piece of good economic news."

On AI, Biden said he there were "challenges and opportunities" and he's concerned about it making social media "more addictive" and said he has watched a "deep fake" video of himself.

"It must be governed" and the new EO will "promote and demand responsible innovation," he said, including by forcing companies to "prove" products are safe and by forcing the labeling of certain AI-generated content.

He was asked on the way out of the East Room if he was concerned about rising antisemitism. He said "very." There were additional words about the antisemitic mob that stormed a Russian airport, but we aren't quite sure what he said.

Pool Report 8/Schumer

Sen. Schumer addressed a large group of reporters on the White House driveway, but only answered AI questions.

Among other things, he said legislation is needed so that principles in today's EO apply to companies without federal contracts.

He said, of AI potentially eliminating mankind, that "doomsday scenarios worry people" and need to be guarded against.

I recommend checking C-SPAN if you're interested in his full remarks.

Pool Report 9/2 mins

We have a two minute warning for the press briefing.

Pool Report 10/Trick or Treating, First Hour

President Biden emerged on the cool and rainy south lawn driveway at 5:31 as a military band played "Strange World."

He was dressed as himself and put on a baseball cap with an official seal before handing out presidency-themed M&Ms and Hershey Kisses.

The first lady, who was dressed as a cat, handed out the books "The Haunted Mask" and "How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?"

Decorations included scenes from classics such as "Alice in Wonderland" but also a large illustration of first dog Commander, who has badly injured Secret Service agents in biting incidents, alongside first cat Willow just above the first couple.

There were many costumes, including witches, skeletons, Barney the Dinosaur, Mario and Luigi and ghostbusters. The steady rain seemed to surprise guests and few had umbrellas or ponchos

Your pooler's view of the procession was partially blocked by a rotating group of parents eager to snap photos, who shouted at their kids instructions such as "pay attention!" and "fix your wig!" as they neared the president.

Biden saluted a soldier and seemed quite taken with a baby dressed a pumpkin. From our vantage it seem he encouragingly touched that baby, but I would check the tape before saying so as a fact.

Biden repeatedly shook M&M boxes before dropping them into kids' bags to songs including the themes from "Games of Thrones" and "Sweeney Todd."

Notables in the procession with their kids included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan, former House speaker pro tem Patrick McHenry and WH budget director Shalanda Young.

The White House shares the following:

The President and First Lady are hosting a Halloween event that will welcome local public school students and military-connected children to the White House for trick-or-treating. A teacher for more than three decades, including years spent as a reading specialist, First Lady Jill Biden created this year's theme, "Hallo-READ!," with the White House's festive décor featuring famous literary characters, ghoulish tales, and ghost story time. Dr. Biden's theme encourages families and children to grab a flashlight, pick out their favorite Halloween book, and relish in the spooktacular thrill of reading together.

The President and First Lady will be handing out chocolate and candy treats, and a mix of the following books:

"I Spy a Pumpkin"

"First Broom"

"10 Spooky Pumpkins"

"Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask"

"Clifford's First School Day"

"How Do Dinosaurs Learn to Read?"

Additional details on "Hallo-READ!" here.

Pool Report 11/End of Trick or Treat

President Biden walked back into the White House residence at 6:58 after nearly 90 minutes handing out candy.

It was a chilly 58 degrees and he was likely soaked from the nonstop rain. Even those with umbrellas on the lawn were drenched and cold. No aides brought out an umbrella for their almost 81-year-old boss.

Pool Report 12/Lid

We received a travel/photo lid at 7:17!