Pool Reports of October 9, 2024

In-Town Pool Report #1: Calls with Clearwater Mayor and Pinellas County Chairwoman

The White House passes along the following:

Last night, the President spoke by phone with Clearwater, Florida Mayor Bruce Rector and with Pinellas County, Florida Chairwoman Kathleen Peters about the ongoing preparations for Hurricane Milton. The President told the Mayor and the Chairwoman to call him directly if they need additional assistance on response and recovery efforts.

In-Town Pool Report #2: Netanyahu Call

White House passes along the following:

This morning, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. Vice President Harris also joined the call. A readout of the call will be released soon.

In-Town Pool Report #3: Biden Speaking Now

President Biden was seated at a desk in the South Auditorium when pool entered, and he is speaking now.

"It's looking like the storm of the century," he said of the hurricane. Remarks are being live-streamed.

White House passes along the following:

The President and the Vice President are receiving a briefing on the Administration's life-saving preparations for Hurricane Milton, as well as the latest updates on the forecast and expected impacts for the State of Florida. The President and the Vice President will also receive an update on the ongoing response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast.

Virtual Participants
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard
Ken Graham, Director, National Weather Service
Dr. Michael Brennan, Director, National Hurricane Center

In-Person Participants
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor

Speaking Program
The President
The Vice President
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency

In-Town Pool Report #4: Briefing Concludes

At the top, President Biden made brief remarks followed by Vice President Harris. He then asked numerous questions of those joining the briefing by video-link.

Check quotes against the tape and transcript—remarks were live-streamed.

POTUS told the FEMA administrator, "you're doing a hell of a job."

Biden then asked the FEMA chief two questions. First, "what are you most worried about today and into tomorrow?" Second, "you ever see a storm like this one since you've been in charge?"

Vice President Harris asked the administrator, "are we concerned about any misinformation, or disinformation, regarding evacuations that we need to clear up?" The FEMA chief replied that, while misinformation has been common, she hadn't heard anything specific to the evacuation.

Biden asked Dr. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, "Tampa Bay is particularly vulnerable, correct?" The director said, yes that was correct.

He asked the director of the National Weather Service about flooding rivers and expected drain times. The director replied it will take time for those waters to recede.

Throughout the briefing, Biden took notes, crossed his arms at times, and nodded.

At one point, POTUS said, "I want to thank the governors—they've stepped up." Later, he criticized Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for spreading misinformation, specifically "suggesting that I control the weather."

Biden concluded by telling the agency heads to "pass on to your folks how much we respect" their work "understand a lot of these folks are risking their lives, risking their lives, to help other people."

Briefing concluded at 1:21. The president did not respond to questions from pool.

In-Town Pool Report #5: Press Briefing at 1:45

White House passes along the following:

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will be joined virtually by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell for today's press briefing.

The press briefing will begin at 1:45pm.

In-Town Pool Report #6: Two Minute Warning

White House gave the two-minute warning at 2:00.

In-Town Pool Report #7: Lunch Lid Until 5:00

First, White House passes along this:

We have a lunch lid until 5:00 PM. Pre-set for the remarks in the Roosevelt Room will be at 4:45 PM.

Second, White House also passes along this:

The President is participating in a call and delivering remarks to rabbis around the country to commemorate the Jewish High Holidays.

Attendees
Faith leaders, rabbis, and members of the Jewish community

Speaking Program
Elizabeth Bloom, Director for Equality and Opportunity, Domestic Policy Council
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
The President

In-Town Pool Report #8: Two Minute Warning to Biden Remarks

Two minutes warning at 5:31

In-Town Pool Report #9: Remarks Conclude/Questions

President Biden spoke about the response to Hurricane Milton. Remarks were live-streamed.

He took questions. Quotes to follow.

In-Town Pool Report #10: Biden Questions and Answers

Questions and answers are as follows. Check quotes against the video/transcript.

Asked for comment about allegations that former President Trump sent COVID tests to Putin at the height of the pandemic, President Biden replied, "speaking of un-American."

Asked why he thinks Trump is spreading misinformation, Biden replied, "I don't know. I simply don't know. You can speculate, but I just find it--I've used the phrase more than I've ever used it in my career--it's un-American. It's un-American. It's not who the hell we are. What are they talking about?"

Asked if he had considered calling Trump to ask him to stop, the president replied, "Oh. Cmon."

Asked if Gov. DeSantis needs to take Vice President Harris' calls, President Biden told your print-pool reporter, "All I can tell you is I've talked to Gov. DeSantis. He's been very gracious. He's thanked me for all we've done. He knows what we are doing, and I think that's important."

Asked about his call with Netanyahu, Biden joked as he walked out of the Roosevelt Room, "we didn't talk about the storm."

In-Town Pool Report #11: Lid

White House called a lid. Have a good one.

In-Town Pool Report #12: Biden Florida Briefings/Calls

White House passes along the following:

This evening, in advance of Hurricane Milton making landfall, the President spoke by phone with several officials in Florida, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer; Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert; and Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor. 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 before, during, and after the storm – no matter how long it takes.

The President also spoke with Senators Thom Tillis and Jon Ossoff to discuss the ongoing response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

Throughout the afternoon, the President has been receiving regular briefings on Hurricane Milton's latest trajectory and expected impacts to the State of Florida. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the night as the storm moves across the Florida Peninsula.

In-Town Pool Report #13: Biden Briefed on Milton's Landfall

The White House passes along the following:

Tonight, following Hurricane Milton's landfall, the President was briefed by Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on the initial impacts of the hurricane on the Florida Peninsula. The President will continue to receive updates from his team.