Pool Reports of September 13, 2024

WH in-town pool report #1

Good morning,

I'm today's in-town White House pool reporter. It's a cloudy 72 degrees in Washington D.C. There are no changes to President Biden's schedule so far. Here it is:

Let me know if you have any questions!

EDT

10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

10:00 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the President's Daily Brief

12:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a brunch in celebration of Black Excellence
South Lawn
Open Press (Pre-set 8:15 AM; Gather 11:40 AM – Palm Room Doors) [RSVP here by 7:00 AM]

4:30 PM THE PRESIDENT hosts a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom
Blue Room
In-House Pool Spray (Gather 4:15 PM – Palm Room Doors)

4:50 PM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time
Joint Base Andrews Overhang

6:00 PM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route to Fort Lesley J. McNair
North Grounds
In-Town Travel Pool (Gather 5:45 PM – Stakeout Location)

6:10 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives at Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair
In-Town Travel Pool

6:20 PM THE PRESIDENT departs Fort Lesley J. McNair en route to Wilmington, Delaware
Fort Lesley J. McNair
In-Town Travel Pool

7:10 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives to Wilmington, Delaware
Delaware Air National Guard Base
Out-of-Town Pool

Briefing Schedule

2:30 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

White House in-town pool report #2 gathering

The pool gathered at 11:58 am for the South Lawn brunch celebration. We are at the Palm Room doors.

White House in-town pool report #3 ceremony underway

We are waiting for President Biden to come out for the brunch celebration, which is underway with a gospel choir singing from the South Lawn balcony.

Among those spotted taking photos with other guests: Anthony Anderson, the actor.

(Tip of the cap to WSJ's Ken Thomas for the good eye there.)

You can watch the event at the usual spots including Whitehouse.gov/live

From the WH:

The President is participating in a photoline:

Attorney General Aaron Ford (NV)
Mayor Randall Woodfin, Birmingham, Alabama
Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore, Maryland
Mayor Garnett Johnson, Augusta, Georgia
Mayor Corey Woods, Tempe, Arizona
Delegate Don Scott Jr., Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
Rep. Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Rep. Rachel Ross, Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
Rep. Joseph Tate, Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives & Member of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans

White House in-town pool report #4 2-min warning

2-minute warning for Biden to arrive. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is currently speaking.

White House in-town pool report #5 speaker lineup

From the WH:

The President is delivering remarks at a brunch in celebration of Black Excellence.

Speaking Program
Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary
Trell Thomas
Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Marsai Martin, American Actress and Film Producer
The President

White House in-town-pool report #6 Biden speaking/addresses Trump attacks on Haitian migrants

President Biden arrived on the South Lawn at 12:30 pm with OMB Director Shalanda Young and actress Marsai Martin.

He started speaking at 12:43 pm after being introduced by Martin.

"Welcome to the first ever White House brunch to celebrate Black excellence," Biden told the crowd.

The audience started chanting, "Thank you, Joe!"

Biden, who is still speaking, noted his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is a "proud Haitian American," adding that the "Haitian American community is under attack right now."

"There's no place in America for this. It has to stop. What he's doing has to stop," Biden said.

The remarks are being live-streamed by the WH, so I won't send a transcript.

Biden — wearing his aviator sunglasses and a navy suit — arrived on stage and gestured and pointed to various people on the crowd.

There appears to be a couple thousand guests on hand. Everyone is dressed in white suits or dresses. They are seated at circular tables eating brunch — eggs, toast, bacon and other items.

White House in-town pool report #7 Biden done speaking

President Biden finished his remarks at 12:51 pm. He spoke for about 8 minutes. He said he would have liked to stay at the brunch longer but pointed to his upcoming meeting with the British PM.

The most notable remarks — sent in earlier pool report — was Biden's comments about Haitian migrants.

White House in-town pool report #8 lunch lid/full Haitian migrant comments

The WH called a lunch lid until 2:15 pm.

Here are President Biden's full comments on the Haitian-American community. Biden did not mention Donald Trump by name but was presumably referring to the former president.

Biden: "I want to take a moment to say something – so many Americans like Karine, as she pointed out a proud Haitian-American, a community that's under attack in our country right now. It's simply wrong. There's no place in America. This has to stop, what he's doing. It has to stop."

White House in-town pool report #9 2-minute warning

2-minute warning for WH press briefing called at 2:49 pm.

White House in-town pool report #10 briefing over

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre began the WH press briefing at 2:52 p.m. ET. It concluded at 3:37 pm after about 45 minutes.

WH in-town pool report #11 pool gathering for bilateral meeting

The pool has gathered for Biden's meeting with British PM Keir Starmer. It will take place in the WH Blue Room.

WH in-town pool report #12 pool spray

President Biden And British PM Starmer were seated at a long table inside the Blue Room alongside officials from their respective countries when the pool entered at 4:37 pm.

"I say you be quiet until I speak," Biden began when a British reporter asked what he says to Putin before Biden had a chance to open the meeting.

After his prepared remarks, Biden said, "I don't think that much about Vladimir Putin" in response to the same question from the same reporter.

Biden said the two leaders would talk about Ukraine, the Middle East and the need for a hostage and ceasefire deal, as well as the Indo-Pacific region.

Starmer then spoke. Will send quotes in subsequent pool report. Pool was ushered out after a couple of minutes.

WH in-town pool report #13 quotes from pool spray

The pool spray between Biden and Starmer opened up with a reporter from the British press asking Biden a question before POTUS had a chance to speak – which visibly upset POTUS.

"I say you be quiet until I speak, OK? That's what I say. Good idea? " Biden said, turning to the reporter. "You've got to be quiet, and I'm going to make a statement, OK?" Biden said when the reporter asked about Putin's threats of war with NATO.

Biden was flanked by Secretary of State Blinken, National Security Advisor Sullivan and other US officials. Biden and the US officials sat across from Starmer and their British counterparts.

Biden welcomed PM Starmer back to the White House and thanked him for "UK's leadership" in standing in solidary with Ukraine against Russia. "The United States is committed to standing with you to help Ukraine as it defends against Russia's onslaught and aggression. Let me make it clear: Putin will not prevail in this war. The people in Ukraine will."

Biden said he and Starmer will also talk about the Middle East to secure a deal to release the "hostages held by Hamas, bring an immediate cease-fire and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza."

Thirdly, Biden said the two leaders will talk about the Indo Pacific. "No region more important to our future," Biden said, adding that he's "so proud of our AUKUS agreement with Australia."

Starmer thanked Biden for the invitation to come back to the White House just two months after their previous meeting,

Starmer: "It's really important — just great allies, that special relationship – to take out this time to talk about the global issues you have just identified, starting of course with Ukraine, where I think the next few weeks and months have been crucial, very, very important, that we support Ukraine in this vital war of freedom. I look forward to discussing that with you."

Starmer also pointed to issues to discuss involving the Middle East.

"I think that, historically, we've shown the strength of our relationship, that we are strategically aligned," Starmer said of the US-UK relationship. "We have common cause on these global issues, and therefore it's very important for us to have this opportunity to talk them through, not just as a matter of tactics, but also the wider strategy that underpins them. So, thank you for the invitation."

Biden was asked by a reporter what he thinks about Putin's threats of war. "I don't think that much about Vladimir Putin," Biden said in response.

"We're going to discuss that now," Biden said to a question about Ukraine's desire to use long-range missiles deep into Russia.

From the WH:

The President is participating in a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

U.S. Manifest
The President
T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Jane Hartley, Ambassador of the United States to the United Kingdom
T.H. Jim O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
T.H. John Kirby, Assistant to the President and National Security Communications Advisor
T.H. Mike Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
Ms. Agnieszka Kurzej, Director for Western Europe, National

U.K. Manifest
The Right Honorable Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
T.R.H. David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs
Ms. Sue Gray, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States
Sir Timothy Barrow GCMG LVO MBE, National Security Advisor
Mr. Matthew Doyle, Director of Communications
Ms. Laura Hickey, Foreign Policy Advisor
Ms. Ailsa Terry, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister

WH in-town pool report #14 rolling

President Biden and his motorcade pulled out of the White House North Lawn at 6:14 pm. Your pooler did not lay eyes on POTUS.

We are rolling en route to JBA. POTUS is not traveling by marine one because of the south lawn celebration earlier.

WH in-town pool report #15

POTUS and the motorcade arrived at Fort Lesley J McNair at 6:25 pm. He exited the beast and walked across a grass lawn to board Marine One.

Present Biden did not come over to take questions from reporters.

(Correction: in last pool report I said the pool and motorcade was going to JBA. I meant Fort McNair.)

Marine One lifted off at 6:30 pm. He is headed to Wilmington, De.

With that, I will hand off to the out of town pool reporter. Have a great weekend!

WH in-town pool report #16

Two more things to pass along from WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Fort Lesley J. McNair:

Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Herbie Ziskend, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Director of Communications
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

Also from WH:

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

Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Herbie Ziskend, Deputy Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy Director of Communications
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

Foreign Pool Report #1 - POTUS/Starmer backgrounder

Hello everyone,

Once more unto the breach, dear friends - I shall once again be your foreign pooler for UK PM Starmer's visit to Washington this cloudy Friday the 13th.

This will be the second time PM Starmer has been to the White House to meet with President Biden, the first time being on the sidelines of the NATO Summit during EURO fever (we don't talk about the result.)

Prime Minister Starmer was less than a week into the job during that visit. Now that he's been in office for a few months, the meeting was requested by the Brits to ensure the two countries are on the same page on a whole host of foreign policy issues - including Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, AUKUS and more.

Topics to be discussed

As stated above, the two countries will discuss issues such as Ukraine, the Middle East, China's influence in the Indo-Pacific, the AUKUS security partnership and more.

Much has been made about the discussion over the authorisation to allow Ukraine to use long-range missiles (such as the US ATACMS and the Franco-British Storm Shadow) to strike targets within Russian territory. Vladimir Putin said that a decision to allow said use of these weapons 'will mean that NATO countries, the U.S. and European countries are at war with Russia.'

NSC's John Kirby before the meeting said 'I wouldn't be looking for an announcement today about long range strike capabilities inside Russia. There's no change to our policy with respect to that.' I have heard similar things from British sources.

When I asked why this meeting was important for the Americans, Kirby told me 'this is a new British government. They are a key ally and a partner, and so it just seems to follow logic that the two leaders would want to have another opportunity to have a discussion. So we welcome this chance to have a longer and more substantive discussion with the Prime Minister and his team today, specifically on foreign policy issues and it's a perfect follow up to the to the briefer meeting that they had back in July.'

PM's schedule in D.C.

The PM flew into D.C. late Thursday night and spent Friday morning meeting with various business leaders as the UK hosts an Investment Summit in mid-October. The meeting with POTUS is the core part of the trip, and he will return to the UK afterwards.

Order of events

Biden and Starmer are expected to take some photos together inside the Oval Office infront of the Resolute Desk. As you will know, the desk was made from the oak timbers of the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute and was a gift to President Rutherford Hayes from Queen Victoria in 1880.

The pair will then walk along The Colonnade before engaging in a pool spray inside the Blue Room scheduled for 4.30pm EST. The meeting is set to last around 90 mins.

Joining the PM

David Lammy - Foreign Secretary

Tim Barrow - National Security Adviser

Dame Karen Pierce - British Ambassador to the US

The US contingent is expected to reflect the UK's.

Background on the PM

Sir Keir Starmer, 61, was educated at Oxford University before practicing law as a barrister specialising in human rights issues. His political career began when he was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions in 2008, where he earned recognition for his reforms and commitment to justice. He stepped down from the role in November 2013 and a year later, was given a knighthood for 'services to law and criminal justice'.

Shortly after, in 2015, Starmer was elected as the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras (in central London). He quickly rose through the ranks of the then-opposition government, becoming Shadow Brexit Secretary in 2016. He would become leader of the Labour Party in 2020, eventually becoming Prime Minister in 2024 after a landslide election result for the Labour Party - ending the Conservative party's 14 years in power.

If you have any questions, please do reach out. Otherwise I shall see you once the PM is on campus.

Have a great day,

Fraser

Foreign Pool Report #2 - Starmer arrival

PM Starmer arrived via motorcade at 4.14pm and walked into the West Wing. He was wearing a dark suit and sunglasses.

Biden and Starmer will now take photos inside the Oval before they head over to the Blue Room for the extended strategy session, still slated to begin at 4.30pm EST.

Pool is gathering as of 4.15pm.

Foreign Pool Report #3 - Bilal begins

Hello for the last time,

Pool was ushered into the East room at first to assemble.

Once we were taken into the Blue room, the delegations were already at the table.

The US on the left, the UK on the right.

Among the delegations:

For the US - POTUS, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, NSC's John Kirby

For the UK - PM Starmer, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, NSA Tim Burrows, UK Ambassador to the US Dame Karen Pierce

*FULL LIST BELOW*

One of the British press asked a question as soon as we entered the room and was told by POTUS to be quiet until he made an opening statement.

Biden: I've often said there's no issue of global consequence where the United States and UK can't work together and haven't worked yet.

First, Ukraine, I want to thank you for the UK leadership on this front. The United States is committed to standing with you to help Ukraine as it defends against Russia's onslaught of aggression. It's clear that Putin will not prevail in this war. The people of Ukraine will prevail. Second Middle East today, we'll discuss our work to secure a deal in the Middle East release the main hostages that are helping held by Hamas, bring immediate cease fire, increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. And thirdly, we're going to be talking about the Indo Pacific. No region more important for our future, and I'm so proud of our AUKUS partnership with Australia, the last three years, we've made the region more free, open and secure, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you again for being here, and I look forward to our conversation,

PM Starmer thanked Biden for welcoming him to the White House:

'Mr. President, thank you very much for those words. Thank you for the invitation to be back here just two months after our last meeting here, and it's really important to us great allies, that special relationship have this time to talk about the global issues you have just identified, starting, of course, with Ukraine, where I think the next few weeks and months could be crucial, very, very important, that we support Ukraine in this vital war of freedom. And so I look forward to discussing that with you the Middle East, of course, again, vital over the coming weeks and months and elsewhere in the world. I think that historically, we've shown the strength of our relationship, that we are strategically aligned. We have common cause on these global issues, and therefore it's very important for us to have this opportunity to talk them through, not just As a matter of fact it but also the wider strategy that underpins them so thank you for the invitation. It's very good to be here again.'

Pool then shouted questions.

Asked about Putin's comments about potential direct war with Russia, POTUS said

'I don't think much about Vladimir Putin'

Danny Kemp from AFP asked whether POTUS would be travelling to Angola, he responded with a thumbs up.

U.S. Manifest
The President
T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
T.H. Jane Hartley, Ambassador of the United States to the United Kingdom
T.H. Jim O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
T.H. John Kirby, Assistant to the President and National Security Communications Advisor
T.H. Mike Carpenter, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Europe, National Security Council
Ms. Agnieszka Kurzej, Director for Western Europe, National

U.K. Manifest
The Right Honorable Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
T.R.H. David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs
Ms. Sue Gray, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister
Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United States
Sir Timothy Barrow GCMG LVO MBE, National Security Advisor
Mr. Matthew Doyle, Director of Communications
Ms. Laura Hickey, Foreign Policy Advisor
Ms. Ailsa Terry, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister

That's it from me for today! Look out for a readout of the meeting being sent by the White House later in the evening.

Have a great weekend!

Out of town pool report #1

Marine One landed at DANG at 7:19pm. President Biden exited M1 at 7:24 and went directly to the motorcade.

Greeting the President upon arrival to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Lieutenant Colonel Melissa Pietras, Medical Readiness Detachment Commander, Delaware National Guard

Motorcade is rolling as of 7:27pm.

Out of town pool report #2: arrival at residence + lid

The motorcade arrived at POTUS' residence at 7:46pm. A lid was called at 7:51.

A small update on the motorcade departure from DANG: seconds after the motorcade started to roll, we stopped (we had not made it far, just a few yards away from M1) for about 3 minutes. It is unclear why we stopped. But your pooler saw the president walk out of a base facility and get back into his car, which had repositioned outside of the facility's front door. Your pooler did not have eyes on the president entering the building, just exiting.