Pool Reports of September 2, 2024

Out of town pool report #1, Sept 2 - checking in

Good morning and happy Labor Day from Rehoboth, where POTUS is scheduled to lift from Gordon’s Pond at 8 to head back to the White House after a good weather call.

His updated sked has him getting the PDB here and meeting at the WH with his hostage team negotiators before his trip to Pittsburgh.

Pool is being swept.

Out of town pool 2 - M1 lifts

Motorcade rolled into Gordon’s Pond at 8:23 am. Potus got out of his SUV a minute later, wearing a dark suit and accompanied by an agent, with the breeze picking up. He boarded M1 upwind and a long distance from the pool.

M1 lifted at 8:29, capping off the president’s vacation en route to the WH.

Per the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade:

Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the White House:

Curtis Ried, Deputy Assistant to the President & NSC Chief of Staff & Executive Secretary
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

In town pool report 1 - gathering

Pool and press are gathering at 9:05 AM for POTUS' arrival on M1.

In town pool report 2 - M1 arrival

M1 touched down on the South Lawn at 9:21 AM. POTUS disembarked at 9:23 AM, walked toward the press and took several questions before entering the residence at 9:25 AM.

Questions concerned whether he thought PM Netanyahu was doing enough to secure a hostage deal. POTUS said, "No."

Also asked about reaction to demonstrations in Israel and whether he had a message for families of hostages. POTUS said he had spoken to the family of Israeli-American hostage Goldberg-Polin.

Difficult to hear. Will check back on audio.

In town pool report 3 - POTUS quotes

Here are quotes from when POTUS stopped to talk to press after M1 arrival on the South Lawn. Please check back against the transcript.

"I have a national security meeting right now and then I'm going to Pittsburgh. And so checking on what's-- following up on what's happening in Israel, and then I'll be off to Pittsburgh."

Asked about whether he's planning to present a final hostage deal this week, POTUS said: "We're very close to that."

Asked why he thinks this deal will be successful in a way that others have not: "Hope springs eternal."

Asked if it's time Netanyahu should do more on this issue; does he think Netanyahu is doing enough: "No."

Asked about his reaction to the demonstrations across Israel, POTUS said: "I'm going to get the detail when I walk in, and I'll talk after that."

Asked about a message for hostages' families, POTUS said: "I've spoken to the American hostage, I spoke to his mom and dad, and we're not giving up. We're going to continue to push as hard as we can."

In town pool report 3a - correcting plural in quote

Hi all, pluralizing "details" in POTUS quote. Apologies. As always, please check against transcript.

Asked about his reaction to the demonstrations across Israel, POTUS said: "I'm going to get the details when I walk in, and I'll talk after that."

In town pool report 4 - note from WH

Passing along from the White House:

The President and the Vice President received a briefing in the White House Situation Room. The following staff participated in the briefing:

Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
Bill Burns, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Jon Finer, Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy National Security Advisor
Phil Gordon, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor to the Vice President
Brett McGurk, Deputy Assistant to the President & Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, National Security Council

In town pool report 5 - gathering for departure

Pool and press are gathering for POTUS departure

In town pool report 6 - M1 lifts

POTUS exited the residence at 2:20 PM. He waved at press then took a couple questions concerning ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations.

POTUS in response to a question on negotiations with Netanyahu said he was negotiating with his team, not with Netanyahu. Pool will check audio for quotes and other questions, as it was hard to hear.

He boarded M1 in the South Lawn at 2:22 PM. Wheels up at 2:26 PM, going to JBA.

In town pool report 7 - M1 travelers

Passing along from the White House:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

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
Tom Perez, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

In town pool report 8 - POTUS M1 departure quotes

Please check against the transcript.

Asked what more they needed to do on ceasefire and hostage deal negotiations, POTUS said: "We're in the middle of negotiations."

Asked about Netanyahu following the prime minister's press conference today, POTUS said: "We're still in negotiations -- not with him, but with my colleagues from Qatar and from Egypt."

In town pool report 10 - M1 arrival

M1 touched down at 8:40 PM. POTUS disembarked at 8:42 PM.

He stopped to chat with reporters. Asked when he was expected to speak to Netanyahu, POTUS said, "Eventually."

Asked about the campaign trail, your pooler believes POTUS said, "We're going to win."

Difficulty hearing, will check back on audio.

POTUS entered the residence at 8:44 PM.

In town pool report 11 - lid & fuller POTUS quotes

White House has called a lid at 8:50 PM.

Here are fuller POTUS quotes from his nighttime arrival. As always, please check against the transcript.

Asked, does he have plans to speak to Netanyahu? "Eventually."

Asked about this week or next, "Eventually."

Asked about Ukraine striking back with American weapons against Russia, POTUS said, "I’ve made it clear what we support and don’t support."

How does he feel about being out on the campaign trail again today, POTUS said: "Feels good -- except I'm not able to go out into crowds anymore, the Secret Service doesn't let me."

Asked why not, POTUS said, "Because they said it's too dangerous. No one gets to go out."

Asked how he feels about Pennsylvania, POTUS said: "I feel real good about Pennsylvania. I think we're going to win Pennsylvania."

Have a good night.

Supplemental pool report #1

Good afternoon from Joint Base Andrews.

I will be your supplemental pool reporter this Labor Day, carrying the baton for President Biden's trip to Pittsburgh, where he is set to be joined by Vice President Harris at a campaign event.

Marine One landed at JBA at 2:34pm, the President making his way to Air Force One without speaking with reporters.

He boarded AF1 at 2:39pm.

Take-off imminent.

Supplemental 2: greeter and travelers

Passing along from the WH

Greeting the President on arrival to Joint Base Andrews:

Colonel Paul Pawluk, 89th Air Wing, Joint Base Andrews

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
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Tom Perez, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Erika Dinkel-Smith, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Labor Advisor
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Supplemental pool report 3: Walz call, and Pittsburgh arrival

Air Force One, having taken off from Joint Base Andrews at 2:47pm, landed at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:26pm.

White House spokesperson Emilie Simons visited the press section in-flight to inform the pool that the President called Gov. Walz from his cabin on AF1 before take off.

The President wanted to check in with the governor and his team after the reported crash involving vehicles in the Walz motorcade earlier today.

Otherwise --

The TVs in the AF1 cabin during the flight were tuned to MSNBC, where at times we could see snippets of Vice President Harris’s remarks in Detroit.

AF1 still taxiing as of 3:30pm.

Supplemental pool report #4: Greeters

AF1 came to a standstill at 3:34pm. Passing along from the WH:

Greeting the President on arrival to Pittsburgh International Airport:

Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and his spouse, Alexandra "Zoe" Bunnell
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (PA), and his spouse, Blayre Holmes Davis, Second Lady of Pennsylvania
County Executive Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County, PA
Colonel Samuel S. Wilson, Vice Wing Commander, 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard
Giselle Fetterman, spouse of Senator John Fetterman
April Verrett, President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Eric Dean, President, Ironworkers (IW)
Jimmy Williams, President, International Union of Painters and Allied Tradesmen (IUPAT)
Tim Driscoll, President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
Mike Coleman, President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)

Supplemental pool report#5

President Biden disembarked AF1 at 3:46pm, saluted a uniformed greeter and then worked his way down the line of dignitaries on the tarmac to meet him.

Gov. Shapiro, dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt and slacks, was first in line.

The president became perhaps most animated greeting a small child in the arms of a woman who we think is Lt. Gov Austin Davis's wife, Blayre Holmes Davis. The child was wearing a fetching pair of purple ear muffs or perhaps headphones, and the president spent a little while mugging with her.

Soon after, he greeted Giselle Fetterman with a hug.

After approximately four minutes the meet and greet on the tarmac was done.

Gov. Shapiro joined the president in "The Beast" for the drive.

Motorcade rolling at 3:54pm.

Supplemental pool 6

The White House would like the below disseminated in addition to the information from Emilie Simons in a previous pool report:

***

The President called Governor Walz from his cabin on Air Force One before departing to Pittsburgh to check in on the Governor and his team after the reported crash in his motorcade.

Supplemental pool report #7

Motorcade arrived at approximately 4:20pm at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 5, located on the appropriately industrial-sounding Hot Metal Street in the Southside Flats neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

The drive of approximately 25 minutes was largely uneventful. There were a few instances of Pittsburghers filming the passing motorcade on their cellphones. None seen by your pooler was an especially ostentatious supporter or detractor of the president.

There were more numerous, supportive onlookers outside the venue.

We are now holding for POTUS in an outdoor patio-type area where around 10 tables have been set up, all of which have people around them, many attired in union t-shirts.

Supplemental pool report #8: 2 min warning

2 minute warning till POTUS and VPOTUS at this mix and mingle part of the event as of 4:46pm.

Supplemental pool report #9: Mix and mingle

The President and Vice President entered together at 4:48pm, with Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) a few steps behind.

Biden and Harris then began working their way around the tables in a clockwise direction. There were smiles, hugs and selfies but the exchanges were largely inaudible to the pool which was on the other side of the patio area from where the duo began.

As they came closer to our side, some snippets were audible.

"I haven't met you! Who are you? What's your name?," a smiling VP asked a young dark-haired girl in a blue t-shirt.

"You guys, you're the best," the president said to one group who applauded when he came to their table. It was mostly a male group with one man wearing an AFSCME polo shirt.

Pool was moved to the main hall in expectation of remarks from the duo before the mix and mingle had ended.

The main remarks will be carried by our friends at C-SPAN.

Supplemental pool report #10

The following is passed along via the WH but on behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

****

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

Participating in a photoline with the President and the Vice President:

Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
Senator Bob Casey (PA)
Rep. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), and his spouse, Alexandra "Zoe" Bunnell
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (PA), and his spouse, Blayre Holmes Davis, Second Lady of Pennsylvania
Mayor Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (PA-43)
County Executive Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County, PA
Liz Shuler, President, AFL-CIO
April Verrett, President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Tim Driscoll, President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
Dave McCall, President, United Steelworkers (USW)
Jimmy Williams, President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
Eric Dean, President, Ironworkers Union (IW)
Mike Coleman, President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Kenny Cooper, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

The President and Vice President are greeting with local union members and their families at IBEW Local 9 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Joining the President and Vice President are Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey.

Supplemental pool report #11: Speaking program

Via the WH, on behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign:

On behalf of the Harris-Walz Campaign:

The President and the Vice President are delivering remarks at a campaign event.

Speaking Program
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (PA)
Senator Bob Casey (PA)
Governor Josh Shapiro (PA)
Liz Shuler, President, AFL-CIO
Kenny Cooper, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) & Introducer
The President
The Vice President

Attendees
Liz Shuler, President, AFL-CIO
Kenny Cooper, President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
April Verrett, President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Eric Dean, President, Ironworkers (IW)
Dave McCall, President, United Steelworkers (USW)
Tim Driscoll, President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
Jimmy Williams, President, International Union of Painters and Allied Tradesmen (IUPAT)
Mike Coleman, President, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)
Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Supplemental pool report #12: Color & Shapiro remarks

There is a packed and raucous crowd here at the IBEW hall.

Stage right, there are two large blue "Harris Walz" signs. Stage left is a large logo of the IBEW local. Many in the crowd are waving IBEW-logo-ed Harris-Walz campaign signs also.

Among the unions represented on t-shirts worn in the crowd are the IBEW itself (green t-shirts), the Iron Workers (blue), the SEIU (purple) and the United Steelworkers (steely gray).

As we move toward remarks from President Biden and Vice President Harris, Gov. Shapiro took the stage at 5:21pm.

Among other things, he said he would be the governor "for a long time." He also praised Biden for his frequent appearances in "this house of labor" and said "we are so psyched" to have VP Harris here.

Shapiro also asserted that Harris would ensure Pennsylvania is "the leader on energy for decades to come."

He gave vigorous remarks in support of Sen. Casey's reelection bid, saying among other things that "Bob Casey never forgets where he comes from."

Several union leaders took the stage at 5:34pm to the strains of Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up."

AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler just took the stage and is speaking as of 5:38pm.

POTUS expected to speak imminently.

Supplemental pool report #13: Crowd size

From the WH —

***

There are over 600 attendees at today’s event at IBEW Local 5 - the fire marshal capped entrance to the event at capacity.

Supplemental pool report #14: Biden takes stage

President Biden took the stage at 5:46pm — followed a few steps behind by the Vice President — to a soundtrack of "We Take Care of Our Own" by Bruce Springsteen.

A sustained ovation gave way to chants of "Thank you, Joe."

He has begun speaking, with Vice President Harris behind him to his right.

The president was introduced by Kenny Cooper, President of the IBEW.

Since the event is being carried by C-SPAN, your pooler will only provide a sparse account of his actual remarks — but will supply color, especially if anything news-making happens.

Also, as a programming note, the VP of course has her own pool which will focus on her remarks and any related details.

Supplemental pool #15: Biden speech, remarks on Harris, and quick quotes

Toward the end of his speech, Biden reached out his right hand toward Harris, who took it. He put an arm around her shoulder soon afterward. She remained standing beside him for the remainder of his speech

"I trust her," Biden said of Harris, and reiterated that selecting her as his running-mate was "the single best decision I made as President of the United States of America."

Electing her would be "the best decision you have ever made," he said.

The president promised Harris could make "Donald Trump a loser again", ending his speech at 6:!1pm.

The two then hugged.

Harris began speaking at 6:12pm, soon asking the crowd to "give it up again for our president, Joe Biden." She praised him at some length, raising a laugh in noting he could be "impatient" at times but also predicting history would judge his presidency kindly.

BEFORE all that —

Some POTUS quotes, which should of course be checked against transcript —

"I'm Joe Biden and I'm from Scranton."

Biden noted that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) "couldn't be here today" but "he sent the best part of the family, Gisele. She's here."

"When unions do well, all workers in America" do better.

He referenced the protection of the pensions "of almost one million workers"— a reference to the Butch Lewis Act, which was passed as part of the American Rescue Plan, and aimed to shore up teetering multiemployer pension plans.

On former President Trump and "infrastructure week": "For four years he promised that. He didn't build a damn thing."

Biden raised a laugh when, talking about the history of the union movement, he said wryly "I'm only 40"

"United States Steel, an iconic American company for more than a century, is going to remain an American company."

"We've made a lot of progress, and Kamala and I are going to build on that progress. She's going to build on it."

On Trump and picket lines: "He'd rather cross one than walk one. And I had no problem walking the picket line."

[Biden became the first president to walk a strike picket line when he joined members of the United Auto Workers outside a General Motors facility in Michigan in 2023.]

Biden noted that his first rally in his 2020 campaign was in Pittsburgh. [That event took place on April 29, 2019, four days after Biden launched his campaign with a video.]

The speech was met with frequent applause and no protests, at least so far as your pooler could see and hear.

Supplemental pool #16: Harris remarks

As noted, VP Harris has her own pooler but to the extent that it's useful....

President Biden remained on stage during the VP's remarks, standing slightly off to her right and slightly behind her.

Some quotes/color. Please verify quotes against recording if possible:

"We are fighting to build an economy that works for all working people."

When she referred to an election contest in which one side pushed a "vision focused on the past" there were boos, aimed presumably at former President Trump, and calls of "We're not going back."

Ballots in PA "will start dropping in 14 days," Harris noted.

She hit many of her campaign lines, including the promise of an "opportunity economy."

"U.S. Steel is a historical American company. ...U.S. Steel should remain American-owned."

"64 days" until "one of the most important [elections] in the life of our nation."

When Harris said it was going to be a "tight race" till the very end, a woman in the crowd close to your pooler shouted back "We got you, girl!"

Harris ended her remarks with "When we fight, we win!" at 6:27pm.

She and Biden waved from the lectern at the end.

Supplemental pool report #17: Motorcade

The pool loaded into vans as soon as the Pittsburgh event ended and therefore did not see President Biden emerge.

Outside the event, among a generally supportive crowd, there was a smaller group holding a "Trump Nation" banner and some signs contending that "Kamala kills labor jobs."

Motorcade is moving at 6:43pm.

Supplemental pool report #18: Airport

The White House notes that POTUS and VPOTUS rode back to the airport together after their campaign event.

Motorcade back to Pittsburgh International Airport/PANG otherwise passed without incident or much color. There was a nice, scenic stretch next to the Ohio River for a spell.

Arrived on the tarmac in evening sunshine at 7:15 pm.

President Biden emerged from "The Beast" at 7:17pm, joined by the VP. They both greeted a line of law enforcement officers and then posed for a photo together with a group that we take to be labor activists.

President Biden, now wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, seemed to talk to this latter group at some length but he was well out of earshot of the pool. The VP was present throughout and also spoke.

Biden and Harris embraced again at 7:24pm as this chat was breaking up.

President Biden walked up the steps of AF1 alone at 7:25 pm.

No questions were taken.

Take-off back to JBA imminent.

Supplemental pool report #19: return travelers

From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

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
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Tom Perez, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Erika Dinkel-Smith, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Labor Advisor
Tori Taylor, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Political Outreach
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

Supplemental pool report #20: JBA arrival

AF1 took off from Pittsburgh at 7:33pm and landed at JBA after a smooth and news-free flight at 8:14pm.

The president disembarked at 8:25pm, saluted a uniformed greeter and proceeded to Marine One, which he boarded at 8:26pm.

M1 lifted into darkened skies at 8:30pm

***

From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the White House:

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
Tom Perez, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the Presiden

***

And with that, the Supplemental Pool’s duties come to an end for the day.

Have a good Labor Day evening, everyone.