Pool Reports of September 20, 2024

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 1

The pool is gathering in the briefing room as of 11:24 a.m. for the president's meeting with his cabinet.

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 2 - Middle East

Pool entered cabinet meeting at 11:37 a.m. The president took questions from journalists after the First Lady finished speaking at the cabinet meeting. See below for initial transcription, fuller report to come.

Biden: We continue to try "to make sure both people in Northern Israel, as well as Southern Lebanon, are able to go back to their homes. And go back safely. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, our whole team is working with the intelligence community, trying to get that done. We're going to keep at it until we get it done."

Q: Is it realistic to get to a ceasefire deal?

Biden: "A lot of things don't look realistic until we get them done. We have to keep at it."

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 2a

Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat to the president's right and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sat to his left. Senior staff seated near the window behind the president included Evan Ryan, Annie Tomasini, Steve Ricchetti, Natalie Quillian, Bruce Reed, Ali Zaidi, John Podesta, Stephen Benjamin, Jennifer Klein, and Neera Tanden. Pooler noticed that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was not in the room.

Transcript of Q&A:

Q: What do the Lebanon attacks mean for the peace process?

Biden: "We're continuing to try to do, and tried from the beginning, to make sure both people in Northern Israel, as well as Southern Lebanon, are able to go back to their homes. And go back safely. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, our whole team is working with the intelligence community, trying to get that done. We're going to keep at it until we get it done. We've got a way to go"

Q: Is it realistic to get to a ceasefire deal or have too many bad things happened that make it difficult?

Biden: "If I ever say it's not realistic then I might as well leave. A lot of things don't look realistic until we get them done. We have to keep at it. Thank you."

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 3

Pool is holding in vans on South Lawn for President Biden's departure to Fort Lesley J. McNair.

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 4

President Biden's motorcade departed the South Lawn at 1:30. Pool did not see the president get in his car.

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 5

The motorcade pulled up to a field at Fort McNair at 1:40 p.m. There were two helicopters waiting. President Biden got out of his car and walked to Marine One. He saluted the marine at the foot of the stairs and then boarded. Staff followed behind. Wheels up 1:46 p.m.

See below from White House Press Office.

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

Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

9/20 In-Town Pool Report 6

See below from White House Press Office.

Today, the President convened his Cabinet to discuss a range of Administration priorities. The First Lady joined at the top of the meeting to provide an update on the progress of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.

Attendees:
The First Lady
Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State
Secretary Janet Yellen, Department of the Treasury [Joined virtually]
Secretary Lloyd Austin, Department of Defense
Attorney General Merrick Garland, Department of Justice
Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture
Secretary Gina Raimondo, Department of Commerce
Acting Secretary Julie Su, Department of Labor
Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Department of Energy
Secretary Miguel Cardona, Department of Education
Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President & Chief of Staff
Administrator Michel Regan, Environmental Protection Agency
Director Shalanda Young, Office of Management and Budget
Director Avril Haines, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Representative to the United Nations
Chair Jared Bernstein, Council of Economic Advisers
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
Director Arati Prabhakar, Office of Science and Technology Policy
Director Bill Burns, Central Intelligence Agency

Travel pool report #1: Delaware Air National Guard Base

Marine One was wheels down at 14:39.

POTUS disembarked minutes later and saluted greeters, handing them what looked from a distance to be challenge coins. He got straight into the Beast.

Pool too far away for questions.

Motorcade rolling at 14:46

Travel pool report #2: residence

Pool van pulled off from the motorcade close to the Biden residence at 14:58.

Uneventful drive.

We're moving shortly to hold somewhere nearby.

Travel pool report 3: Aussie motorcade

Three vehicles pulled into the Biden residence at 16:51. Two SUVs and a van. With blacked out windows. A state police car arrived ahead.

No flags or other distinguishing features.

This is just ahead of the Australian PM's 'personal meeting' with POTUS.

Pool is set up in a pen across the street from the residence's gate house.

Travel pool report #4: 'Personal meeting' attendees and motorcade

Motorcade of two SUVs and a van left residence at 18:17

From the White House:

The President is hosting a personal meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia.

U.S. Delegation

T.H. Antony Blinken, Secretary of State
T.H. Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President & National Security Advisor
T.H Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia

Australia Delegation

H.E. the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd, Australian Ambassador to the United States
Ms. Kathy Klugman, Principal Adviser, International, Office of the Prime Minister
Mr. Graham Fletcher, Deputy Secretary and Quad Sherpa, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Travel pool report #5: motorcade rolling

At 18:39 to undisclosed location

Travel pool report #6: Archmere Academy

The motorcade pulled up at Archmere Academy at 18:59.

This is Biden's former school and site of Quad meeting tomorrow.

Pool photogs and writers were not given access to document the earlier 'personal meeting' with PM Albanese. The White House has posted its own pictures on X.

Travel pool report #7: school football team

Pool walked along the gravel drive, past blue surfaced tennis courts, around to the back of the school where a riser was set up looking over a colonnaded terrace.

About 30 year 12 students are arranged in a semi circle. They had just finished a football game, winning 43- 13 over Newark.

POTUS appeared at 19:05 to a round of applause and spoke to the young men. He was too far away for pool to hear much.

He held a football under his arm as he talked. He asked who was the QB and tossed him the ball overarm from a yard or so away. 'Congratulations,' he said.

One asked what it was like to be president.

'It's a lot like being class president. Nah only joking' - please check against video if you can. Very hard to hear

'I am more optimistic about America than I have ever been,' was part of another answer.

Other snatches included something about how the Democratic Party used to be more of a Southern party, and the US being the 'essential nation,' and being in the Senate for 36 years.

Pool escorted out at 19:11. As we left some kind of cannon sounded not far off. Snipers on roof did not pay much attention as if it was some kind of foot all score.

Travel pool report #8: motorcade

Rolling from Archmere Academy at 20:13

Travel pool report #9: residence

Pool van peeled off motorcade as it pulled into the Bidens' driveway at 20:32.

Waiting on a lid.

Travel pool report #10: Lid

Called 20:40

See you all tomorrow for some more.