Pool Reports of September 29, 2024

Out of town pool report #1 — Gather

Good afternoon from cloudy, windy Rehoboth. Pool has been swept and is holding at Cape Henlopen State Park near the president's home.

Per updated guidance he is scheduled to leave at 2:15 to return to Washington via Dover AFB.

Out of town pool report #2 — Rolling to Dover

The president's vehicle joined the motorcade at 1:48, we are rolling to Dover AFB.

Out of town pool report #3 — Boarded AF1

The motorcade pulled up to the tarmac at 2:37. The president spoke with the supplemental pool while the First Lady, in a white jacket, boarded Air Force One. Biden boarded at 2:40.

I'm handing off to the supplemental pool flying back with Biden. This pool is busing back to Washington.

From the White House:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady via motorcade en route to Dover Air Force Base:

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Terry Wolff, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Senior Director for the Middle East & North Africa
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Greg Honan, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Message Planning

Supplemental pool report #1 - POTUS arrival and speaking, departure AF1

Good afternoon all!

Hello from a grey and humid Dover air force base.

I will be your supplemental pooler for the quick trip back to the WH.

POTUS arrived to Dover air force base at 2.37 pm.

He stepped out of the car wearing a fetching blue jacket and beige trousers.

He stopped to answer questions from the pool about Lebanon and more.

He said he would be talking to Netanyahu and would tell us when he talked to him.

Asked whether all-out war can be avoided, he said 'it has to be.'

On the hurricane he said 'one of my senior advisors is on the ground in Florida'

Asked 'Would you intervene in the port strike', he said 'no' because of 'collective bargaining'

He climbed the stairs up to AF1 immediately at 2.40pm.

For the AVgeeks among us, we are flying the C-32.

Per the WH:

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

Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the First Lady
Emilie Simons, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Deputy Press Secretary
Terry Wolff, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Senior Director for the Middle East & North Africa
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Greg Honan, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Message Planning

Pool is boarding now - we will shortly be wheels up for JBA.

Supplemental pool report #2 - Arrival at JBA

AF1 landed at JBA at 3.14pm after an uneventful and short flight.

POTUS entered the motorcade at 3.24pm.

Pool asked whether he had any advice for Tim Walz in the upcoming VP debate, he said 'I have confidence in him.'

Pool has been wrangled into the motorcade and we are en route to the WH.

Supplemental pool report #3 - WH arrival / lid

After a traffic-free ride from JBA peppered with hundreds of bystanders taking pictures along the National Mall, the Presidential motorcade arrived back at the WH at 3.50pm.

POTUS entered the North Portico at 3.51pm.

And with that, we have a lid everybody!

Hope you all enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

WH pool report 1 — FEMA briefing

Per the WH press office:

Earlier this evening, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefed President Biden on the ongoing impacts of Hurricane Helene in multiple states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia. The FEMA Administrator updated the President on Federal actions to support emergency response and recovery and briefed the President on her visit today to Georgia where she surveyed damage and assessed emerging needs on the ground. Administrator Criswell will travel to North Carolina tomorrow.

The President directed Administrator Criswell to determine what more can be done to accelerate support to those who are having the most difficult time accessing assistance in isolated communities. The President also advised the FEMA Administrator that as soon as it will not disrupt emergency response operations, he intends to travel this week to impacted communities.

Administrator Criswell also briefed the President on the tragic car accident involving a San Diego County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue Team that was en route from California to support life saving efforts in North Carolina in the wake of the hurricane. The President expressed his gratitude to all first responders, including the brave team that was traveling across country to support emergency response operations and is praying for their full recovery.

WH pool report 2 — calls with Govs. Kemp, Cooper and other officials

Per the WH press office:

Tonight the President spoke by phone with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp; North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Valdosta, Georgia Mayor Scott Matheson; and Taylor County, Florida Emergency Management Director John Louk.

The President reached out to additional officials across North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. In each conversation, the President received updates on response and recovery efforts, and he shared how the Biden-Administration will continue providing support to impacted communities – for as long as it takes.