Pool Reports by Eugene Daniels, POLITICO
| Sent: | Reports: |
| March 25, 2023 17:08 EDT |
VP Out of town Supplemental Pool #1 -- Gathered at JBA Hey there, your pool and other travelers are tested, and are awaiting VP Harris at JBA for her trip to the continent of Africa. As a reminder, the VP will be in Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania while there. Below is guidance from her office on the weekend schedule. WEEKEND GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR Saturday, March 25, 2023 At 6:10 PM ET, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will depart Joint Base Andrews en route to Lajes Air Base, Portugal. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press. Sunday, March 26, 2023 At 3:20 AM ADT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Lajes Air Base, Portugal for a re-fueling stop. This arrival will be closed press. At 4:50 AM ADT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will depart Lajes Air Base, Portugal en route to Accra, Ghana. This departure will be closed press. At 12:15 PM GMT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. Following, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will participate in an official welcome ceremony. This arrival and official welcome ceremony will be open to pre-credentialed media. At 2:40 PM GMT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will meet with the staff and families of U.S. Embassy Accra. This meeting will be closed press. |
| March 25, 2023 18:20 EDT |
VP Supplemental Pool #2 — taking off The vice president's motorcade arrived at JBA around 6:05. The VP and the second gentleman got out, talked for a few minutes with the greeters (waiting for names) and walked up the stairs. Waved to press but didn't stop to talk. We are headed to Portugal for a refueling stop. The VP and SGOTUS came back to chat to press for a few minutes before we took off. Plane took off just after 6:20. |
| March 26, 2023 03:30 AZOST |
VP Supplemental Pool #3 -- Landed in Portugal Air Force Two landed in Lajes Air Base, Portugal around 3:20 AM local time to refuel for the rest of the trip. Our trip was pretty uneventful other than a bit of turbulence here and there. The Second Gentleman came back and chatted OTR. Senator Chria Coons, who is traveling with the VP, also came back to chat OTR. We're scheduled to leave in just over an hour. |
| March 26, 2023 05:04 AZOST |
VP Supplemental #4 -- Refueled and headed to Ghana Air Force Two refueled and took off just after 5 AM local time from Portugal and headed to Accra. |
| March 26, 2023 12:11 GMT |
VP Supplemental Travel Pool #5 -- landed in Ghana Hello from Ghana! AF2 landed in Accra at 12:08 local time. From the plane, we can see a pretty elaborate welcome for the VP already set up and can hear drums from the planr. Will send color as soon as things happen. |
| March 26, 2023 12:53 GMY |
VP Supplemental Pool #6 -- color from welcome The vice president walked off the plane at 12:28. There is a red carpet from the stairs of Air Force Two toward the riser where Harris will be speaking. On the ground, four women dancers in in Kente cloth dresses and headbands. Men playing drums are next to them, also in traditional outfits as well. Harris was greeted by a large group of dignitaries (getting names soon). A group of kids behind a barricade us on the right of where Harris will . They have flags from both Ghana and the United States. The kids are from Basics International -- an NGO here in Ghana. The stage is covered in Kente cloth print with large flags from the United States and Ghana flanking the podium. "Thank you for the warm welcome." Said she was bringing greetings from Biden and FLOTUS. "What an honor to be in Ghana and Africa. We are looking forward to this trip as a statement of the relationship and friendship between the people of the United States and those that live in the continent of Africa." Talked about the median age in Africa being about 19 years: What that tells us about the growth and the opportunity. "I see in that great opportunity for the ...continent and the world." Said that while she is here "I intend to do work that is focused on increasing investments on the continent." Talked about her focuses on the Economic empowerment of women and girls, youth entrepreneurs, digital, adaptation to the effects of climate change. "Look forward to meet with entroentuers, students and farmers" "We have a lot of work ahead of us." She walked over to the group of kids after speaking for about four minutes. The motorcade began to roll out around 12:49. |
| March 26, 2023 13:32 GMT |
VP Supplemental #7 -- Holding at hotel One edit -- we are at the hotel, NOT the embassy. Pool arrived to Harris' hotel around 1:15. Pool is holding in the hotel bar for bags. Pool did not see Harris but she will be meeting with staff soon. Full Otter: |
| March 26, 2023 14:20 GMT |
VP Supplemental #8-- more background from White House on arrival On background from a White House official:
Greeters below: Mahamudu Bawumia, The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana |
Kamala Harris, Vice Presidential Pool Reports of March 26, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/360366