* APP Note: This compilation includes those travel reports begun on October 17 because they are part of the numbering sequence used by the reporter for the president's trip to Israel
Pool Reports by Tyler Pager, The Washington Post
| Sent: | Reports: |
| October 17, 2023 17:45 EDT |
Travel Pool Report #1: Arrival at JBA Good afternoon from JBA. I will be your print pooler for President Biden's trip. POTUS arrived via motorcade here at 5:40 p.m He exited the Beast and shook hands with military officers before boarding the plane. He did not responded to shouted questions about whether he was still traveling to Jordan. From the White House: Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv, Israel: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| October 17, 2023 17:50 EDT |
Travel Pool Report #2: Jordan portion cancelled Statement coming from WH but Biden not traveling to Jordan |
| October 17, 2023 17:53 EDT |
Travel Pool Report #3: WH statement on Jordan On background from a White House official:
AF1 is rolling and we expect to be wheels up shortly |
| October 18, 2023 10:53 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #4: Wheels down in Israel Air Force One was wheels down at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel at 10:51 am. local time. During the flight, Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby gaggled for about 30 minutes. The feed was broadcast live, but please reach out with any questions. Kirby previewed the president's schedule in Tel Aviv, which will include meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also engagements with victims' families, relatives of those who have been taken hostage by Hamas and first responders. The president is also scheduled to deliver remarks to the press. Kirby said POTUS would ask "tough questions" of the Israelis about their intentions in the coming weeks and emphasized humanitarian assistance would be a focus of the conversations. He declined to detail any potential announcements about a deal on humanitarian aid. |
| October 18, 2023 11:03 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #5: Biden arrival POTUS walked down the steps of AF1 at 11:00 am. He greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a hug before shaking hands with other officials including Israeli President Isaac Herzog. The pool could not hear what the president said and he walked into the Beast at 11:02. |
| October 18, 2023 11:38 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #6: Arrival at meeting site The motorcade started rolling from the airport at 11:07 a.m. As we departed, pool saw Netanyahu walking to a separate vehicle from the Beast. The motorcade then sped along a highway in what was an uneventful ride. After exiting the highway, the motorcade drove past throngs of people lining the streets, many with the phones recording the motorcade passing by. The motorcade arrived at the Kempinski hotel at 11:35 am. Pool did not see POTUS arrive. For security reasons, pool was asked not to share POTUS movements until our arrival at the hotel. |
| October 18, 2023 11:54 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #7: POTUS pool spray Pool entered for a pool spray at 11:40 a.m. POTUS was seated next to Netanyahu and joined by Tony Blinken and Jake Sullivan. Please check quotes against transcript Flagging that on the hospital strike, Biden said: "I'm deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza … based on what I've see It appears as though it was done by the other team" Bibi spoke first: "I want to thank you for coming here today and for the unequivocal support you've giving Israel over these trying times." "We see your support and your steadfast commitment to provide us with the tools we need to defend ourselves." "You described what Hamas did as sheer evil. It is exactly that." "You rightly said that Hamas is worst than ISIS." "We will defeat Hamas and remove this terrible threat from our life." "Your visit is the first here by an American president during a time of war." "Thank you mr president. Thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow and always." Biden spoke next: "I wanted to personally come" and make clear support for Israel "They committed evils and atrocities that make ISIS somewhat more rational" "Americans are grieving with you" "Americans are worried" "The fact is that Israel as they respond to these attacks has to continue to ensure you have what you need to defend yourself and we're going to make sure that occurs" "Hamas does not represent all the Palestinian people" "I'm very happy to be back in Israel with you" To them people of Israel, he said, "Their courage, their commitment, their bravery is stunning … I'm proud to be here" POTUS ignored shouted questions and pool was escorted at 11:49 am From the White House: The President is participating in a restricted bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel: U.S. Manifest Israel Manifest Greeting the President upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport: H.E. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel — Traveling with the President via motorcade: Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State |
| October 18, 2023 11:59 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #8: POTUS quote on Gaza hospital Here is the full quote on the Gaza hospital explosion: "The point is, is that I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you, but there's a lot of people out there not sure, so we've got a lot—we've got to overcome a lot of things." Thanks to Kevin Liptak of CNN for his help |
| October 18, 2023 13:20 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #9: pool gathering for war cabinet meeting pool spray The pool is gathered outside a different hotel ballroom ahead of Biden's meeting with the war cabinet. We are expecting to go in shortly. |
| October 18, 2023 14:05 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #10: war cabinet pool spray As the pool waited to enter the meeting, a number of officials, including the Israeli police commissioner, arrived for POTUS' subsequent meeting with first responders and victims' relatives. Netanyahu also walked by the pool as he left his first meeting with Biden. Pool was escorted into the ballroom at 1:53 p.m. POTUS and Netanyahu were seated at the front of the room, flanked by aides. A full list of attendees is below. Biden made no further remarks regarding his earlier comments about who was behind the explosion at the hospital in Gaza. Please check quotes against transcript Bibi spoke first: "This will be a different kind of war because Hamas is a different kind of enemy." "Hamas wants to kill as many Israelis as possible" "As we proceed in this war, Israel will do everything it can to keep civilians out of harms way." "The road to victory will be long and hard" Biden spoke next: Called Hamas's attack "brutal" and "almost beyond belief" "I want you to know you're not alone… we will continue to have Israel's back as you work to defend your people" "We will continue to work with you and partners across the region to prevent more tragedy" "The United States stands with you in defense of that freedom" Pool was escorted out at 1:58 p.m. as Biden ignored questions from the press From the White House: The President is participating in an expanded bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Israeli government officials: U.S. Manifest Israel Manifest |
| October 18, 2023 15:02 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #11: pool holding The pool is holding as Biden continues to meet with Israel's war cabinet. Biden's next meeting will be a community engagement event with first responders and families of victims. We do not have guidance on timing. |
| October 18, 2023 15:45 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #12: Gathering for community engagement Pool is gathered outside another hotel ballroom ahead POTUS engagement with first responders and victims' families. We are expected to enter shortly. |
| October 18, 2023 16:06 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #13: POTUS community engagement event and quote on Gaza hospital flagging at the top here- POTUS was asked as pool was leaving what makes you sure Israel wasn't behind explosion in Gaza? He said, "The data I was shown by my defense department" Pool was escorted into the hotel ballroom at 3:46 as POTUS was already in conversation. "God love ya," POTUS told one survivor of the Hamas attacks. He also met a young woman who saved people on her kibbutz and hugged her after hearing her story through a translator At one point, your pooler heard POTUS recounting the story of when his wife and children were injured in a car accident. POTUS was whispering very softly though, so we could not make out the conversation. It was quite difficult to hear POTUS' conversation so you might have better access to quotes from the TV feed. Please check quotes against transcript Blinken: "I've had the opportunity to meet so many Israelis over the last few days … I've heard the stories. I've heard about the lives lost and changed forever." "What I've found is a nation united" "We're here to make sure you're able to defend yourself" "It's so hard for any of us to process" POTUS then spoke, quoting an Irish poet "None of your hearts have turned to stone yet" "I remember the first time I was in Israel with Golda Meir… and she was telling me how terrible everything was and it was" "She said don't worry. We need have a secret weapon .. we have no place else to go" "If there weren't an Israel, we'd have to invent one" "You don't have to be Jewish to be a Zionist" "I think the safety and security worldwide is anchored … in Israel" "A lot more to say but I'd like to talk to you privately" Pool escorted out at 4:02 p.m From the White House: The President is participating in a community engagement to meet with Israeli first responders, family members and other citizens directly impacted or involved in the response to the October 7 terrorist attacks. Background on community engagement participants Doron Almog, recipient of the Israel Prize and the Chairperson of the Jewish Agency, which is helping house displaced persons from the Gaza periphery. Mr. Almog also lost two family members and had another four abducted on October 7. Dr. Jordanna Hadas Koppel, a pediatrician originally from New York, who serves a diverse patient population. She was among the first to treat wounded children at the Emergency Room in Sheba Hospital on October 7. Inbal Lieberman, a 25-year-old woman who, as head of security, helped to organize the successful defense of her kibbutz located just 500 meters from the Gaza fence line. David (Dudi) Zalmanovich, a lawyer and entrepreneur who was inspired to establish an information and advocacy center for Israeli families of individuals presumed held hostage by Hamas, after his daughter barely escaped the Nova Festival massacre. Eli Beer, Founder of United Hatzalah of Israel, a fully volunteer emergency medical service, treating injured wherever they are. Eli is also President of the U.S.-based Friends of United Hatzalah. Rachel Edri, a retired grandmother from Ofakim who was held hostage at gunpoint in her home for 20 hours by Hamas terrorists, and used food and conversation to keep them calm and stall them until their capture. Evyatar Edri, Rachel Edri's son who is a policeman and worked with the SWAT team to free his parents from captivity. General (Ret.) Noam Tibon, who drove south to save his son, Amir, and many others on their Kibbutz, as well as other families and soldiers on the way. Amir Tibon, son of Noam Tibon who survived the Hamas terrorist attack on his Kibbutz on October 7. Mohammad Darawshe, Director of Strategy at the Givat Haviva Center for Shared Society, an organization that works to bridge the gap between Israel's Jewish and Arab citizens. His cousin Awad Darawshe was an Arab-Israeli paramedic who died while saving lives at the Nova Festival on October 7. Professor Yifat Bitton, the President of Achva Academic College (a university with a mixed Jewish and Arab student body) and a Fulbright alumna, who lost two members of her family on October 7. Captain Maor Farid, Co-founder and CEO of Israeli startup Leo AI and former postdoc Fulbright researcher at MIT, who on the first day of the war put his career on pause and volunteered to return to active duty with the IDF. Duby Weissenstern, CEO of ZAKA, a voluntary organization committed to responding to terror attacks and mass casualty events all over the world, including the United States. Eyal Waldman, a business leader and philanthropist whose daughter was killed on October 7. The good he has done for Palestinian people by boosting tech sector employment opportunities stands in stark contrast to the dark world view of Hamas. |
| October 18, 2023 16:41 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #14: pool gathered for POTUS remarks The pool was brought into another hotel ballroom ahead of POTUS remarks. There is a single lectern set up in front of American and Israeli flags. |
| October 18, 2023 16:53 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #15: Biden-Herzog meeting From the White House: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and President Issac Herzog met today in Israel. The President reiterated the importance of the deep friendship between the two countries, and underscored the United States' unwavering support for Israel in face of Hamas' terrorism. |
| October 18, 2023 17:05 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #16: two-minute warning for Biden speech White House says Biden's speech will begin in two minutes You can follow along here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/ |
| October 18, 2023 17:07 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #17: Biden speech begins Biden entered the ballroom here at 5:06 p.m. |
| October 18, 2023 17:23 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #18: Biden speech ends POTUS ended his remarks at 5:22 and walked out of the room, ignoring questions from reporters. Pool is moving |
| October 18, 2023 18:08 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #19: Arrival at airport The motorcade started rolling from the hotel at 5:45 p.m. After an uneventful ride, the motorcade arrived at the airport at 6:06 p.m. For security reasons, White House officials asked your pool to not send reports until we reached the airport. |
| October 18, 2023 18:17 IDT |
Travel Pool Report #20: departure from Israel POTUS exited the Beast at 6:14 p.m. and greeted U.S. and Israeli officials before boarding AF1 at 6:15. He did not stop to talk to reporters. We are expected to be wheels up shortly for a refueling stop in Germany. From the White House: In attendance for the President's remarks on the October 7 terrorist attacks and the resilience of the State of Israel and its people: U.S. delegation members and staff, Embassy staff, and Israeli community members. Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to Joint Base Andrews: Secretary Antony Blinken, Department of State |
| October 18, 2023 21:15 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #21: wheels down at Ramstein AF1 was wheels down at Ramstein Air Base at 9:11 p.m. local time for a refueling stop. |
| October 18, 2023 22:24 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #22: Biden talking to reporters on AF1 POTUS made an unexpected visit to the press cabin during the refuel stop at Ramstein to provide updates about his conversations with President Sisi POTUS said Sisi agreed to open up Rafah gate to allow up to 20 trucks of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. "If Hamas confiscates them or doesn't let it get through … then it's going to end" "The bottom line is Sisi deserves a lot of credit" More quotes coming |
| October 18, 2023 22:33 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #23: More POTUS quotes More quotes from POTUS on AF1 … please check against transcript On Sisi: "He was completely cooperative … He stepped up as did Bibi" "Israel has been badly victimized but the truth is they have an opportunity to relieve suffering of people who have nowhere to go … it's what they should do" Biden said his argument to the leaders about humanitarian assistance was "If you have an opportunity to alleviate the pain, you should do it" "We're going to get people out" but wouldn't share details of how "I was very blunt about the need to get humanitarian aid to Gaza" "We had a long talk about that and what the alternatives are" re: Israeli ground invasion or Gaza "I got no pushback" from all the partners about humanitarian assistance On Jim Jordan: "I ache for him," he said but had not further comment On hospital explosion, he said he understand why some across the region are skeptical: "I don't say things like that unless I have faith in the source I got it … our defense department says it's highly unlikely it's the Israelis" |
| October 18, 2023 22:43 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #24: AF1 rolling AF1 is rolling at Ramstein Air Base at 10:42 p.m.. We are working on trying to get audio from Biden's gaggle to folks on the ground as we will lose service shortly. |
| October 18, 2023 22:45 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #25: audio of Biden remarks Thanks to Tam Keith for this file. This occurred on AF1 while we were at Ramstein Air Base before taking off |
| October 19, 2023 00:20 EDT |
Travel Pool Report #26: wheels down at JBA + security briefing AF1 was wheels down at JBA at 12:14 a.m. We had no visitors to the press cabin after POTUS gaggle at Ramstein. Now that we are back in Washington, I can share: During the flight to Israel, White House advance staff briefed the reporters traveling with the president on what to do if air raid sirens went off. They went through several possible scenarios, but none of the actions were necessary, as we did not hear any sirens during the president's time on the ground in Israel. |
| October 19, 2023 00:29 CEST |
Travel Pool Report #27: JBA arrival POTUS walked down the stairs of AF1 at 12:24 wearing a blue zip-up jacket, jeans and a hat. Your pool could not make out if any logo was on the hat. He waved to the press and entered the Beast at 12:25. The motorcade was rolling at 12:27, and with that, I hand it over to the in town pool. My thanks to all the co-poolers for their help throughout the trip. |
Pool Reports below by Jess Bidgood, The Boston Globe
| Sent: | Reports: |
| October 18, 2023 16:03 EDT |
in-town pool report #1 -- call time is now 9p Good afternoon, I'm your pooler today. We have a call time of 9p. I'll be in touch with updates later on. |
| October 18, 2023 | [APP Note: Based on the numbering of the report below, presumably there exists a Report #2a which was not received by the APP.] |
| October 18, 2023 17:59 EDT |
in-town pool report #2b: link to audio file Hi all, here is an Otter link to the audio file of POTUS aboard AF1 at Ramstein we received earlier from the travel pool. https://otter.ai/u/1ARZlNwP1BtA95Spl1ac-efEJ18?utm_source=copy_url |
| October 18, 2023 19:40 EDT |
in-town pool report #3: call time is now 10p [APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.] |
| October 18, 2023 22:29 EDT |
in-town pool report #4: checking in, gathering Good evening, Pool is at the White House, where we are gathering at the stakeout location to load up the vans. It's a clear autumn evening. |
| October 19, 2023 00:32 EDT |
in-town pool note #5: Rolling from JBA Good evening from Joint Base Andrews, where it is now 10/19 but your 10/18 pool reports continue. AF1 landed at 12:14a, and POTUS deplaned at 12:24a, wearing a dark baseball cap. The motorcade began rolling from JBA at 12:27a. The White House sends along this additional information: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the White House: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| October 19, 2023 00:55 EDT |
in-town pool report #6: lid Hello, The motorcade arrived at the White House at 12:51a after an uneventful drive from JBA. Your pooler was not able to see POTUS go inside. The White House called a lid at 12:53a. Good night! |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of October 18, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/367287