Pool Reports by Katie Rogers, The New York Times
| Sent: | Reports: |
| November 16, 2023 11:00 PST |
Travel pool report #1: En route to APEC Good morning from San Francisco. It is nice-ish out: 64 and cloudy. Motorcade is en route from the president's RON to the George R. Moscone Convention Center in downtown SF. We are rolling at 10:59 a.m. No glimpse of POTUS from our vantage point in the motorcade. If you need a reminder, today's schedule is below. Obviously, we are running behind. PST 9:00 AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing 9:30 AM Out-of-Town Pool Call Time 10:45 AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the APEC CEO Summit 12:05 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a family photo with APEC economies and guest economies 12:15 PM THE PRESIDENT hosts an APEC Informal Dialogue and Working Lunch 3:30 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks and participates in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework family photo 7:45 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host Heads of Delegation for the APEC Dinner |
| November 16, 2023 11:05 PST |
Travel pool report #2: Arrival at Moscone After a very bumpy ride through the city, motorcade pulled up at the convention center at 11:03 a.m. Plenty of people along the route filmed the motorcade on their phones. Plenty of demonstrators too, waving signs that said "CCP Virus" and "Human Rights for Vietnam." Pooler did not see any directed at Biden. POTUS is due to speak shortly. From the WH: Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the George R. Moscone Convention Center: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| November 16, 2023 11:22 PST |
Travel pool report #3: APEC CEO summit remarks begin POTUS began speaking at the APEC CEO summit at 11:20 a.m. and took a little mini jog to the podium. The event is being live-streamed on the White House website so will not be sending quotes, but will send any news or color. Before he was due to speak, there was a small scuffle over attendees who got too close to the V.I.P. area at the front of the room. There are several rows of empty seats in the back. Also, the WH added something to the schedule later today: In the afternoon, the President will participate in a trilateral photo with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. This event at the George R. Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco, California will have an out-of-town pool spray. 4:10 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a trilateral photo with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan |
| November 16, 2023 11:42 PST |
Travel pool report #4: Remarks over POTUS speech finished at 11:41 a.m. A line about agreeing to resume military-to-military communications with China "to reduce the risk of miscalculation" drew a round of applause. "We have real differences with Beijing," POTUS said, including around the issue of intellectual property. "We are going to continue to address them with smart policies and strong diplomacy." "This is not all kumbaya, but it's straightforward." We are moving. |
| November 16, 2023 11:52 PST |
Travel pool report #5: Motorcade to APEC family photo location Motorcade rolled from 11:48 to 11:51 am to another building at the convention center for an APEC family photo. |
| November 16, 2023 12:03 PST |
Travel pool report #5a: Color At one point during his CEO speech, POTUS gave up on pronouncing a company name while rattling off a list of AI corporations. It came after he named the Anthropic company. Not sure which company he tried to pronounce, will ask. "It's better not to try and not mispronounce," he said with a smile, which drew laughs. Pool was accidentally ushered past an entryway reserved for arriving dignitaries, much to the annoyance of organizers, now we are heading to the family photo location. |
| November 16, 2023 12:36 PST |
Travel pool report #6: Family photo, Pelosi q At 12:29 pm the leaders were ushered onto the stage in a choreographed pair of lines. POTUS was in the front middle, and Xi stood four people down the row to the president's right, next to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. Everyone smiled. The music was was turned up as reporters were ushered out but someone shouted a question. Mr. President, the Pelosi attacker was found guilty. Your reaction?" a TV producer shouted over the jaunty music. POTUS flashed a thumbs up just before he disappeared from sight. The whole thing lasted less than a minute. We are moving to the next event which is a planning lunch. |
| November 16, 2023 12:37 PST |
Travel pool report #6a: Family photo attendees Per WH: The President is participating in a family photo with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies and guest economies. APEC Leaders: |
| November 16, 2023 | [APP Note: Report #7 does not exist or was not received by the APP.] |
| November 16, 2023 13:22 PST |
Travel pool report #8: POTUS call to DNC meeting Per WH: "Today, the President and First Lady called into a DNC and campaign staff meeting. They expressed appreciation to law enforcement who kept everyone inside the DNC safe last night, including staff and Members of Congress. The President and First Lady also thanked the staffers for all they do, wished them a happy Thanksgiving, and told them to take care of each other." |
| November 16, 2023 16:44 PST |
Travel pool report #9: Delayed We are waiting for the next event which was supposed to start at 3:30 pm. No update on when it might start but we are holding in the room for more remarks and a photo. |
| November 16, 2023 16:45 PST |
Travel pool report #10: Indo-Pacific Economic Framework remarks/photo As soon as I sent that pool report the leaders walked out at 4:44 pm. "Sorry to keep you waiting, it's my fault," he said. Like the earlier remarks, this event is being live streamed on the White House website, I'll send any top lines or color. |
| November 16, 2023 16:49 PST |
Travel pool report #10a: Attendees Per WH: The President is delivering remarks and participating in a family photo with Indo-Pacific Economic Framework leaders. Participants: Speaking Program: |
| November 16, 2023 17:04 PST |
Travel pool report #11: Event ends Event ended at 5 pm. POTUS spoke and so did the leaders of Japan, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia. POTUS did not answer a few shouted questions. Moving to the next photo with POTUS, President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. |
| November 16, 2023 17:11 PST |
Travel pool report #12: Photo The photo came and went at 5:08 pm. POTUS did not respond to shouted questions about the CR and about an update on hostages. We are now heading back to the motorcade. |
| November 16, 2023 17:44 PST |
Travel pool report #13: Rolling Motorcade is rolling at 5:42 pm. The Beast rolled by the press van. POTUS was looking at his phone. |
| November 16, 2023 17:52 PST |
Travel pool report #14: Hotel Motorcade pulled up to POTUS hotel at 5:48 pm. We will be here briefly before next event. |
| November 16, 2023 18:37 PST |
Travel pool report #15: Rolling to APEC dinner Motorcade is rolling for the Legion of Honor Museum at 6:37 pm. It is starting to rain. |
| November 16, 2023 18:53 PST |
Travel pool report #16: Arrival Motorcade arrived at the museum in pouring rain at 6:51 pm. Along the route several people, including children, brandished American flags and cheered. We saw a very enthusiastic group holding a Biden-Harris sign too. |
| November 16, 2023 20:17 PST |
Travel pool report #17: Dinner/POTUS toast Pool was brought into the dinner location at the tail end of an arrivals ceremony at 8:16 pm. The event with POTUS remarks is being live streamed on the White House website. |
| November 16, 2023 20:34 PST |
Travel pool report #18: Toast At 8:21 pm the pool was brought into the dinner. We were ushered out at 8:25 am. For his toast, the president stood up and said: "We had a great day, great meetings today … But tonight it's about breaking bread together and we know one another a little better after tonight." He quoted an Irish poet, but not his favorite. (You know the one.) He quoted Eavan Boland, a Dublin-born poet who taught at Stanford, whom he said wrote: "Remind us again now that history changes, that it belongs to us, it belongs to all of us." POTUS told the group that history will be written in the Indo-Pacific in the years to come and raised a glass to "possibilities of all we can do together." Color - The dinner was held in a tent in a large courtyard of the museum, and with the rain, it was pretty drafty inside. The dinner group was seated at a long table on one far side of the courtyard. Pool did not see Xi but his name was listed on the attendee list given by the White House. There was an orchestra. And a note: The president mentioned at an earlier event that he was late because he had a phone call. The White House has nothing to share on that call. Per the WH - The President and the First Lady are hosting Heads of Delegation and spouses for the APEC Dinner. Attendees Mr. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, China Speaking Program |
| November 16, 2023 22:31 PST |
Travel pool report #19: Departing dinner Motorcade is headed for RON at 10:30 pm. No glimpse of POTUS. |
| November 16, 2023 22:47 PST |
Travel pool report #20: Arrival at RON / LID Motorcade arrived back at 10:44 pm. No glimpse of POTUS and we have a lid. NIGHT! |
Pool Reports below by Lalit K Jha, Press Trust of India
| Sent: | Reports: |
| November 16, 2023 11:01 PST |
Foreign Pool Report #1 Hi, I am your foreign pooler for the day. The pool van is now on the move. Here is some useful background info Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum are meeting in San Francisco this week for the 30th APEC Leadership Summit being hosted by the US and Chaired by President Joe Biden. The last (29th) APEC Leadership Summit was held in November 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Peru would host the next APEC Leadership Summit in 2024. US is hosting the APEC summit for the first time since 20011 APEC members account for 62 percent of the Global GDP and almost half of global trade. Its members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, S Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, US, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia and Vietnam. India, a major economy, is not part of APEC. President Biden had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend this year's APEC Leadership Summit. India is being represented by its Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Theme: "Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All". Key Priorities: interconnected, innovative, and inclusive Three pillars of engagement: 1. Digital Pacific pillar to expand access to digital connectivity. According to Ambassador Matt Murray, United States' Senior Official for APEC: "Hosting APEC this year provides the United States with the opportunity to shape trade policies and drive economic growth in a vibrant Asia-Pacific region, which represents nearly 40 percent of the world's population, almost half of global trade and over 60 percent of the global economy. According to the APEC Secretariat: The leaders are expected to establish a strategic agenda and regional goals for the next year. Major EVENTS of the DAY 1. POTUS will deliver remarks at the APEC CEO Summit. 10.45 am PST LIVE Watch all these events LIVE HERE. Some quotes / useful information from / about Participating leaders Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan: "I'll use this opportunity to voice Japan's position on pressing issues such as the promotion of free and open trade and the digital economy, as well as (addressing) climate change." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia: "Australia's participation at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting signals our enduring commitment to strengthening regional economic cooperation and growth. This year's theme focuses on resiliency, sustainability and inclusion—all key priorities of the Australian Government. Engagement with APEC partners is critical for seizing the opportunities to create the jobs of the future, to expand our economic growth, and to take advantage of our location – on the doorstep of the fastest growing region in human history." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada: "When we open up new markets for Canadian goods and innovation, and make sure the world can invest in Canada, we deliver real results for the middle class. I look forward to meeting with North and South American and Asia-Pacific counterparts to address economic, environmental, and social opportunities and challenges that shape the region and beyond. By working together we will create new opportunities for our workers and businesses, make progress in the fight against climate change, and drive economic growth that works for everyone." Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: Who is also the Finance Minister, is set to take the opportunity to share Malaysia's priorities and principles under the MADANI Economy framework, emphasising inclusivity, sustainable development, and cooperation for shared prosperity at the meeting. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr of Philippines: As member economies of APEC, we are accountable to our people and future generations to deliver sustained growth and prosperity, and while signs point to darker clouds, this opportunity to collaborate once more is light in the economic horizon in our efforts to pre-empt a prolonged downturn and its very negative consequences. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore: Prime Minister Lee will also hold bilateral meetings with other APEC Leaders on the sidelines of the AELM. In addition to the APEC-related programme, Prime Minister Lee will meet Governor of California Gavin Newsom, and business leaders from prominent US companies, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and others. Prime Minister Lee will also launch Enterprise Singapore's San Francisco Overseas Centre and meet Singaporeans residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. President XI Jinping of China at the APEC CEO summit: We jointly developed "the APEC Approach" based on the principles of voluntarism, consensus-building and incremental progress, and we respect the right to development of all members. President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea: "I will urge the member economies to work together in the spirit of stronger solidarity and cooperation to advance trade and investment liberalization, innovation and digitalization as well as inclusive and sustainable growth," (In an interview to AP): President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam at APEC CEO's Summit: Stressed the need to ensure reciprocity between economic growth and social justice and environmental protection; maintain an open, connected world economy in tandem with ensuring the economic security of countries; ensure that the global governance of technology aims not only to manage the development of various types of technologies, but also to address socio-economic-cultural-political consequences from this process; and prioritize resources for sustainable and inclusive development goals. President Gabriel Boric of Chile: The president will also participate in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, where he will speak alongside leaders from the United States, China, Canada, Mexico and Vietnam. In addition, he will lead an activity with COPEC Wind Ventures, a business project accelerator focused on promoting innovation in sectors such as energy and mobility. He will also hold meetings with prominent Chileans residing in San Francisco, as well as authorities such as the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand: Issues to be put forward by Thailand at the APEC Leaders' Meeting 2023 include trade and investment, FTAs, infrastructure connectivity, land bridge project which will connect the Pacific and Indian Oceans, people-to-people connectivity through tourism, sustainability, digital economy and e-commerce, innovations, inclusivity and equity, poverty eradication, and disparity reduction. Thailand will also emphasize building on the momentum of the Bangkok Goals, and reaffirm its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero by 2065. Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea: At a news conference he stated that this year is particularly important as Leaders meet under the Policy Theme of "Creating Resilient and Sustainable future for all" which is fitting at a time when new and emerging trends such as Climate change, Post COVID, the advent of digital era is NOT only posing huge challenges and opportunities for APEC economies but changing the global architecture of trade. |
| November 16, 2023 11:03 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 2 from WH Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the George R. Moscone Convention Center: Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs |
| November 16, 2023 12:34 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 3 POTUS and leaders of APEC 2023 San Francisco summit started arriving for the group photo at 12.28 pm PST. They posed for a group picture. The pool was rushed out at 12.30 pm The President is participating in a family photo with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies and guest economies. APEC Leaders: |
| November 16, 2023 13:34 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 4 THis afternoon, POTUS hosted an Asia-Pacific Economic Partnership (APEC) informal dialogue and working lunch with APEC economies and guest economies. POTUS was seated between PM Anthony Albanese of Australia and President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam. Please see the list of participants provided by WH below. Pool was inside the room only during the duration of POTUS 'speech, which was streamed live. The pool was stationed inside the room for more than 10 minutes before POTUS's arrival. The leaders were seated around a circular table. Some of the leaders were seen chatting with others and exchanging greetings, including PM Trudeau of Canada, Prime Minister Albanese of Australia. Special Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry was seated next to guest leader Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister of India. The two were seen having some conversations for quite some time. Before he took his seat, Special Envoy Kerry was seen talking to several other world leaders including with Trudeau. President Xi of China was seated between Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, China and President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile. Interestingly, your pooler did not see him interacting with any leader present in the room, during the duration the pool was inside. Trudeau was seated between Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam and President Gabriel Boric Font of Chile. U.S. Participants: APEC Leaders: Guest Leaders: |
| November 16, 2023 17:08 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 5 IPEF remarks and photo A little before 4 pm PST, the pool entered the room to capture a family photo with Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) leaders and remarks from POTUS. Leaders along with POTUS took the stage at 4.43 pm. They posed for a group picture. POTUS them spoke for about five minutes. Followed by leaders from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. All of them talked about the significance of IPEF and agreements reached today by IPEF countries The event was streamed live and concluded at 5 pm PST Background: IPEF is an economic initiative launched by Pres Biden in Tokyo on May 23, 2022. The 14 partners of IPEF include the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Useful information: |
| November 16, 2023 17:12 PST |
Foreign Pool Report US, Japan and S Korea trilateral At 5.08 pm PST, the pool was taken for a trilateral photo with President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. The three leaders posed for a group pictures. POTUS did not respond to a shouted question on hostages Background: Initiated by POTUS, leaders of Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), had their last trilateral this summer at Camp David on August 18. Useful Information: PM Kishida of Japan met with S Korean Prez Yoon from 10:58 am to 11:31 am PST. Both the leaders will make joint remarks at Stanford on Friday. |
| November 16, 2023 17:08 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 6 The President is delivering remarks and participating in a family photo with Indo-Pacific Economic Framework leaders. Participants: Speaking Program: |
| November 16, 2023 | [APP Note: Report #7 does not exist or was not received by the APP.] |
| November 16, 2023 20:47 PST |
Foreign Pool Report # 8 Around 8.20 pm, the pool was ushered into a well decorated tent where the APEC leaders were seated around a long table, with POTUS in the center. The POTUS soon offered a toast saying "together we can harness the power of the Pacific, to grow our economies, to uplift our workers, protect our planet and connect our people to one another in the future, greater prosperity...." (pls check against official transcript) Hopes and aspirations have brought us together, POTUS said. POTUS said: Please join me in raising your glass, to our people, to our Pacific, possibilities..... The pool was rushed out at 8:24 pm From WH: The President and the First Lady are hosting Heads of Delegation and spouses for the APEC Dinner. Attendees Speaking Program |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Pool Reports of November 16, 2023 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/367906