Pool Reports of February 26, 2024

In-town pool report #1: gathering

Hey all — I'm your in-town pooler for today.

We are gathering now at the Palm Room Doors for Biden's south lawn departure.

In-town pool report#2: no questions

President Biden exited the White House at 12:25 p.m.

He did not take any questions from the press and boarded Marine One on the South Lawn at 12:27 p.m.

Marine One took off at 12:31 p.m.

I'll see you back here later tonight for the president's return.

In-town pool report #3: traveling with the president

Passing along from the WH

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications

In-town pool report #4: AF1 gaggle

Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle aboard Air Force One at 1:15pm

you can tune in here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

In-town pool report #5: gathering for M1 arrival

We are gathering for POTUS' south lawn arrival. He is ahead of schedule.

In-town pool report #6: no questions

President Biden stepped off of Marine One onto the South Lawn at 7:48 p.m. and walked into the White House at 7:49. He did not stop to take any questions.

In-town pool report #7: lid

Called at 8:15 p.m.

Goodnight!

Out of town pool report #1 - M1 at JBA

Hi all,

Greetings from a sunny and nearly warm JBA. I'm your out of town pooler for today's trip to NYC, with the current schedule featuring a campaign meeting at 2.45pm.

Marine One touched down at JBA at 12.38pm and POTUS, wearing a blue suit and tie and and aviators exited at 12.42pm. He did not respond to a question about whether he would meet migrants at the border on his trip to Texas on Thursday, and boarded AF1 at 12.43pm using the short stairs. We are due to be wheels up shortly for JFK.

Karine Jean-Pierre is scheduled to gaggle during the flight at 1.15pm, which you can watch here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=05Z5H1_d19A

The WH passes along the following regarding travellers:

Traveling with the President aboard Air Force One en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach

Out of town pool report #2 - JFK arrival / gaggle

AF1 was wheels down at a sunny JFK at 1.35pm. POTUS deplaned at 1.52pm, waved to the pool, then boarded M1.

During the brief gaggle on the short AF1 flight, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gave opening statements on the Alabama SC decision on embryos, POTUS trip to Texas, and welcomed the Hungarian Parliament approval of Sweden NATO membership. Please listen to the recording on YouTube for more or reach out.

Jean-Pierre answered questions on subjects including the Middle East, the Ukraine supplemental and the Texas trip, and condemned former President Trump's comments comparing his indictments to the discrimination faced by Black Americans. She wouldn't comment on Trump also visiting Texas on Thursday. And wouldn't confirm reports that POTUS will record a show with late night host Seth Meyers while in New York today.

Pool now heading for helicopters for journey to Wall Street landing zone

Passing along from the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to the Wall Street Landing Zone:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications

Out of town pool report #3 - Wall St and motorcade

Marine One was wheels down at the Wall Street Landing Zone at 2.13pm. POTUS descended and walked the few steps to the Beast, saluting waiting military personnel. Motorcade is now rolling through NYC.

Passing on from WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach

Out of town pool report #4

Motorcade arrived at 2.32 pm at the Intercontinental Barclay hotel where POTUS's closed press campaign meeting is taking place, after a short drive that took us past the Trump World Tower.

Numerous people lining route taking photos. Pooler did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Pool is now holding in a hotel conference room.

Out of town pool report #5 - Campaign meeting

Passing along from the WH:

On Behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign:

The President is participating in a campaign meeting.

Out of town pool report #6 - 30 Rock

The motorcade left the Intercontinental Barclay at 3.40pm and arrived at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, home to broadcaster NBC, about two minutes later. Pool again did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Pool was ushered through the black marble lobby to elevators, and then to a small holding room with a television showing the logo of Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Out of town pool report #7 - POTUS on Seth Meyers

Passing on from the WH:

The President has arrived at 30 Rock for a surprise appearance on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers. Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the show, and then-Vice President Biden appeared on its first episode in February 2014.

Out of town pool report #8 - Color from studio

Photo pool and one print pooler were briefly allowed into the studio where POTUS was filming his appearance with Seth Meyers during a commercial break. Biden, sitting in a grey armchair next to Meyers' desk, against a brick backdrop with a picture of a nighttime New York skyline, smiled for photographers, while fellow guest and comedian Amy Poehler stood next to him. Pooler was kept at a distance on the other side of the darkened studio, behind a bank of television cameras. The lively audience cheered at one point near the end of the commercial break.

Out of town pool report #9 - Ceasefire news / Ice cream

Biden made an unannounced visit to the Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor, next door to 30 Rock, led in at 5.32 pm by Seth Meyers.

More to come but he notably answered a question on when a Gaza ceasefire could start. 'I hope by the end of the weekend…
My national security advisor tells me that we're close, we're close, we're not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we'll have a ceasefire.'

Out of town pool report #10 - quote on Trump in Texas, more ice cream

Biden chose a mint chip ice cream. He said he 'had a little cash' and (apparently) jokingly asked if any members of the pool wanted an ice cream too.

Asked by pool why he had decided to visit Texas on Thursday he replied: 'I planned it for Thursday, what I didn't know was that my good friend apparently is going' — an apparent reference to Donald Trump.

Asked if he would meet migrants, he replied: 'I'm not going to announce ahead of time.'

Three female staff members were waiting for
him behind the glass and marble counter of the shop, which is decorated in pastel pink with mirrored metal, and advertises a couple of dozen flavors plus various sundaes.

Biden also briefly talked to seven customers holding ice creams in the shop, who were already holding ice creams. Most of what he said to them was not immediately audible, so pls wait for a transcript.

Pool was then ushered out and motorcade moving as of 5.48pm.

Out of town pool report #11 - wall st landing zone

Motorcade arrived Wall St landing zone at 18.07. Pool rushed to helicopters without seeing POTUS board M1. Now lifting to JFK

Out of town pool report #12 - JFK

Marine One touched down at a dark and chilly JFK at 6.29pm. POTUS disembarked three minutes later and walked to AF1 with a wave but no words for the pool. We will be wheels up shortly, bound for JBA.

Forwarding these two WH notes on travelers.

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport:

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications

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

Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Ben LaBolt, Assistant to the President & Director of Communications
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Christian Tom, Assistant to the President & Director of Digital Strategy
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Herbie Ziskend, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Communications

Out of town pool report #13 - JBA

AF1 was wheels down at JBA at 7.19pm.

POTUS deplaned at 7.29pm with a salute from the top of the short stairs, then headed direct to M1, which lifted off at 7.35pm for the White House.

A final out of town pool report will follow at 12.30am with material and quotes from POTUS's appearance on Seth Meyers.

But for POTUS himself, am handing over to the in-town pool. Have a nice evening

Out of town pool report #14 - Biden quotes from Seth Meyers appearance

Pool was able to watch live feed of POTUS on Seth Meyers, with content embargoed until 12.30 am (now clear to use). The first part was lighthearted, the second part featured answers including on age, Ukraine and Israel. Including commercial break, Biden's appearance lasted 20 minutes.

:: Segment began with Meyers and Amy Poehler talking about when Biden appeared as VP in first show in 2014. Meyers said they tried to get him for the 10th anniversary but "obviously he's got a bigger job now so he was unavailable". Poehler replies "Oh, I could get him" and then says "Hey, Mr President?" The show's band played "Hail to the Chief" as Biden walked out. He pretended to walk the wrong way, then went to shake a band member's hand, before coming back to shake hands with Meyers and hug Poehler. The audience stood, applauded and cheered. During the show they laughed along with most of his jokes.

Meyers: "Welcome back, Mr. President." POTUS: "It's good to be back. Why haven't you invited me earlier?"

Meyers mentions the "Dark Brandon" meme and says Biden appears to enjoy it. POTUS says "No, I resent the hell out of it," then puts on his dark aviator sunglasses and smiles. Meyers asks Biden if he can confirm the Taylor Swift-Superbowl conspiracy theory. POTUS: "Where are you getting this information? It's classified."

:: After the commercial break, Meyers and Biden joke about him being 81 – Biden says "who the hell told you that? It's classified" – then Meyers says that "all jokes aside, according to recent polling, this is a real concern for American voters".

POTUS: "Number one, you got to take a look at the other guy, he's about as old as I am. But he can't remember his wife's name." (this references a section earlier in the show where Meyers shows a video of Trump apparently calling his wife Melania 'Mercedes'). This line got laughter and cheers.

"Number two, it's about how old your ideas are. Look, I mean, this is a guy who wants to take us back. He wants to take us back on Roe v. Wade. He wants to take us back on a whole range of issues."

Meyers then asked about Ukraine aid being blocked in Congress. POTUS: "How in God's name -- the idea that the President of the United States is inviting Vladimir Putin to invade Eastern -- Western countries?". Biden added that foreign leaders were "scared to death" of what it would mean if the United States was to "walk away."

Meyers asked about the Israel-Gaza war and POTUS gave some detail on short-term and mid-term plans.

POTUS: "There is a path forward, with difficulty… the hostages being held must be released. And then we've got a -- and it's a principle in agreement (sic) -- there'll be a ceasefire while that takes place.

"Ramadan's coming up and there's been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out.

"That gives us time to begin to move in directions that a lot of Arab countries are prepared to move in", saying Saudi, Jordan, Egypt and six other countries were ready to recognize Israel.

Biden said that he was a Zionist but the "only way Israel ultimately survives… here's the deal, they also have to make up, take advantage of an opportunity to have peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians who are being used as pawns by Hamas."

"I think that if we get that temporary ceasefire, we're going to be able to move in a direction where we can change the dynamic."

On Rafah, said Israelis "made a commitment to me they're going see to it that there's the ability to evacuate significant portions of Rafah before they go and take out the remainder of Hamas."

On current Israeli government: "If it keeps us up without this incredibly conservative government they have and Ben-Gvir and others… they're going to lose support from around the world."