Pool Reports of February 28, 2024

White House Pool Report No. 1 - surprise departure

Good morning from the White House where it's spitting rain and a spring-like 61 degrees.

Pool has been called to gather at the Palm Room doors for a surprise departure, location TBA.

More TK.

White House Pool Report No. 2 - POTUS departs/physical

POTUS exited the residence at 9:02 to an awaiting Marine One.

"I'm going to Walter Reed to get my physical," he said as reporters shouted questions at him.

He was boarded at 9:02 a.m.

White House Pool Report No. 3 - additional details on physical

From the White House -

This morning, the President will travel to Walter Reed Medical Center for his routine annual physical.

Later today, the White House will publicly release a written summary of the President's physical.

Traveling with the President on Marine One en route Walter Reed National Medical Center:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff

Marine One was wheels up at 9:06 a.m. Handing things over to the supplemental pool.

White House Pool Report No. 4 - crime event begins

Pool was escorted into the State Dining Room at 1:31 p.m. Attendees are seated along the sides of two large rectangular tables. Two screens that say "Safer America" are set up behind the president's podium.

The president entered at 1:52 p.m. He walked in with Detroit police chief James White. Biden worked the room, making sure to shake hands and greet all the police chiefs.

White kicked off the program with Biden standing alongside him.

The event is livestreamed on the White House site so I'll just be sending color.

From the White House:

The President is delivering remarks on his actions to fight crime and make our communities safer.

Administration Participants
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Steve Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Tom Perez, Senior Advisor & Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Stef Feldman, Assistant to the President & Staff Secretary & Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Jenny Yang, Deputy Assistant to the President for Racial Justice and Equity
Tyeesha Dixon, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Counsel to the President
Greg Jackson, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Rob Wilcox, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention
Eddie Bocanegra, Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice

Law Enforcement Participants
Kevin Bethel, Police Commissioner for the City of Philadelphia
Joseph Gramaglia, Police Commissioner for the City of Buffalo
Johnny Jennings, Police Chief for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Manny Morales, Police Chief for the City of Miami
Jeffrey Norman, Police Chief for the City of Milwaukee
Mirtha Ramos, Police Chief for DeKalb County, Georgia
Larry Snelling, Police Superintendent for the City of Chicago
Sasha Cotton, Executive Director of the National Network for Safe Communities
Jim Pasco, Executive Director of the National Fraternal Order of Police

Speaking Program
James White, Police Chief for the City of Detroit
The President

White House Pool Report No. 5 - questions

Biden started speaking at 1:59 p.m.

He read part of his speech off the teleprompter and also from the binder on his podium.

He answered questions about his physical and McConnell stepping down.

On the physical he said nothing changed from last year and made a joke about looking younger.

He said he was sad to see McConnell stepping down. I'll get better quotes next.

White House Pool Report No. 6 - better quotes

Apologies for the delay – it was very hard to hear, so please double check the transcript

President Joe Biden on today's physical –

"They think I look too young," he joked.

"There is nothing different than last year," he added.

On McConnell stepping down -

"He and I have trust we've got a great relationship, we fight like hell but he never, never, never misrepresented anything. I'm sorry to hear he's stepping down."

White House Pool Report No. 7 - even better quotes/press briefing delayed

The press briefing will now begin at 2:45 p.m.

Thanks to CBS' Sara Cook and the TV feed we were able to fill in a few more gaps and clear up the president's McConnell quote:

Asked about his physical today:

BIDEN: "I'm alright, everything is squared away."

Is there anything concerning that Americans should know about?

BIDEN: "They think I look too young."

BIDEN: "No, there is nothing different than last year."

Everything's great?

BIDEN: "Everything's great."

Fuller McConnell quote:

"I'm sorry to hear McConnell stepped down. He and I - I've trusted him and we have a great relationship. We fight like hell. But he has never, never, never misrepresented anything. I'm sorry to hear he's stepping down."

White House Pool Report No. 8 - briefing

The briefing kicked off at 2:47 p.m. and concluded at 3:41 p.m.

White House Pool Report No. 9 - lid

The White House announced a travel/photo lid at 5:09 p.m.

Have a wonderful night, folks!

Supplemental pool report #1 - Walter Reed

Good morning from a rainy and windy Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.

Marine One landed on a helipad at the complex at 9.15am.

POTUS, wearing a blue suit, disembarked at 9.17am, saluted and then headed to a waiting line of black SUVs.

Motorcade now moving within the complex at 9.19am.

Supplemental pool report #2 - Motorcade at main building

After a short drive through the grounds of Walter Reed, the motorcade stopped at 9.24am outside the main tower of the hospital, a tall, gray, art deco-design building, by a blue sign saying 'President Zone'. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS and we are now holding.

Supplemental pool report #3 - POTUS exits Walter Reed

POTUS walked out of the bronze-colored main doors, beneath a sign saying 'Naval Medical Center' at 11.58am. He spent two hours and 34 minutes inside by your pooler's calculation.

He saluted naval staff members holding the doors open, put on his aviator sunglasses despite it being cloudy, and walked down a small flight of stairs. He then climbed into a black SUV, briefly climbing on the step to look over the door.

The White House made a bad weather call and POTUS is now motorcading back from the hospital instead of returning by Marine One.

Supplemental pool report #4 - Travelers

Passing on from the WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to the White House:

Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Dilpreet Sidhu, Special Assistant to the President & NSC Deputy Chief of Staff

Supplemental pool report #5 - WH arrival

The motorcade pulled up at the White House at 12.25pm. Pooler did not lay eyes on POTUS.

That's all from me. A reminder that the WH says a written summary of the results of POTUS's medical will be released later today, with no time given for now.