Vice Presidential Pool Reports of May 28, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool Report #1– Gathered for Swearing In

Greetings,

I'll be your pooler for the VP's swearing in of Courtney O'Donnell as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

O'Donnell, a longtime Biden aide who also served in senior roles in both the VP and SGOTUS offices, was confirmed earlier this month. Her appointment marks the U.S.'s return to the organization after five years.

The ceremony is set to start soon.

Will send color and quotes, and anything newsworthy.

VP Supplemental Pool #2 -- Ceremony ends/ VP addresses Rafah

First some news:
The VP responded to a shouted question from your pooler about the Israeli strike in Rafah.

"The word tragic doesn't even begin to describe it," she said.

She did not respond to a follow-up question about whether it crossed a "red line."

Details on the ceremony:

The vice president entered the Ceremonial Office, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, at 12:48 p.m. and the program began.

O'Donnell was accompanied by her family. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff stood with her as she was sworn in.

The program ended at 12:50.

One note: Fired off Pool Report #1 in error, and before I could fix a typo. O'Donnell served in the VP and SGOTUS offices, (not SCOTUS).

That's it from me today!

VP Supplemental Pool Report #3- Follow-up on VP question/ceremony details

Hey All-
I wanted to get the VP's quote on Rafah out quickly, so following up.

I received a follow-up question about the VP's response that I thought I'd clarify for everybody: The question to the VP was about the strike on the tent camp in Rafah on Sunday, not the ongoing ground assault today. And S/O to Maddie Gannon for backing me on the Q&A today.

While we're here-- here are some quotes from Ambassador O'Donnell's swearing in ceremony, and information about the event from the VP's office.

Before swearing O'Donnell in, the VP said that her appointment was personal for her, the second gentleman, the president and the first lady. O'Donnell has worked for all of them in various roles. The VP said O'Donnell "always just demonstrated the highest of standards and commitments to our country."

The second gentleman also spoke briefly after O'Donnell' was sworn in. He noted that "any single time, when I took on this role of second gentleman, that I needed you to drop everything to help, you did it. And now you're an ambassador. And it is such an honor to have been just a small part of this journey."

Per the VP's office, here are the names of the family members who stood with Ambassador O'Donnell as she was sworn in:-
Cassidy Stevens Morgan, Spouse of Ambassador O'Donnell
- Felix Thomas Morgan (15), Son of Ambassador O'Donnell
- Oliver Diesel Morgan (14), Son of Ambassador O'Donnell
- Kelly Susan O'Donnell, Sister of Ambassador O'Donnell
- Kevin O'Donnell, Uncle of Ambassador O'Donnell
- Jennifer Davis, Aunt of Ambassador O'Donnell

Have a good day everybody!