Vice Presidential Pool Reports of July 5, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris is on board AF2.

Wheels up to New Orleans at 6:12 p.m. ET.

AF2 was wheels down at the airport in New Orleans at 7:32pm

Per the VP's office:

Traveling with the Vice President aboard Air Force Two en route to New Orleans, Louisiana:
Erin Wilson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Erica Songer, Deputy Assistant to the President & Counsel to the Vice President
Kirsten Allen, Special Assistant to the President & Communications Director
Andy Flick, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor for Congressional Affairs and Strategic Engagement
Dean Lieberman, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting

After a ride through steady rain (New Orleans is under a flood watch), the vice president arrived for an off-the-record stop at Caesar's Superdome. She arrived shortly after 8pm CT as Busta Rhymes was performing at Friday night's Essence Festival concert. It is the festival's 30th anniversary.

She will be making a surprise appearance on stage. More to come.

VP President Kamala Harris was introduced on the stage as "the first Black female vice president" with applause and cheers from the audience shortly before 9pm CT.

She spoke for about 30 seconds. Her quote in full:

"I had to stop by just to congratulate Essence on 30 years of the Essence Festival of Culture. So, enjoy this evening. Let us always celebrate the diversity, the depth and the beauty of our culture. Have fun tonight, and I'll see you at the convention center tomorrow."

She waved as she walked off stage.

Vice President spent about 20-30 minutes backstage before her remarks. Pool was stationed elsewhere during that time.