Vice Presidential Pool Reports of September 26, 2024

VP pool report #1 / briefing on hurricane

Greetings from your VP pooler today, where the vice president has a meeting with Zelensky and will joining POTUS for an event on gun violence.

Ahead of those events, passing this along which the pool just received:

On Background from a White House Official:

The Vice President was briefed this morning on Hurricane Helene and its potential impacts. The entire Biden-Harris Administration stands ready to provide further assistance to Florida, and other states in the path of the storm, as needed. The President and Vice President continue to urge residents—especially those who have been instructed to evacuate—to listen to local officials.

VP pool report #2 / gathering for Zelensky meeting

Pool is gathered and moved over to EEOB, where VPOTUS is scheduled to deliver remarks ahead of her meeting with President Zelensky of Ukraine.

The meeting — scheduled for 3:05pm but stay flexible — is in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office. Your pooler will send along details and highlights but remarks should be streaming and available at whitehouse.gov/live

VP pool report #3 / in the room

Things are running a bit behind but we have just moved into the ceremonial office. There are two lecterns set up, two American flags and two Ukrainian flags.

Behind us is a large round table with about six seats on each side and placards at each spot. Water is in each cup, and a coffee cup turned upside down at each setting. This appears to be the spot where the meeting will take place after we leave.

Unsure of exact timing for remarks but it appears to be at any moment.

VP poop report #4 / 2 minute warning

We have a two minute warning.

A few officials have filtered into the back of the room.

To their right will be a fireplace, to their left a large wooden display case. The area is a bit cramped but the pool is positioned on a few feet in front of where the principals will be.

VP pool report #5 / remarks

The VP walked into the room at 3:45pm, Zelensky behind her.

She noted it was their seventh visit together. "Welcome back to Washington DC," she said to Zelensky.

She noted support for Ukraine and the importance of fighting Russian aggression.

"We must defend our democratic values and stand up to aggressors. And we must stand for international order rules and norms. Each one of these principles is at stake in Ukraine, and that is why Ukraine's fight matters to the people of America."

"Putin's aggression is not only an attack on the people of Ukraine, it is also an attack on fundamental principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity," she added. "History has shown us if we allow aggressors like Putin to take land with impunity, they keep going. And Putin could set his sights on Poland, the Baltic states and other NATO allies."

She said that "the United States supports Ukraine not out of charity, but because it is in our strategic interest" and "we will continue to provide the security assistance Ukraine needs to succeed on the battlefield, as demonstrated by President Biden's significant announcement earlier today."

She also spoke briefly about domestic politics: "There are some in my country who would instead force Ukraine to give up large parts of its sovereign territory. Who would demand that Ukraine accept neutrality and would require Ukraine to forego security relationships with other nations. These proposals are the same of those of Putin. And let us be clear, they are not proposals for peace. Instead, they are proposals for surrender, which is dangerous and unacceptable."

Zelensky spoke after her, saying he looked forward to the conversation and thanking the US for its support.

"We believe this war can be won and just peace can be close only with it," he said.

At 3:55pm, they concluded remarks and walked toward a door leading to the balcony of EEOB. As they walked past us both ignored questions shouted at them.

As an addendum your pooler regrets the unfortunate typo in the subject line of the previous report.

VP pool report #6 / gun violence and hurricane comments

We have gathered here in the East Room, along with the broader pool, for the event on gun violence. The WH pool covered the main points so will try not to duplicate.

VPOTUS entered with POTUS at 5:10pm, and she stood to his right. At the mention of her leading the first White House office of gun violence prevention, the crowd applauded and stood as she took the podium.

She mentioned how it was "good to be with our extraordinary president, Joe Biden," which triggered another standing ovation. "I thank you mister president, for all that you are."

She also paused before her remarks on gun violence to bring up Hurricane Helene. "We urge everyone that's watching to take this very seriously," she said, adding that she and the president would be monitoring the storm.

Remarks were streamed live but she talked about universal background checks and an assault weapons ban. She recalled meeting with survivors of gun violence. And she urged for more legislative action.

After speaking for several minutes she introduced Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Ala.

VPOTUS went and took her place again next to POTUS. Event is ongoing.

VP pool report #7 / end of gun violence event

As POTUS spoke, the VP stood about eight feet away. She applauded frequently and nodded her head affirmatively. She occasionally leaned over to whisper something to Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Ala., who stood next to her.

As POTUS signed the executive order, the VP stood near his right shoulder. He handed her one of the pens, saying: "Keep it going, boss."

They both stayed on stage, talking with attendees and posing for photos. She left the room at 5:57pm, about a minute after POTUS.

VP pool #8 / lid

The VP pool got word that the vice president has arrived back at the Naval Observatory. We now have a lid.

Enjoy your nights, one and all.

VP Foreign Pool Report #1

Good afternoon,

I am your foreign pooler for Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's meeting with VP Harris.

At 3:05pm, the Vice President and President Zelenskyy will deliver remarks to the press. These remarks in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office will be pooled press and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.gov/Live. It will be followed by a bilat in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office at 3:25pm. This meeting will be closed press.

Zelenskyy has met with Vice President Harris six times so far. The VP President has promised to stand with Ukraine if she wins in November. She had told him: „We will be with for as long as it takes".

Previous meetings Harris-Zelenskyy:
February 19, 2022 – Munich Security conference
December 21, 2022 – Washington, DC
September 21, 2023 – Washington, DC
December 12, 2023 – Washington, DC
February 17, 2024 – Munich Security conference
June 15, 2024 – Peace summit in Switzerland

VP Foreign Pool Report #2 / Zelenskyy's remarks in the VP Ceremonial Office

Pool entered the Vice President's Ceremonial Office at 3:28pm. The two leaders entered at 3:46pm. For their remarks, they stood behind two lecterns, Harris on the right, Zelenskyy on the left. Behind them were two US and two Ukrainian flags.

After VP Harris' remarks, Zelenskyy spoke for 3 minutes.

He thanked the VP for the invitation and for her participation in the peace summit and he said that they were preparing the second one. Then he said: "Now we have to end this war. We need justice, and we must protect our people, Ukrainian families, Ukrainian children and everyone from Putin's evil. We are grateful to America for supporting Ukraine all along."

He spoke off an "important meeting today after I talked to President Biden about the ,Plan of Victory'" and that he would share some details of the plan with VP Harris. "It's crucial for us to be fully understandable and to work in full coordination with the United States." Zelenskyy mentioned that he met with member of Congress this morning from both chambers and parties and that he was thankful for the bipartisan support.

Zelenskyy: "We believe this war can be won and justice can be closer only with the United States." This was their 7th meeting "and not our last" – and the third meeting this year.

He also said that he would inform the VO about the latest developments on the battlefield and the role of Ukraine's actions in the Kursk Region and what have been achieved. "Today, we have a new strong support package, as you said, and we have common view on the things that need to be done. We have to keep pressure on Russia to stop the war and make truly lasting and just peace. It's a top priority for us and for our freedom loving nations to achieve not a freezing but real, real peace for us."

Zelenskyy added that the sanctions against Russia needed to be upheld the frozen Russian assets should be use to protect and train the Ukrainian people, the cities, and the frontline from Russia. "And of course, we must work hard to bring all Russian war criminals to justice."

He would inform Harris about the latest Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. "We need to urgently strengthen Ukraine's air defense to save thousands of lives and reduce Russian terror to zero. It's achievable."

The Ukrainian President thanked America and the Vice President, then he turned to Harris and smiled while they shook hands. Both left directly afterwards at 3:52pm without answering any of the shouted question.

As always, please check remarks against transcript.

VP Pool Report #3 / Departure

President Zelenskyy left the EEOB at 5:15pm. He walked down the stairs and got into his car where two Marines were waiting to open the door for him. He entered and the limousine left the White House grounds.

This concluded the visit of the Ukrainian leader at the White House and my pool duty today.

Have a great rest of the day.