Pool Reports of March 4, 2025

WHCA In-town Note #1 -- checking in

Good morning from the White House. I'll be your in-town print reporter today.

The only event on President Trump's public schedule as of now is his joint address to Congress this evening at 9:10 p.m. Below is the schedule sent out by the White House.

Reach out with any questions.

8:30 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart The White House en route The Capitol
South Portico
White House Press Pool

8:40 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive The Capitol
The Capitol
White House Press Pool

9:10 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers his Joint Address to Congress
The Capitol
White House Press Pool

11:20 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart The Capitol en route The White House
The Capitol
White House Press Pool

11:30 PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive The White House
South Portico
White House Press Pool

WHCA In-town Note #2 -- Homan gaggle

White House border czar Tom Homan gaggled with the press for about three minutes starting at 10:56 am, following a media hit.

On DHS funding needs:

"We need money for more beds. We need money for more flights."

"We need Congress to step up and give us the money we need so President Trump can keep his promise to the American people."

"We're hitting on all cylinders but we need more money to do more."

On sanctuary cities:

"Sanctuary cities want to keep locking us out of jails. They force us into the neighborhood to find the bad guys. When we find the bad guy, many times they're with others."

Homan also said "border numbers" were "down 90 percent in three weeks," an apparent reference to border crossings.

"We had border numbers down 90 percent in three weeks. Think what this president's going to do in the next four to six months."

WHCA In-town Note #3 -- Otter for Homan, Habba gaggles

Here is the otter file for the Homan gaggle:

https://otter.ai/u/zSpGa1Uz6h1jBsu-TSsgA9jKD04

And separately, Counselor to the President Alina Habba gaggled briefly with the press earlier this morning. Habba spoke about President Trump's speech to Congress tonight and tariffs (h/t EWTN's Toby Capion for the otter):

https://otter.ai/u/y0j76Nuk61bRD81xenMPNayLVVI?utm_source=copy_url

WHCA In-town Note #4 -- lunch lid

We have a lunch lid until 1:30 p.m.

WHCA In-town Note #5 -- Homan gaggle (second of the day)

White House border czar Tom Homan gaggled for the second time today after doing a TV interview.

Homan spoke for about four minutes starting at 3:54 p.m. and reiterated many of the points he made in his first gaggle with the press this morning.

Under President Trump, "we got a 97 percent decrease in border crossings. President Trump's been a game changer" on immigration, Homan said.

On detaining undocumented immigrants at Guantanamo, Homan said:

"It's a perfect place for the worst of the worst, and we'll keep sending the worst of the worst there."

Here is the otter:

https://otter.ai/u/WeIqQpLHfFzS-JwvVxt2VcCLeTc?tab=chat&view=transcript

WHCA In-town Note #6 -- dinner lid

The press office has called a dinner lid until 6:30 p.m.

WHCA In-town Note #7 -- gathered for departure

The traveling press has been called to gather for President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's departure to the Capitol.

POTUS and FLOTUS are scheduled to leave the White House at 8:30 p.m.

WHCA In-town Note #8 — rolling

At 8:32 p.m. the motorcade is rolling to the Capitol.

From our position in the press van we did not see the president and First Lady exit the White House.

According to photographers Elon Musk was spotted leaving the White House ahead of Trump.

WHCA In-town Note #9 — arrival at Capitol

The motorcade arrived at the Capitol from the House side and came to a stop outside at 8:40 p.m.

Press is holding outside the vans. We have not seen POTUS yet.

WHCA In-town Note #10 — Press hold inside

Press was led into the Capitol at 845 p.m. and is now holding in a hallway on the first floor.

It's unlikely from this point on that we will see President Trump, who is presumably already inside.

Press was held at a distance before going in and did not see POTUS when the motorcade pulled up.

Follow live broadcasts for POTUS' entrance into the House chamber, and for the speech itself.

The next note here will come when we move out to the motorcade to head back to the White House.

WHCA In-town note #11 — Al Green quotes

Rep. Al Green made a surprise stop at the White House traveling press hold after he was kicked out of the House chamber for protesting Trump's speech.

Green took a few questions.

The Texas Democrat said that before he was escorted out of the chamber he repeatedly yelled at Trump that the president had "no mandate" to cut Medicaid.

"It's worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up" to Trump, Green said.

He said he didn't know whether he faced any formal punishment for his protest in the chamber.

WHCA In-town Note # 12 — motorcade rolling

The motorcade arrived at the White House at 11:18 p.m., after leaving the Capitol at 11:12 p.m. (Apologies for the missing departure time stamp from the previous note, which was mistakenly sent too early).

Press did not see POTUS exit the motorcade and enter the White House.

WHCA In-town Note #14 — travel/photo lid

The White House press office called a travel/photo lid at 11:29 p.m.

Have a good night,