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Monday, September 18, 2017
03:04 PM -0500

Date: September 18, 2017 at 3:42:18 PM 
EDT
Subject: Foreign pool report 2 - 
meeting POTUS-Macron

The meeting between POTUS and French 
President Emmanuel Macron was in the 
same room at the Lotte New York Palace 
Hotel where POTUS met earlier today 
with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

This time both leaders were joined by 
French and US delegations.
POTUS spoke first and then Macron spoke 
in French. Macron referred generally to 
the issues he plans to discuss with 
POTUS, like the Paris climate accord.

Finallly, in English, Macron remembered 
POTUS visit to France in July to 
celebrate Bastille Day and said that 
French people "were very proud" to have 
received POTUS and First Lady Melania 
Trump for that occasion.

Some questions about Paris climate 
accord were shouting from the pool but 
no answer from POTUS or Macron.


-- 
Miriam Burgues
White House Correspondent
Efe News Services 




Monday, September 18, 2017
11:06 AM -0500

Date: September 18, 2017 at 11:30:38 AM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #9
New York
Sept 18, 2017

POTUS apparently made brief remarks as he 
exited the United Nations. White House pool 
was not present.

Thanks to Tokyo Broadcasting System's Elliot 
Waldman for passing along the comments 
from his colleague. 

(How was the meeting?)
 
POTUS: The meeting was very good. I met a 
lot of the people that I have been dealing with 
over the last nine months. A lot of potential. 
The United Nations has tremendous potential 
and we'll see how it works out.
 
(What is your main message for the GA?)
 
POTUS: I think the main message is ‘make the 
United Nations Great.’ Not again, ‘make the 
United Nations great.’ Such tremendous 
potential, and I think we'll be able to do this.


-- 
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers




Monday, September 18, 2017
09:55 AM -0500

Date: September 18, 2017 at 10:25:46 AM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #6
New York
Sept 18, 2017

POTUS began speaking at 10 am and wrapped 
up after four minutes.

After a long walk, pool was allowed to watch 
from the gallery.

POTUS was introduced by Ambassador Haley. 
He had moved to one side of
the room, where he was again seated in the 
middle of a row of seats,
this time between Haley and the Secretary 
General.

POTUS thanked Haley and the Secretary 
General.

He spoke about reforming the UN to "better 
serve the people we all represent."

He said the entire system needed to be 
reformed "to find ways the UN
can be better at development, management, 
peace and security."

"The United Nations was founded on truly 
noble goals. These include
affirming the dignity and worth of the human 
person and striving for
international peace. The United Nations has 
helped advance these goals
in so many ways."

Motorcade is leaving the UN at 10:23 am.

More quotes to come.


Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers




Monday, September 18, 2017
09:51 AM -0500

Date: September 18, 2017 at 10:06:04 AM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #5
New York
Sept 18, 2018

POTUS appeared at 9:60 am in Ecosoc 
Chambers, accompanied by the
Secretary-General and Ambassador Haley. He 
greeted several leaders,
pausing the longest time in front of the U.K. 
representative, Boris
Johnson.

He took a seat and several photos were taken. 
After that, pool was ushered out.

The chamber is large with chairs in nearly a 
circle. Several rows of
seating were behind the chairs.

Across the room, there were six rows of 
officials, one seated behind
each country's nameplate. More than 100 
nations are represented.


Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers




Friday, September 15, 2017
10:19 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, September 15, 2017 10:12 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #2
 
During his appearance with Frank in the Rose 
Garden, President Trump was asked for any 
reaction to the London terror attacks. “It’s a 
terrible thing,” he said. “It keeps going and 
going, and we have to be very smart and we 
have to be very, very tough—perhaps we’re 
not nearly tough enough,” he said.
 
Pooler lost audio briefly as an airplane flew 
overhead.
 
Trump was asked if he had been briefed about 
the terrorist attack.
 
“Yes. And new risks of things happening 
[pooler lost audio again],” Trump said.
 
When asked what he meant about the Muslim 
ban has to be more specific, Trump said “we 
have to be smarter,” at that point Frank started 
up the lawn mower again and wranglers 
moved to escort pool out.
 
 
Before making comments to pool, Trump was 
joined by Frank’s father, Greg Giaccio, 
dressed in a long-sleeved blue button down 
shirt.
 
Patting Frank on the back, Trump called him 
the “future of our country” and said he would 
bring them into the Oval Office. “Maybe he’ll 
be president,” Trump said. Trump said Frank 
aspired to become a Navy Seal.
 
Frank’s father, who works for the government, 
told pool that their family lives in Falls Church 
and that Frank recently had a birthday and 
was now 11 years old. Frank is home 
schooled, but previously attended Thomas 
Jefferson Elementary School.
 
Frank’s full name is Frank Xavier Giaccio, and 
his family calls him by his initials FX, his 
father said.
 
 
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
 
Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent




Friday, September 15, 2017
10:15 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, September 15, 2017 9:51 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #1
 
Trump appeared in the Rose Garden this 
morning and made comments about London 
terror attack, saying he had been briefed and 
was going to call the prime minister.
 
Quotes to come shortly.
 
Pool gathered about 9:30 a.m. to watch Frank, 
11, from Falls Church, Va. mow the grass in 
the Rose Garden under the supervision of 
uniformed park service employees.
 
Frank wore a red collared shirt, khaki shorts, 
black high-top sneakers and work gloves. He 
used a traditional gas push mower and 
appeared to pooler to be mowing in very nice 
straight lines up and down the garden.
 
At 9:40 a.m. President Trump walked down the 
colonnade alongside the Rose Garden and 
across the grass to tell Frank he was doing a 
"great job."
 
On Wednesday, Sarah Sanders announced his 
visit during the briefing.
 
"Finally, on a slightly lighter note, I'd like to 
announce that Frank from Falls Church, 
Virginia, whose letter I read last month 
offering his services to mow the White House 
lawn, will be here on Friday.  He'll work with 
the grounds-keeping crew here at the White 
House and will help cut the grass in the Rose 
Garden," Sanders said Sept. 13.
 
 
Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA




Thursday, September 14, 2017
11:42 AM -0500




Date: September 14, 2017 at 11:06:22 AM 
EDT
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Pool Report 4/Trump 
quotes

Pool Report 4 -- trump quotes courtesy 
of the Post's David Nakamura

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:



TRUMP on Tarmac in Florida:
 
“Very important is the wall. We have to 
be sure the wall isn’t obstructed. Very 
important is the wall. We have to be 
sure the wall isn’t obstructed because 
without the wall  I wouldn’t do 
anything. … It doesn’t  have to  be 
here but they can’t obstruct the wall 
if its in a budget or anything else.”
“We’re not looking at citizenship. 
We’re not looking at amnesty. We’re 
looking at allowing people to stay 
here. … I just spoke with Paul Ryan, 
everybody’s on board. … We’re talking 
about taking care of people, people who 
were brought here, people who’ve done a 
good job.”
“We’ll only do it if we get extreme 
security, not only surveillance but 
everything that goes with surveillance. 
If there’s not a wall, we’re doing 
nothing.”
 
 
David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer




Monday, September 11, 2017
08:53 AM -0500

Subject: Pool report #1 -- Moment of silence
Pool was brought out to the South Lawn 
around 8:15 am, where several dozen White 
House staffers were already gathered waiting 
for POTUS moment of silence. 

More continued to filter out onto the lawn as 
we got closer to the scheduled start time. 
Kellyanne Conway, Sarah Sanders, Gary 
Cohn, Hope Hicks, Jared Kushner, Ivanka 
Trump, Marc Short, Don McGahn, H.R. 
McMaster and others started exiting the WH 
around 8:30 and some of those senior staffers 
began lining up together near the front edge of 
the crowd. COS John Kelly arrived slightly 
after them at 8:34. He stood closer to the back 
of the group. 

POTUS and FLOTUS exited the White House at 
8:45 am. At 8:46 am, a bell tolled as they stood 
between the two wings of the crowd with their 
heads bowed in silence. 

A Marine played Taps on the trumpet at 8:47 
am and all including POTUS and FLOTUS 
placed their hands over their hearts. 

At 8:48 am POTUS and FLOTUS walked back 
inside the White House. 

Note that 8:46 am is the time the first plane 
crashed into the North Tower of the WTC in 
New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

Sarah Westwood
Washington Examiner




Thursday, September 07, 2017
12:54 PM -0500

Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2017 1:21 PM
Subject: In town pool report #5 -- Trump on the 
debt ceiling
 
News on the debt ceiling. 
 
During a meeting with cabinet officials, 
President Trump said he was open to 
eliminating the debt ceiling entirely.
 
Trump spoke in response to a shouted 
question.
 
"It could be discussed," Trump said. "There 
are a lot of good reasons to do that," he said.
 
Trump said there were a lot of things he could 
work on with Republican and Democratic 
leaders.
 
"The people of the U.S. want to see a coming 
together," he said.
 
Pool was ushered into the Cabinet Room at 
around 12:57. 
 
Cabinet and White House officials were seated 
around a long table for a luncheon with the 
leader of Kuwait. Tillerson was to Trump's left. 
Pence was seated to Trump's right. 
 
Trump initially spoke about Hurricane Irma 
and the visit of Kuwaiti Amir al-Jabar, who was 
seated across from Trump. 
 
The debt ceiling comments came in response 
to shouted questions.
 
More coming.
 
Brian Bennett
White House reporter
Los Angeles Times




Wednesday, September 06, 2017
03:22 PM -0500

Date: September 6, 2017 at 2:53:25 PM 
CDT
Subject: Travel print pool report #2a - 
Bismarck arrival & gaggles

Air Force One was wheels down at a 
sunny Bismarck Municipal Airport at 
2:34 PM local time. 

POTUS deplaned at 3:46 PM, waving to 
several dozen supporters standing on 
the tarmac behind a metal gate. 

He was followed by Mnuchin, Ivanka 
Trump, Sen. Hoeven, Sen. Heitkamp and 
Rep. Cramer. Kelly and Schiller 
followed next. 

After saluting the Air Force personnel 
on the tarmac, POTUS walked over to the 
supporters to shake hands. 

"Your governor is here, your senators 
are here. They're all here," he 
remarked. 

POTUS took photos with several young 
children before boarding The Beast. 

An upbeat POTUS came back to speak to 
the press for three minutes at the 
beginning of the flight, announcing he 
had reached a three-month deal on 
lifting the debt ceiling, government 
funding and Harvey relief during his 
meeting with congressional leaders 
earlier today. 

He also gave a readout of his call with 
Chinese President Xi Jinping. POTUS 
said the call lasted 45 minutes and 
said that Xi is “very much in favor of 
the de-nuke of North Korea.” 

You should have all received a 
transcript of this chat from the White 
House press office. Regretfully, your 
pooler could not provide an update 
earlier because there is no signal on 
board the smaller AF1. 

Chief of staff John Kelly spoke briefly 
with reporters off-the-record following 
POTUS’ gaggle. 

White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters 
and legislative affairs director Marc 
Short gaggled with reporters for 11 
minutes at the end of the flight. 

Walters announced POTUS spoke with the 
governors of Florida, Puerto Rico, and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands regarding 
preparations for Hurricane Irma. 

“While we continue to focus on the 
critical rebuilding and recovery 
efforts in Texas, we are closely 
monitoring Hurricane Irma,” she said. 
“We urge all residents and tourists in 
Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands to listen to local 
authorities during this dangerous 
storm. The White House, FEMA and all 
federal agency partners stand ready to 
assist.”  

She also said that POTUS and FLOTUS 
have decided to donate $1 million to 12 
different charitable organizations, 
including the American Red Cross and 
the ASPCA, assisting with Hurricane 
Harvey relief. 

You should have all the names in your 
inbox via the press office. 

More from the gaggle TK in the next 
report. 

-- 
Jordan Fabian | White House 
Correspondent 




Sunday, September 03, 2017
03:45 PM -0500

Date: September 3, 2017 at 3:23:24 PM 
EDT
Subject: Pool report #8 - Mattis warns 
NK of "massive" military response

Pool report No. 8 | Sept. 3, 2017

Defense Secretary James Mattis warned 
North Korea that the United States has 
“many” military options President Trump 
could use to deal with its nuclear arms 
and long-range missile programs.

Standing outside the West Wing after a 
“small group” meeting with Trump, 
Mattis said any major threat to the 
United States or its allies would be 
met with a “massive” military response 
that would be “overwhelming.”

But, he said, the Trump administration 
is not looking for the “annihilation” 
of any country, including North Korea.

Mattis was flanked by Joint Chiefs 
Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. The duo 
did not respond to several shouted 
questions, including whether war with 
North Korea is now inevitable.

More TK.

-30-



John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent 
CQ Roll Call 




Sunday, September 03, 2017
10:11 AM -0500

Date: September 3, 2017 at 10:28:02 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report #3 - departing WH
Pool report No. 3 - Sept. 3, 2017

The President, First Lady and others boarded 
SUVs at 10:25 a.m. Your pooler caught only a 
glimpse of POTUS. FLOTUS was wearing a 
pink dress and powder blue coat. We are 
rolling for TBD location at 10:26 a.m.

Your pooler spotted no agents or aides in 
khakis and polo shirts, notably.

-30-

John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call




Saturday, September 02, 2017
06:52 PM -0500

Date: September 2, 2017 at 6:22:26 PM 
CDT
Subject: Re: local pooler

Feed from Houston Chronicle


Air Force One touched down at Ellington 
Field in Houston just before 11:30 a.m.

At the airport, Trump was greeted by 
Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas First Lady 
Cecilia Abbott, Harris County Judge Ed 
Emmett and Houston Mayor Sylvester 
Turner. Trump spent a little over one 
minute talking to Turner – the first 
time the two have spoken since 
Hurricane Harvey hit.

 



The motorcade then drove to the NRG 
Center in Houston arriving just after 
noon. Taking I-45 and then I-610. The 
Center, which is next to NRG Stadium 
where the Houston Texans play, has 
become one of the region’s hurricane 
shelters for evacuees. Trump entered 
the “Kids Zone” play area. They spent 
about 20 minutes visiting with kids. 
Trump hugged and lifted several 
children and later signed his name to a 
back wall. I counted at least five 
children he interacted with. No names 
were provided.

At about 12:33 Trump arrived at a food 
service area at the NRG Center where 
Red Cross Volunteers were preparing 
meals – hot dogs – for evacuees. Trump 
saw several people standing near a 
barricade including two soldiers.

A man who identified himself as Private 
First Class Greg Hoffman of Fort Worth 
(I did not get his branch) told Trump 
he voted for him.

“You better,” Trump said with a smile. 
“Who didn’t”

Trump told reporters:

“The message is things are working out 
well. Really I think people appreciate 
what has been done. It’s been done very 
efficiently, very well.”

Asked about what families told him in 
the shelter.

“They were just happy. Saw a lot of 
happiness. It’s been really nice. It’s 
been a wonderful thing. As tough as 
this was its been a wonderful thing, I 
think even for the country to watch it 
– the world to watch.”

“Have a good time everyone, I’m going 
to be doing a little help over here.”

Asked if he saw the flooding, Trump 
first didn’t seem to understand the 
question. But then answered:

“You mean the flooding, oh yeah there’s 
a lot of water. But its leaving pretty 
quick – pretty quckly. But there’s a 
lot of water. A lot of water. But it’s 
moving out.”

“But I think most importantly the 
governor, the relationship with the 
governor and the mayor and everybody, 
It’s been fantastic.”

As he left Trump told reporters:

“And we’re signing a lot of documents 
now to get money into your state,” 
Trump said.

Asked what documents, Trump said: “7.9 
billion. We signed it. Now its going 
through a very quick – hopefully quick 
process.”

 

Trump then went to the food service 
lines where he took the prepared meals 
and handed them to people in line. 


Total time spent at the NRG Center was 
an estimated one hour and 30 minutes.


The motorcade then departed the Center 
and drove to First Church of Pearland 
where hundreds of volunteers are taking 
donated supplies like diapers, toilet 
paper and water and sorting them into 
care packages to be given to people in 
need or shipped out.


At about 1:42, Trump took the stage 
with Sen. Ted Cruz, the First Lady, 
Gov. Greg Abbott, HUD Secretary Ben 
Carson, Homeland Security Sec. Duke and 
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and VA 
Secretary David Shulkin


"I want to congratulate the governor. I 
want to congratulate everyone who has 
worked so hard," Trump said. "It's been 
an incredible 5 days, 6 days. Seems 
like it was much longer than that. But 
actually It's going so well that it's 
going fast."


Trump told the crowd that tomorrow "we 
have national prayer day" 


"Congratulations on that," Trump said. 


He then singled out each member 
standing on stage with him. To Ted Cruz 
he said "we have to push that stuff 
through but we will"


"But I just have to say, because the 
cameras are blazing, I have to say it, 
you have a great great governor."


When he later talked about VA Secretary 
Shulkin, he brought up the VA choice 
program and praised it for helping 
veterans get to see doctors faster.


Trump then went out the back doors of 
the church around 1:52 p.m. where there 
were crates of water bottles and boxes. 
Trump, wearing his wind breaker, load 
boxes at the back of a Toyota Tundra 
pick up truck then chatted with the 
unidentified driver wearing a black 
baseball cap.


Four more cars pulled through with 
Trump helping load some material in 
some cars, and talking with each of the 
drivers that came through - all out of 
earshot of reporters.


At just after 2 p.m. the motorcade 
departed the Pearland church. Then at 
about 2:15, the motorcade made an 
unscheduled stop off Scarsdale 
Boulevard where neighborhood streets 
have piles of wet furniture and 
belongings on the curb. Dozens of 
people gathered on Sagelink Drive and 
Sagelink Court where Trump and the 
First Lady shook hands with residents 
and patted them on the back.


"Thank you all very much, I appreciate 
it," Trump said. "Good luck everybody" 


The impromptu stop was just a few 
minutes. 


The motorcade then returned back to 
Ellington Field.



Jeremy Wallace
Political Writer
Houston Chronicle




Saturday, September 02, 2017
04:18 PM -0500

Date: September 2, 2017 at 3:18:17 PM 
CDT
Subject: Travel pool #11/Al Green and 
Coast Guard heroes

More from Ellington Field. Trump posed 
for many photos with the military 
personnel. He gave extra attention to 
the Coast Guard. "I hear the Coast 
Guard saved ...almost 11,000 people by 
going into winds the media would not go 
into. Unless it's a really good story," 
he said as cameras snapped.

He and Mrs. Trump then walked back to 
the plane a couple of hundred feet 
away. 

He spoke with McCaul and Cruz and Olson 
and put his right arm around McCaul. 
Olsen seem to have a list of requests 
and Trump engaged with him. Jackson Lee 
stood with Governor Abbott, a somewhat 
pained look on her face. The sun was 
very hot. Al Green was chatting with 
the First Lady and standing on Abbott's 
left, the last congressman Trump would 
encounter on his way up the steps.

Trump spoke with all of them before 
boarding. He shook Green's hand several 
times. Doubtful they talked impeachment 
based solely on the earnest expressions 
visible on their faces. 

At the top of the steps Trump turned 
and waved and pumped his fist a few 
times.

Air Force One engines are starting to 
rev at 3:17pm CT. Next stop Lake 
Charles, La.




Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News




Saturday, September 02, 2017
03:55 PM -0500

Date: September 2, 2017 at 2:59:54 PM 
CDT
Subject: Travel pool #10/congressmen

Back at Ellington Field the president 
met at the steps of Air Force One with 
several federal lawmakers from Texas, 
including two of his biggest critics in 
Congress. Rep Al Green, who has called 
for Trump's impeachment, and Rep Sheila 
Jackson Lee, who has come close to 
calling for impeachment, and has called 
him incompetent. 

Trump seem to speak in a very friendly 
way with Green, and they shook hands 
several times. At one point Green put 
his hand on the president's elbow as 
they spoke. It all seemed very 
friendly. Trump also met with Michael 
McCaul, Pete Olson, and Randy Weber. 
And Sen. Ted Cruz. 

 He chatted with McCaul, who has been 
under consideration for Homeland 
Security secretary and at one point put 
his left hand on McCaul's right 
shoulder.

Trump then walked over to several 
hundred people waiting, most of them in 
uniform, including Coast Guard, Texas 
National Guard and others.

The Texas lawmakers remained at the 
foot of Air Force One as the president 
shook hands. Governor Abbott was with 
them and could be seen chatting at 
length with Al Green in particular.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News




Saturday, September 02, 2017
09:02 AM -0500

WHITE HOUSE PRESS POOL


Sent: Saturday, September 2, 2017 9:43 
AM
Subject: Print Pool report one
 
POTUS and the first lady emerged from 
the White House at 9:21 a.m. With a 
torrential downpour -- the remnants of 
Hurricane Harvey -- pelting Washington, 
POTUS carried a big black umbrella to 
shelter himself and the first lady from 
the rain. POTUS wore a black rain 
jacket, black slacks and brown shoes, 
while the first lady wore sunglasses, a 
tan rain coat and high-heel shoes.

The president and first lady paused 
briefly before the press gathered in 
the rain, then turned toward Marine 
One. The president ignored a shouted 
question about his plans for DACA 
before entering the chopper.

Marine One was wheels up for Andrews 
Air Force Base at 9:23 a.m. 
Accompanying the president and first 
lady were Chief of Staff John Kelly, 
Trump's personal aide John D. McEntee 
II and Lindsay Reynolds, the First 
Lady's chief of staff. 

I will file another pool report if I 
get a more complete list of names of 
those who accompanied the first couple, 
and another tonight when they return to 
the White House.
 
Jerry Zremski
Washington bureau chief
The Buffalo News




Monday, August 14, 2017
12:32 PM -0500

Date: August 14, 2017 at 1:16:16 PM EDT
Subject: WH Pool report #4 - More POTUS 
remarks from Dip Room
MORE FROM POTUS remarks on 
Charlottesville violence
POTUS spoke from the Dip Room. Check 
quotes against transcript.

POTUS (mostly reading from Teleprompter)

"We must love each other, show affection for 
each other and unite together in 
condemnation of hatred, bigotry and 
violence."

"We must rediscover the bonds of love and 
loyalty that bring us together as Americans."

"Racism is evil. And those who cause violence 
in its name are criminals and thugs including 
the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and 
other hate groups that are repugnant to 
everything we hold dear as Americans." 

"We are a nation founded on the truth that all 
of us are created equal."

"Those who spread violence in the name of 
bigotry strike at the very core of America." 
 
Trump said Heather Hayer's name. "Her death 
fills us with grief and we send her family our 
thoughts, our prayers and our love."

"We also mourn the two VA state troopers, 
who died in service to their community, their 
commonwealth and their country."

POTUS said they "exemplify the very best of 
America."  

POTUS said the three "fallen Americans"  
"embody the goodness and decency  of our 
nation."

"In times such as these, America has always 
shown its true character. Responding to hate 
with love, division with unity and violence with 
an unwavering resolve for justice." 

"As a candidate I promised to restore law and 
order to country" POTUS said that law 
enforcement is "following through with that 
pledge."




-- 
Annie Linskey
Boston Globe 
DC Bureau




Monday, August 14, 2017
12:22 PM -0500

Sent: Monday, August 14, 2017 1:00 PM
Subject: WH Pool report #3 - POTUS short 
remarks about VA from dip room
 
POTUS walked into the Diplomatic Reception 
Room at 12:38 p.m. He was alone. 
 
He stood behind a podium adorned with the 
presidential seal and denounced the violence 
over the weekend in Virginia. He spoke for 
less than six minutes reading a statement. His 
eyes were glued the TelePrompter for nearly 
all of his remarks. 

He declined to answer any shouted questions 
at the end of his remarks, including several 
about whether he regretted waiting until today 
to denounce racism.
 
Sending the most newsworthy quotes, will 
send more after. As always, check against the 
transcript.

"The Department of Justice has opened a civil 
rights investigation" into the deadly car attack 
that killed "one innocent person and wounded 
20 others" 
 
To anyone who acted criminally in this 
weekend's racist violence, you will be held  
(inaudible) and accounted for." 
 
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms 
this egregious display of hatred bigotry and 
violence. It has no place in America."
 
"As I have said many times before, no matter 
the color of our skin, we all live under the 
same laws. We all salute the same great flag. 
And we are all made by the same almighty 
god."

MORE COMING
 
 
(And thank you to Jeff Mason for sending an 
earlier pool report on my behalf. Your pooler's 
AT&T cell service does not work in the Dip 
Room.
 
--
Annie Linskey
Boston Globe 
DC Bureau




Sunday, August 13, 2017
11:21 AM -0500

Date: August 13, 2017 at 10:42:22 AM EDT
Subject: Out-of-Town Pool Report No. 1 – 
Statement on Charlottesville
Good morning from Bridgewater, N.J., where 
pool has been given a lunch lid until 6pm. 

A White House spokesperson has offered the 
following statement in response to questions 
about President Trump's remarks yesterday: 

"The President said very strongly in his 
statement yesterday that he condemns all 
forms of violence, bigotry, and hatred. Of 
course that includes white supremacists, KKK 
Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups. He called 
for national unity and bringing all Americans 
together." 

POTUS will continue to receive regular 
updates from his team about the events that 
unfolded yesterday in Charlottesville, Va. Pool 
has requested a readout from those meetings. 


-- 
Gabby Morrongiello 
White House Correspondent
The Washington Examiner




Saturday, August 12, 2017
04:20 PM -0500

Date: August 12, 2017 at 4:11:34 PM EDT
Subject: Pool report No. 3A
During a bill sign ceremony at his golf club in 
Bedminster, Trump addressed the situation in 
Charlottesville for about four minutes. 

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms 
this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and 
violence on many sides -- on many sides. It's 
been going on for a long time in our country. 
Not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. It's 
been going on for a long, long time. It has no 
place in America. What is vital now is a swift 
restoration of law and order and the protection 
of innocent lives. No citizen should ever fear 
for their safety and security in our society, and 
no child should ever be afraid to go outside 
and play or be with their parents and have a 
good time."

"I just got off the phone with the governor of 
Virginia, Terry McAuliffe and we agreed that 
the hate and the division must stop -- and 
must stop right now. We have to come 
together as Americans with love for our nation 
and true affection -- and, really, I say this so 
strongly -- true affection for each other."

"Our country is doing well in so many ways," 
Trump said, then pointing to "record 
employment," new companies coming into the 
United States and renegotiated trade deals. 
"We have so many incredible things 
happening in our country, so when I watch 
Charlottesville, to me it's very very sad."

Trump recognized the state and local law 
enforcement in Virginia, along with the 
National Guard for "working smart and 
working hard." He said that  McAuliffe thanked 
him for he support provided so far and that 
the government is "ready, willing and able" to 
provide more.  

"Above all else, we must remember this truth: 
No matter our color, creed, religion or political 
party, we are all Americans first. We love our 
country. We love our God. We love our flag. 
We are proud of our country. We're proud of 
who we are. So we want to get the situation 
straightened out in Charlottesville and we 
want to study it and we want to see what we're 
doing wrong as a country, where things like 
this can happen. My administration is 
restoring the sacred bonds of loyalty between 
this nation and its citizens -- but our citizens 
must also restore the bonds of trust and 
loyalty between one another. We must love 
each other, respect each other and cherish our 
history and our future together. So important. 
We have to respect each other. Ideally, we 
have to love each other."

Trump then shifted to talking about the 
Veterans Affairs Choice and Quality 
Employment Act of 2017 for about 4.5. (More 
info in earlier pool reports.) Trump focused 
most heavily on speeding up the time it takes 
to get veterans care and giving them more 
choices. He also said that the VA is now 
attracting higher quality doctors and 
improving facilities. He recognized and named 
Republican lawmakers who worked on this 
legislation. He had his VA secretary lean in 
and name some Democratic lawmakers who 
also worked on it. 

"See? I can do it," Trump said. 

Trump briefly addressed Charlottesville one 
more time. 

"We have to heal the wounds of our country. 
These are wounds that have been going on 
for, really, a long time. And I thought and 
everybody thought and everybody wants it to 
heal and it will heal and we're going to make 
every effort possible to make sure that that 
healing procedure goes as quickly as 
possible. I love the people of our country. I 
love all of the people. Going to make America 
great again -- but we're going to make it great 
for all of the people of the United States of 
America."

He then shook hands with everyone and 
started to walk out, only to be stopped and 
told he needed to sign the bill. Sitting at a 
small desk decorated with the presidential 
seal, Trump signed the legislation and joked 
about who should get the pen. 

He then left the room without answering any 
of the many questions shouted at him, most of 
which were about the white nationalists who 
support him.
-----




Friday, August 11, 2017
03:06 PM -0500

Date: August 11, 2017 at 3:55:07 PM EDT
Subject: Out of town pool 3a: initial North 
Korea answers in full
Q: What did you mean by 'military solutions 
are locked and loaded'?
A: I think it's pretty obvious. We are looking at 
that very carefully and I hope they are going to 
fully understand the gravity of what I said, and 
what I said is what I mean. So hopefully they 
will understand, Peter, exactly what I said and 
the meaning of those words. Those words are 
very, very easy to understand.

Q: Any progress on the diplomatic 
backchannel?
A: Well, we don't want to talk about progress, 
we don't want to talk about backchannels. We 
want to talk about a country that has 
misbehaved for many many years, decades 
actually, through numerous administrations 
and they didn't want to take on the issue and I 
had no choice but to take it on, and I'm taking 
it on. And we'll either be very, very successful 
quickly or we're going to be very, very 
successful in a different way, quickly.

Q: Angela Merkel says she sees no military 
solution to a fight with North Korea, why is 
she wrong?
A: Maybe she's speaking for Germany, let her 
speak for Germany. She's a friend of mine, 
she's a very good person, a very good woman, 
she's a friend of Ivanka. Perhaps she is 
referring to Germany. She's certainly not 
referring to the United States, that I can tell 
you.

(more to come)

-- 
Louise Radnofsky
The Wall Street Journal




Wednesday, August 09, 2017
10:15 AM -0500

Date: August 9, 2017 at 10:51:36 AM EDT
Subject: Travel pool 1a
Additional background from Lindsay Walters
 
 
On the Nuclear Arsenal tweet question from 
the morning huddle, see EO language below. 


“(b)  The Secretary shall initiate a new Nuclear 
Posture Review to ensure that the United 
States nuclear deterrent is modern, robust, 
flexible, resilient, ready, and appropriately 
tailored to deter 21st-century threats and 
reassure our allies.” – Presidential 
Memorandum On Rebuilding The U.S. Armed 
Forces, 1/27/17




Wednesday, August 09, 2017
10:10 AM -0500

Date: August 9, 2017 at 10:49:08 AM EDT
Subject: Travel pool 1
Good morning from the press hold at the 
Marriot in Bridgewater. Lindsey Walters, the 
White House spokeswoman, came down to 
briefly speak with reporters.
“We’ve received several questions on who the 
president spoke to yesterday before his notes. 
The president and chief of staff Kelly are and 
have been in constant contact with members 
of the NSC team… And  additionally the 
president did receive his daily intelligence 
briefing this morning.”
She clarified that statement refers to the 
information he had before speaking about the 
North Korean nuclear threat but did not say 
who specifically he spoke with beyond Kelly.
 
She said H.R. McMaster would be arriving in 
Bedminster later this week and that Rick 
Waddell is the NSC staff on the ground in the 
meantime. Vice President pence will arrive 
tomorrow.
 
President Trump has no public events 
scheduled for today and Walters would not 
reveal what he was doing, who he will be with 
or what he may be speaking about today. She 
declined to say whether he is golfing and said 
she may get back to the pool with a statement 
on North Korea’s threats to Guam.
Asked about President Trump’s tweets this 
morning related to the nuclear arsenal, she 
pointed to an executive order he signed early 
in his term but did not have additional 
background on upgrades to the arsenal itself.
The pool has asked for a North Korea briefing 
but no updates on that front.
A lunch lid has been called until 6 p.m.
 
 
Best,
Noah Bierman
Los Angeles Times
Washington Bureau




Tuesday, August 08, 2017
03:30 PM -0500

Date: August 8, 2017 at 3:51:35 PM EDT
Subject: Pool report #1a

HHS Secretary Tom Price and Kellyanne 
Conway will take questions from the press at 
the Bridgewater Marriott after they provide a 
readout from the opioid crisis meeting.

TARA PALMERI | POLITICO




Tuesday, August 08, 2017
03:28 PM -0500

Date: August 8, 2017 at 3:47:15 PM EDT
Subject: Pool report #3c

Rest of President Trump's transcript on the 
opioid crisis: 


"Today I'm pleased to receive a briefing from 
our team on ways we can help our 
communities combat this absolutely terrible 
epidemic and keep youth from going down 
this deadly path. The best way to prevent drug 
addiction and overdose is to prevent people 
from abusing drugs in the first place. If they 
don't start, they won't have a problem. If they 
do start, it's awfully tough to get off. So if we 
can keep them from going on and maybe by 
talking to youth and telling them: No good, 
really bad for you in every way. But if they 
don't start, it will never be a problem. 

"We're also working with law enforcement 
officers to protect innocent citizens from drug 
dealers that poison our communities -- strong 
law enforcement is absolutely vital to having a 
drug-free society. I have had the opportunity 
to hear from many on the front lines of the 
opioid epidemic, and I'm confidant that by 
working with our healthcare and law 
enforcement experts we will fight this deadly 
epidemic and the United States will win. We're 
also very, very tough on the southern border 
where much of this comes in, and we're 
talking to China, where certain forms of man-
made drug comes in and it is bad. We are 
speaking to other countries, and we're getting 
cooperation. But we're being very, very strong 
on our southern border -- and I would say the 
likes of which this country certainly has never 
seen that kind of strength. 

"So, we're going to do our job, we're going to 
get it going. We're going to have a tremendous 
team of experts and people that want to beat 
this horrible situation that has happened in 
our country -- and we will. We will win. We 
have no alternative. We have to win for our 
youth. We have to win for our young people -- 
and, frankly, we have to win for a lot of other 
people, not necessarily young that are totally 
addicted and have serious, serious problems. 
So, we thank you all for being here. And we're 
going to get on with out meeting. Thank you 
very much. Thank you all. Thank you. 

TARA PALMERI | POLITICO




Tuesday, August 08, 2017
03:25 PM -0500

Date: August 8, 2017 at 3:39:53 PM EDT
Subject: Pool report #3a

President Trump speaking from a roundtable 
in a sideroom in his Bedminster, N.J. golf club 
about the opioid epidemic: 


"It's a tremendous problem in our country, and 
I hope we get it taken care of as well as it can 
be taken care of. Hopefully better than any 
other country that also has these same 
problems. Nobody is safe from this epidemic 
that threatens all -- young and old, rich and 
poor, urban and rural communities. Everybody 
is threatened. Drug overdoses are the leading 
cause of accidental death in the United States. 


"Opioid overdose deaths have nearly 
quadrupled since 1999. It's a problem, the 
likes of which we have never seen. Meanwhile 
the overall drug prosecutions have gone down 
in recent years. 


"At the end of 2016, there were 23 percent 
fewer federal prosecutions than in 2011, so 
they looked at this surge and they let it go by. 
We're not letting it go by. The average 
sentence for a drug offender decreased 20 
percent from 2009 to 2016. During my 
campaign, I promised to fight this battle 
because as President of the United States my 
greatest responsibility is to protect the 
American people and to ensure their safety, 
especially in some parts of our country, it is 
horrible. 

More statements to come. 


TARA PALMERI | POLITICO 




Monday, August 07, 2017
10:17 AM -0500

Date: August 7, 2017 at 10:08:05 AM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #2

Pool Report #2

Bridgewater, N.J.

Aug. 7, 2017

 

 

Lindsay Walters updates on Potus activities 
so far today: “This morning the president 
received his intel briefing. He also had an hour 
long call with the Secretary of State Tillerson 
and Chief of Staff General Kelly to discuss 
North Korea and receive an update on 
Secretary Tillerson’s trip.”

 

 

Peter Baker

NY Times




Sunday, August 06, 2017
11:20 AM -0500

Date: August 6, 2017 at 12:03:50 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report #2

A brief tidbit came in as the pool sat quietly 
watching CNN's "Reliable Sources." 

The president's Chief of Staff John Kelly is 
providing updates to POTUS on the crash of a 
U.S. military Osprey off the coast of Australia, 
a White House official said. 

In two emails sent roughly an hour after 
meeting with the pool at the Bridgewater 
Marriott to call a lunch lid, the official said the 
chief of staff was "keeping the President 
apprised" of "an outstanding question on the 
V22 from this mornings gathering."

The second email, sent 18 minutes after the 
initial update, corrected a typo. 

-- 
Alexander C. Kaufman
Business & Environment Reporter




Sunday, August 06, 2017
10:18 AM -0500

Date: August 6, 2017 at 11:01:31 AM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report #1

Good morning.

The pool is once based out of a conference 
room at the Marriott in Bridgewater, N.J., 
where ABC News is playing on a large 
flatscreen TV to the right of a podium and a 
roughly 10-foot-tall American flag. More than a 
dozen journalists in the pool were provided 
tea and coffee, jars of hard candies, and kits 
of office supplies equipped with scissors, 
tape, permanent markers and Liquid Paper 
white-out.

The hotel is located about 12 miles southeast 
of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster 
-- a 20-minute drive with no traffic. 

The White House has called a lunch lid until 6 
p.m.

A White House official declined to give details 
on POTUS' agenda for the day. The official 
provided no update on the crash of U.S. 
military Osprey off the coast of Australia. 

The official would not say whether POTUS 
plans to play golf, and declined to comment 
on photos posted yesterday to Instagram 
showing the president commiserating with 
guests and driving a cart on a golf course. 

-- 
Alexander C. Kaufman
Business & Environment Reporter




Friday, August 04, 2017
04:36 PM -0500

Date: August 4, 2017 at 4:00:38 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report 1 - Departure JBA

Marine One arrived to a sunny Joint Base 
Andrews at 15:52, where the small AF1 is 
waiting to whisk POTUS away for a 17 day 
vacation. 

The president stepped out of the helo a few 
minutes later, wearing a dark suit, white shirt 
and red tie. He chatted with the Air Force 
officer as he walked along the tarmac, climbed 
the steps and gave a wave before boarding.

Kelly, Kushner and Schiller followed behind.

Advisor to the president Ivanka Trump was 
already on the plane before POTUS arrived. 
She was seen with a small child in arms. 

We will roll shortly to Morristown, New Jersey.




Friday, August 04, 2017
09:56 AM -0500

Date: August 4, 2017 at 10:25:24 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report #3

Pool escorted into FEMA's National Response 
Coordination Center where POTUS was at 
head of long table. Seated at the table were 
several cabinet officials. List at bottom of 
report. Along the opposing wall was a digital 
map of the United States with some areas 
highlighted. 

Trump comments:
"We are very strong on Homeland Security 
and we're very strong in respect to FEMA," 
Trump said. "FEMA is something I've been 
very much involved in already."
And he spoke briefly about FEMA response 
when emergency funds are needed and how 
they funds are applied. 
"We've already taken care of many of the 
situations that really needed emergency 
funds," Trump said. "We do it quickly, we do it 
effectively, we have an amazing team."

President will get hurricane season update 
and then do a walk through of the command 
center. Pool holding in hallway. 


Those present per WH staff:
THE PRESIDENT
The Vice President
Mr. Ryan Zinke, Secretary of Interior
Mr. Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce
Mr. Tom Price, Secretary of Health & Human 
Services Mr. Ben Carson, Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development
Ms. Elaine Chao, Secretary of Transportation
Mr. Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy
Ms. Elaine Duke, Acting Secretary of 
Homeland Security
General John Kelly, Assistant to the President 
and Chief of Staff
Mr. Nick Ayers, Assistant to the President and 
Chief of Staff to the Vice President
Mr. Thomas Bossert, Assistant to the 
President for Homeland Security and 
Counterterrorism
Ms. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Assistant to the 
President and Press Secretary
Mr. Patrick Shanahan, Deputy Secretary of 
Defense
Mr. William “Brock” Long, Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA)
Mr. Mike Flynn, Acting Deputy Administrator 
of United States Environmental Protection 
Agency
General Joseph Lengyel, Chief of the National 
Guard Bureau, Department of Defense
General Lori Robinson, Commander, North 
American Aerospace Defense Command and 
US Northern Command, Department of 
Defense
Mr. William McGinley, Deputy Assistant to the 
President and Cabinet Secretary
Mr. John Daly, Deputy Assistant to the 
President for Homeland Security
Mr. Chad Wolf, Acting Chief of Staff, 
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Chris Krebs, Senior Counselor, 
Department of Homeland Security
Mr. Jonathan Hoffman, Assistant Secretary of 
Public Affairs, Department of Homeland 
Security
Mr. John Barsa, Acting Assistant Secretary of 
Partnership and Engagement, Department of 
Homeland Security
Dr. Stephen M. Volz, Acting Assistant 
Secretary for Environmental Observations and 
Prediction, Department of Commerce
Ms. Joan O'Hara, Deputy National Security 
Advisor to The Vice President

ADM Charles Michel, Vice Commandant, 
United States Coast Guard

LTG Todd Semonite, United States Army 
Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense

Mr. David Grant, Acting Deputy Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) Ms. Mary Erickson, Deputy 
Director of National Weather Service

Mr. Edward “Ed” Rappaport, Acting Director of 
National Hurricane Center
Mr. Doug Fears, Senior Director for Resilience 
Policy Mr. Kevin Sligh, Director for Response 
Policy
Ms. Elizabeth Neumann, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Department of Homeland Security

Mr. Eric Heighberger, Chief of Staff, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 


Sarah D. Wire
California delegation reporter
Los Angeles Times




Tuesday, July 25, 2017
05:51 PM -0500

Date: July 25, 2017 at 6:41:40 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report 4
Travel Pool Report 4
July 25, 2017
AMVETS stop, part 2
Trump took the stage in the small, hot, and 
crowded legion post at 6:26 p.m.

Trump praised Veterans Secretary Shulkin, 
who had introduced him.

He said people are now being "held 
accountable" for the health care treatment of 
our veterans. 

Trump also talked a little politics. Referring to 
the election, Trump said Democrats usually 
win Youngstown, "but not this time."

He also talked about the record stock market 
and trade deals, saying at one point: "NAFTA 
has been a disaster for Youngstown - it's been 
a disaster for Ohio."

Turning to the vets, Trump said the White 
House is sponsoring hero salute events all 
week. "A truly grateful nation salutes you," he 
told the post members.

He spent time saying his administration has 
improved VA health care, and that "the system 
has been fixed."

Pool was pulled out at 6:34 p.m., with Trump 
still speaking. We are now holding in vans, 
about to head to Youngstown.

David Jackson
USA TODAY




Tuesday, July 25, 2017
05:12 PM -0500

Date: July 25, 2017 at 5:46:08 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report 2a
Addendum to below pool report.

Spotted disembarking from Air Force One: 
Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie.

Asked what he was doing on the trip, Bossie 
said: "I heard there was a rally here."




Tuesday, July 25, 2017
05:11 PM -0500

Date: July 25, 2017 at 17:38:35 EDT
Subject: In-town pool report No. 5: Statement 
on Michael Short
Statement on the resignation of Senior 
Assistant Press Secretary Michael Short:
 
Today, White House Press Secretary Sarah 
Sanders accepted the resignation of Senior 
Assistant Press Secretary Michael Short. We 
are grateful for Michael's service and wish him 
well in his future endeavors. Please direct all 
further inquiries to the White House Press 
Office.




Monday, July 24, 2017
11:11 AM -0500

Date: July 24, 2017 at 11:51:21 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report #1

The pool was unexpectedly summoned to the 
East Room at 11:35 to view the president 
posing for a picture with White House interns 
whose tenure here is ending Aug. 11. He 
called them “a good group of talented people” 
who did a great job. He seemed to be enjoying 
himself and was in good spirits.



The interns were standing in five tiered rows 
of about 25 in each row. The president was in 
the middle of the interns, standing in the third 
tier. Two questions shouted by the pool drew 
giggles and laughter from the interns and no 
answers from the president. Asked “should 
Jeff Sessions resign,” he did not answer but 
told the interns, “They’re not supposed to do 
that.” At the second question of whether he 
had any message on health care, he 
responded, “Be quiet,” triggering more 
laughter as the pool was ushered out.



George Condon, National Journal




Saturday, July 22, 2017
10:00 AM -0500

Date: July 22, 2017 at 10:33:15 AM EDT
Subject: [WHCA Print] [WH Pool] Travel 
3 Fore arrival

Marine 1 touched down at 1013 on the 
ship's 1092 ft long runway full of 
helicopters and other aircraft next to 
Atlantic and docked naval ships. Trump 
was greeted by sec Mattis, acting naval 
sec sean stackley, and calf Richard 
McCormack. Priebus, miller, and mnuchin 
and wife exited back. 

Trump saluted and chatted briefly 
beside the ship's 10--story 
superstructure that includes all air 
traffic and control functions. He then 
walked over a small red carpet 
surrounded by "rainbow sideboys" -- men 
dressed in green, red, purple, and blue 
that designate their functions on the 
ship. The monochrome suits  and h omega 
look a bit like the tv show "Wiggles."

He then walked to a large gray platform 
that served as a giant elevator to take 
him down to the hangar base, a giant 
auditorium below. 

He wan still wearing suit and red tie. 




Saturday, July 22, 2017
09:58 AM -0500

Date: July 22, 2017 at 10:33:15 AM EDT
Subject: Travel 3 Fore arrival

Marine 1 touched down at 1013 on the 
ship's 1092 ft long runway full of 
helicopters and other aircraft next to 
Atlantic and docked naval ships. Trump 
was greeted by sec Mattis, acting naval 
sec sean stackley, and calf Richard 
McCormack. Priebus, miller, and mnuchin 
and wife exited back. 

Trump saluted and chatted briefly 
beside the ship's 10--story 
superstructure that includes all air 
traffic and control functions. He then 
walked over a small red carpet 
surrounded by "rainbow sideboys" -- men 
dressed in green, red, purple, and blue 
that designate their functions on the 
ship. The monochrome suits  and h omega 
look a bit like the tv show "Wiggles."

He then walked to a large gray platform 
that served as a giant elevator to take 
him down to the hangar base, a giant 
auditorium below. 

He wan still wearing suit and red tie.




Saturday, July 22, 2017
09:07 AM -0500

Date: July 22, 2017 at 9:52:43 AM EDT
Subject: Travel 2. Arrival 

AF 1 touched down in Norfolk at 9:41, 
where it is sunny and temperatures have 
yet to climb. Handful of traveling and 
in-town media as well as military 
watched from close range as POTUS came 
down at 9:49. He gave salutes and 
handshakes to:

Captain Richard McDaniel - Commanding 
Officer, Naval Station Norfolk
Mrs. Angela McDaniel - spouse of 
Captain McDaniel.

Pool was whisked away as he headed 
toward Marine 1




Saturday, July 22, 2017
08:44 AM -0500

Date: July 22, 2017 at 8:58:59 AM EDT
Subject: In-town Pool Report #1



POTUS walked out of the White House to 
board Marine One at 8:46 am ET en route to 
Joint Base Andrews for trip to Norfolk, Va. 

POTUS did not answer shouted questions 
about Robert Mueller, Sean Spicer or Anthony 
Scaramucci. 

POTUS smiled and waved to a small crowd of 
onlookers.  One guest wore a Trump golf shirt. 

Chief of staff Reince Priebus, senior advisor  
Stephen Miller also accompanied POTUS on 
Marine One, which lifted off at 8:52 am ET

A change of clothes, including a pair of golf 
shoes, were brought on to Marine One before 
POTUS boarded. 

Out of town pool will take over from here. 

--
Franco Ordoñez
White House Correspondent 
McClatchy Washington Bureau




Tuesday, July 18, 2017
12:37 PM -0500

Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2017 1:12 PM
Subject: In Town Pool Report #3
 
Pool was escorted in the Roosevelt Room at 
12:34. Trump, Pence, McMaster and Col 
Joseph Wawro were sitting at one side of the 
table with glasses of ice tea with a lemon 
wedge and water. Sitting opposite them were 
four military guests: First Sergeant Michael 
Wagner, USA, Master Sergeant Zachary 
Bowman, USA, Master Sergeant Henry 
Adames, USA, Major Eric Birch, USAF. POTUS 
had a printed sheet of prepared remarks that 
rested on his plate. 
 
POTUS talked about Afghanistan in 
introductory remarks for about a minute and 
then took several questions on health care. 
Full verbate below. Pool was escorted out at 
12:41.
 
 
I’m pleased to have Vice President Pence with 
us and four great soldiers. Spent a lot of time 
in Afghanistan and going to be talking to you 
about Afghanistan. What you think, your 
views, these are people on the ground, know it 
probably better than everybody, I think you 
know it pretty well right? We’re going to be 
getting some of your views. Because we’ve 
been there, it’s our longest war. We’ve been 
there, for many years, we’ve been there now 
close to 17 years. I want to find out why we’ve 
been there 17 years, how it’s going and what 
we should do in terms of additional ideas. We 
have plenty of ideas from a lot of people but I 
want to hear it from people on the ground. So 
this is actually a very important luncheon and 
it’s a great honor to have you with us and look 
forward to the discussion. We’ll wait for when 
the media leaves.
 
[Q: Are you disappointed about healthcare?]
 
I’m disappointed, very disappointed.
 
I don’t know but I’m certainly disappointed for 
7 years I’ve been hearing repeal and replace 
from Congress, I’ve been hearing it loud and 
strong and when we finally get a chance to 
repeal and replace they don’t take advantage 
of it. So that’s disappointing. So I would say 
I’m disappointed in what took place and it will 
go on and we’re going to win on taxes, we’re 
going to win on infrastructure and lots of 
other things that we’re doing. We’ve won and 
are winning the war on the border. We are very 
much decimating ISIS, you can see that, you 
can see that better than anybody see it, the 
soldiers that are here today. We’ve had a lot of 
victories but haven’t had a victory on health 
care. We are disappointed. I am very 
disappointed because again even as a civilian 
for seven years on health care, I’ve been 
hearing about repeal and replace and 
Obamacare is a total disaster. Some states 
had over a 200 percent increase, 200 percent 
increase in their premiums and their 
deductibles are through the roof, it’s an 
absolute disaster. And you’ll also agree that 
I’ve been saying for a very long time let 
Obamacare fail and then everybody is going to 
have to come together and fix it. And come up 
with a new plan and aplan that is really good 
for the people with much lower premiums, 
much lower costs, much better protection.  
I’ve been saying that, Mike, I know you’ll 
agree, let Obamacare fail and it will be a lot 
easier. And I think we're probably in that 
position where we'll let Obamacare fail. We're 
not going to own it. I'm not going to own it. I 
can tell you the Republicans are not going to 
own it. We'll let Obamacare fail and then the 
Democrats are going to come to us and they 
are going to say ‘how do we fix it, how do we 
fix it’ or ‘how do we come up with a new plan?’ 
We’ll see what happens but I am disappointed 
because for so many years, I’ve been hearing 
repeal and replace. I’m sitting in the Oval 
Office, right next door, pen in hand, waiting to 
sign something and I’ll be waiting.  And 
eventually, we’re going to get something done 
and it’s gonna be very good. But Obamacare 
is a big failure. It has to be changed. We have 
to go to a plan that works. We have to go to a 
much less expensive plan in terms of 
premiums. Something will happen and it will 
be good. It may not be as quick as we had 
hoped but it is going to happen.
 
[Q: On Lee and Moran opposing the bill last 
night]
 
They had their own reasons. I was very 
surprised when the two folks came out last 
night because we thought they were in fairly 
good shape but they did. You know, 
everybody has their own reason. If you really 
think about it, you look at it. We have 52 
people, we have no Democrat support, which 
is really something that should be said, you 
should have Democrats voting for a great plan 
for a lot of people. We had no Democrat 
support You had 52 people, you had 4 nos. No 
we might have had another one someone in 
there. But the vote would have been if you 
look at it, 48-4. That’s a pretty impressive vote 
by any standard and yet you have a vote of 48-
4 or something like that and you need more. 
That’s pretty tough. So the way I look at it is in 
18, we’re going to have to get some more 
people elected. We have to go out and get 
more people elected that are Republicans. 
And we’re have to probably pull in those few 
people who voted against it. They’ll have to 
explain to you why they did and I’m sure 
they’ll have very fine reasons. But we have to 
get more Republicans because if we get it 
passed in the House, we would have gotten it 
very much----you know you can’t use his head 
as a stand, we don’t want that to happen. 
You’re messing with the wrong guy here---I 
think ‘we’re doing very well actually in 18. I 
would be not surprised if something is done 
long before that. In any case, because the 
margin is so small, the majority margin is so 
small, we’re going to have to go out and get 
more Republicans elected in ’18. I’ll be 
working very hard for that to happen. It would 
be nice to get Democrat support but really 
they are obstructionists. They have no ideas. 
They have no thought process. All they want 
to do is obstruct government and obstruct 
period. In this case, think of it, so many good 
things we didn’t get one vote and their plan 
has failed. And, by the way, Obamacare isn’t 
failing. It’s failed. Done.
 
[Q: Do you blame Mitch McConnell. Is this his 
fault?]
 
No
 
 
 
--
Ben Jacobs
 
Political Reporter
The Guardian




Monday, July 17, 2017
03:58 PM -0500


From: Benning, Tom 
[mailto:tbenning@dallasnews.com] 
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2017 4:31 PM
Subject: pool report #3 -- Trump 
health care comments
 
Going a little out of order here to 
get you POTUS' comments on health 
care, which came as part of a 13-
minute speech in the East Room. (I'll 
have more on that speech and the 
inside part of the Made in America 
tour in a moment.)
 
Trump got his loudest applause in the 
East Room when he said "we must repeal 
job-killing Obamacare." And he was 
quick to add that he hopes Sen. John 
McCain "gets better very soon" from 
the surgery he had to remove a blood 
clot.
 
"Because we miss him. He's a crusty 
voice in Washington," Trump said, 
before referring the fact that the 
health care vote is delayed while 
McCain remains back in Arizona. "Plus, 
we need his vote." 
 
The president said multiple times that 
McCain would be back -- "sooner than 
somebody else would be back." But he 
also stressed that "we need that vote" 
-- "and we need a number of votes 
because we have to repeal Obamacare."
 
Trump said Republicans would replace 
the health care law with "something 
that is going to be outstanding." 
"Far, far better than failing 
Obamacare," he said. He blasted 
Obamacare by saying that "every single 
element of it is bad."
 
"We're going to get that done," he 
said. "And I think we're going to 
surprise a lot of people."
 
The president said that Republicans 
are "pushing very hard" and that the 
"Republican senators are great 
people." But he explained that "some 
states need this, some states need 
that."
 
"But we're getting it together," he 
said. "And it's going to happen."
 
Trump then turned to Vice President 
Mike Pence, who had introduced him.
 
"Right, Mike?" he said.
 
Pence responded, "Yessir."




Sunday, July 16, 2017
11:25 AM -0500

Date: July 16, 2017 at 10:57:28 AM EDT
Subject: Bedminster 7/16 pool report #1

Hello from the Embassy Suites in Piscataway 
Township,
 NJ. 
We'll be heading to Bedminster early this 
afternoon. No word on the president's 
schedule for the day, though he is expected to 
continue watching the U.S. Women's Open 
golf tournament at his golf club.

The pool was briefed this morning on the 
administration's
 upcoming "Made in America" week, the latest 
policy-themed week organized by the White 
House.

Some events on the schedule, according to 
White House
 spokeswoman Helen Aguirre Ferre:

-Monday: there will be a "made in America 
product showcase,"
 in which American-made products from all 50 
states will be brought to the White House.

-Wednesday:
 the president will issue a proclamation on the 
importance of making products in America.


-In addition, the president will go to Newport 
News, Va.,
 on Saturday for the commissioning of the 
USS Gerald R. Ford.

After "Made in America" week, there will be a 
themed week
 called "American Heroes" and another after 
that called "American Dream." Your pooler 
was given no additional details on those 
weeks.

Helen was asked whether the president would 
use “Made
 in America” week to push Ivanka Trump's 
clothing line to produce products in America, 
rather than overseas. “We’ll get back to you 
on that,” she said.

She declined to say whether the president 
made calls to
 senators over the weekend on the health care 
bill. “The president has been monitoring 
what’s going on with health care and he and 
his staff have been involved with what’s going 
on in the senate,” she said.

Asked for a reaction to Mitch McConnell’s 
decision to
 “defer” a vote on the health care bill amid 
Sen. John McCain’s surgery, Helen said, “We 
wish Sen. McCain a speedy recovery.”



A senior administration then briefed the pool, 
listing
 a litany of the administration's actions over 
the last six months.

Two notable highlights:

Asked if the administration is considering 
import tariffs
 on products manufactured in other countries, 
the official said, "I think at this stage, 
everything is on the table.” The official 
declined to say when the Commerce 
Department would release the findings of its 
Section 232 investigations on steel and 
aluminum.
 “I don’t know that there’s any specific 
timeline as to when secretary ross will finalize 
and submit either of the two investigations,” 
the official said.

Asked why there hasn’t been a health care-
themed week,
 the administration official said the weeks 
aren’t meant to be exclusively about the 
theme, adding that the White House is focused 
on health care every day.

Andrew Restuccia
POLITICO




Saturday, July 15, 2017
04:01 PM -0500

Date: July 15, 2017 at 4:26:17 PM EDT
Subject: NJ pool report 5: more golf 
miscellany, one airspace note
We're still watching the president watch golf 
from a screen inside his viewing box, 
sometimes stopping to come back to the 
window to wave. 

Small item of note: the location of the 
president's box has set up a somewhat odd 
situation where people watching him have 
their backs to play around the 15th hole. As 
Andrew said, sometimes their excitement has 
created noise that's irked fans, who note 
things like "Quiet! Jesus, we're on a golf 
course."

And while many people have been excited to 
stop and look for the red hat, a few have also 
made clear they're angry. One woman 
stomped by saying she wanted to lift a finger 
at the box. Supplemental pool caught up with 
her and she said she was here to support 
women's golf and was angry that the president 
was here. She declined to give her name.

It is also fair to say that while the president's 
box appears to have an excellent view of the 
15th hole, the president has not turned to 
watch play directly, preferring instead to focus 
on the televised game. 

That was also true when competitor Lexi 
Thompson, who as noted in yesterday's pool 
report has played with the president in Florida, 
was playing at the 15th hole. 

Noting: Around 3.40pm photographers 
spotted what appeared to be activity over the 
golf course from a helicopter, a small plane 
and a fighter jet. As of 4.20pm, only the small 
plane is still going around. The tail number on 
the small plane has been tracked to Fox 
Sports, which owns the broadcast rights to 
the tournament. It appears as if the initial 
activity was to check out the small plane. 
-- 
Reporter The Wall Street Journal 




Saturday, July 15, 2017
02:06 PM -0500

Date: July 15, 2017 at 2:53:31 PM EDT
Subject: Bedminster pool report #3

POTUS spoke with Suzann Pettersen in 
the glass-enclosed viewing area for 
about 10 minutes. Pettersen was ID'd 
by several photographers, and your 
pooler (who knows nothing about golf) 
has confirmed it was her. 

POTUS gave Pettersen a blue "Make 
America Great Again" hat. She held the 
hat up and the crowd cheered. He 
kissed her on both cheeks when they 
greeted each other. 

Pettersen is a Norwegian golfer who is 
playing in this weekend's tournament. 

POTUS is now watching golf in the 
viewing area. 

Apologies for the typo in the previous 
report. It should be "golf course," 
not "gold course, though there is 
certainly a gold motif here. 

The White House has declined to 
provide more details on the 
president's plans for the rest of the 
day. 

Sent from my iPhone




Saturday, July 15, 2017
02:03 PM -0500

Date: July 15, 2017 at 2:35:42 PM EDT
Subject: Bedminster pool report #2 / 
POTUS arrives 

POTUS arrived at the golf course at 
2:29 pm in a black SUV. He was wearing 
a suit with a white dress shirt and no 
tie, along with a red "Make America 
Great Again" hat. 

He appeared to ask the crowd how the 
gold course is, though your pooler 
couldn't make out exactly what he 
said. Guests responded, "good!"

People yelled, "I love you!" as he 
entered a glass-enclosed viewing area 
near the 15th hole. The president 
waved. 

It's a beautiful day in Bedminster -- 
a welcome change from yesterday's 
rain. Hundreds of people are milling 
about, watching the U.S. Women's Open 
golf tournament. Earlier this 
afternoon , several guests were heard 
wondering aloud when the the president 
might arrive. 

Guests crowded onto the clubhouse 
balcony, where it appears that staff 
are grilling for those allowed into 
the clubhouse (reporters are not 
permitted there). 

The White House has not provided any 
details on the president's plans for 
the rest of the day, nor have they 
provided a list of his golf-watching 
partners. There area out a dozen 
people in the glass viewing booth with 
POTUS 

POTUS tweeted several times this 
morning. One of the tweets touted this 
weekend's golf tournament. It was at 
least the third time he promoted the 
tournament on Twitter. 

Dan Scavino was spotted earlier in the 
glass viewing stand next to the 15th 
hole. 




Saturday, July 15, 2017
02:02 PM -0500

Date: July 15, 2017 at 1:57:42 PM EDT
Subject: [WHCA Print] [WH Pool] Out-
of-town pool addendum from AF1 ride to 
Paris 7/12/2017

This should have gone out when we were 
wheels-down at Orly on Thursday 
morning and inadvertently didn't - 
here is the color pool report from 
POTUS visit to press cabin. 

POTUS came back to the press cabin at 
roughly 9:20 EST, almost 1 hour 45 
mins after wheels-up from JBA. 
Earlier, we had been told not to 
expect a visit from him. 

POTUS was wearing his suit and white 
dress shirt but no necktie. He was 
accompanied by Sarah Sanders, Mike 
Anton and a stenographer. POTUS stood 
just inside the doorway of the press 
cabin as he talked to us for the 
duration of the roughly 60 minutes, 
with Anton leaning in behind him to 
hear what was said. Sanders stood to 
his right, also slightly behind him. 

POTUS's mood was pretty chipper. There 
were relatively minimal references to 
"fake news" or expressions of his 
frustration with the press. At least 
once, Sanders tried to get him to wrap 
up, but he said he would stay a bit 
longer and continue fielding 
questions. He seemed to be looking 
forward to the France trip and the 
Bastille Day celebration. 

The transcript that was released by 
White House had portions that remained 
OTR.  

-- 
Maggie Haberman 
New York Times




Friday, July 14, 2017
07:14 PM -0500

Date: July 14, 2017 at 6:55:36 PM EDT
Subject: NJ pool report 6: golf 
miscellany

Lexi Thompson, one of the competitors 
here, has played before with the 
president in Florida, so she said she 
felt "pretty comfortable" playing in 
front of him here today. Golf 
reporters asked her what his game was 
like: "He plays very fast," she said. 
"It's definitely entertaining" to have 
him here. 

Stacey Lewis, another competitor, was 
asked whether she was aware of the 
president's presence as she was 
playing. "I honestly had no idea where 
he actually was," she said.

One of the previously unidentified men 
in the viewing area was Mickie 
Gallagher, the course's director of 
golf. 

(Hat tips to Andy Vasquez of the 
Bergen Record and Bill Fields of 
ESPNW.)

-- 
Louise Radnofsky
The Wall Street Journal




Friday, July 14, 2017
07:13 PM -0500

Date: July 14, 2017 at 6:32:41 PM EDT
Subject: New Jersey pool report #5

After watching golf on TV with about a 
dozen people for about an hour, the 
president exited a glass-enclosed 
viewing stand at 5:24 pm and got into 
a black SUV. It's unclear where the 
president is going. 

As he exited, a man yelled, "that's my 
president!" Another exclaimed, "thank 
you!" A crowd of several dozen people 
gathered on the balcony of the golf 
club's clubhouse and waved as POTUS 
departed.  

Your pooler has requested a list of 
people who joined POTUS in the viewing 
room, but the White House has not yet 
responded. 




Friday, July 14, 2017
04:33 PM -0500

Date: July 14, 2017 at 4:36:37 PM EDT
Subject: New Jersey pool report #3

The pool is currently holding in the 
press tent alongside the other 
reporters covering the U.S. Women's 
Open golf tournament, which is 
currently taking place at the Trump 
National Golf Club here in Bedminster.


The rainy weather has not yet delayed 
the tournament, according to a 
volunteer.


Your pooler has asked the White House 
for more details on the president's 
movements, and whether he is making 
calls on the Republican health care 
bill. I will forward along the White 
House response if and when I get it. 


As of now, we have no update on the 
president's schedule for the rest of 
the day. Your pooler has not spotted 
the president since we left Newark. 


Andrew Restuccia
POLITICO




Friday, July 14, 2017
03:02 PM -0500

Date: July 14, 2017 at 3:00:22 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #7 / POTUS 
arrival in Newark

It is raining lightly in Newark. At 
2:54 pm, POTUS and FLOTUS walked down 
the steps of AF1. President Trump held 
a large black umbrella over the two of 
them. 

The two stepped into the limo and the 
motorcade departed.  

Your pooler is handing off after a 
whirlwind trip to the City of Lights. 
Now sleep. 

Brian Bennett
Los Angeles Times




Sunday, July 09, 2017
09:49 AM -0500

Sent: Sunday, July 9, 2017 10:28 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #3 - Israel 
statement
 
From a White House official:
 
"Special Representative for International 
Negotiations Jason Greenblatt is heading to 
Israel on Sunday Night to meet with 
Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. While 
the primary purpose of his trip is to meet with 
the Ambassador now that the Ambassador is 
on the ground and fully installed in his 
position, Greenblatt will also likely be taking 
meetings relevant to both the Israelis and the 
Palestinians. We will keep you updated on the 
schedule. This trip is an interim visit as talks 
continue about potential next steps. President 
Trump has made it clear that working towards 
achieving a lasting peace agreement between 
the Israelis and Palestinians is a top priority 
for him."
 
Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA




Sunday, July 09, 2017
09:46 AM -0500

Date: July 9, 2017 at 10:15:28 AM EDT
Subject: In-town pool report #2
After a roughly 35 minute, uneventful ride 
down highway 267 into Virginia, the 
motorcade pulled up at 10:14 a.m. to the 
familiar Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, 
Va.
The motorcade split and pool vans pulled up 
to the tennis clubhouse where we expect to 
hold.
Pool has received no word as to the 
president's activities today.

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA




Saturday, July 08, 2017
05:07 PM -0500

Sent: Saturday, July 8, 2017 5:14 PM
Subject: In-Town Pool Report #1 - Syria news
 
Greetings. A spot of news from the White 
House. Note: A hard copy has been handed to 
our colleagues aboard AF1.

 
This is a statement from HR McMaster:
  
"At noon local time tomorrow, a de-escalation 
zone in southwest Syria will begin to take 
effect.  Such zones are a priority for the United 
States, and we’re encouraged by the progress 
made to reach this agreement.
 
After achieving this hopeful step with the 
governments of Russia and Jordan, President 
Trump discussed the agreement with many 
world leaders at the G20 Summit, including 
President Erdogan, Prime Minister May, and 
Chancellor Merkel.
 
The United States remains committed to 
defeating ISIS, helping to end the conflict in 
Syria, reducing suffering, and enabling people 
to return to their homes.  This agreement is an 
important step toward these common goals."
 
 
Olivier Knox Chief Washington Correspondent 
Yahoo News




Saturday, July 08, 2017
12:50 PM -0500

Date: July 8, 2017 at 6:06:12 PM GMT+2
Subject: Travel pool report 9 - motorcade and 
lift
At 17:17 the motorcade sped away from the 
Hamburg Messe, whose blue carpets and 
modernist chairs have been home for the last 
two/three days. 

We passed a group of people waving and 
holding Russian flags (Putin just left ahead of 
us) and plenty of riot cops. 

We sped around the lake there were some 
onlookers who waved from behind the 
barricades. 

At 17:21 the motorcade pulled to a stop, there 
was a fair bit of confusion, with some people 
running from the vehicles in front. It turned 
out we were already at the landing zone.

Your pool moved toward the LZ proper as 
Marine One took off, we stopped and sheltered 
from the wash behind a white van but were 
urgently moved out of the way by German 
police. That is when we realized the van was a 
sniper position and we were standing right in 
front of the sights of a marksman. 

At 17:30 another helo landed. Your poolers, 
now caked in dust, watched as Cohn, Powell,  
and S. Miller boarded. 

At 17:37 another helo provided a fresh pelting 
with debris. 

We landed at the airport about six minutes 
later, by Air Force One, ahead of POTUS. 

At 17:52 Marine One landed, a few moments 
later the President and First Lady walked and 
greeted six individuals waiting at the bottoms 
of the steps. 

The first couple then climbed up the steps, 
gave a quick wave and entered Air Force One. 

At 18:05 we are rolling. Next stop, Joint Base 
Andrews.




Saturday, July 08, 2017
12:47 PM -0500

Date: July 8, 2017 at 5:10:42 PM GMT+2
Subject: Supplemental pool - Ivanka 

This supplemental pool for the Ivanka event 
earlier comes courtesy of Andrea Shalal of 
Reuters. 

White House adviser Ivanka Trump on 
Saturday joined a panel that included World 
Bank President IMF Managing Director 
Christine Lagarde and three female 
entrepreneurs from Morocco, Tunisia and 
South Africa to discuss the World Bank’s new 
Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-
Fi). 
World Bank President President Jim Yong Kim 
said the project had drawn rapid support from 
a number of big countries, including Germany, 
the United States, Saudi Arabia and UAE after 
it was first initiated about five months ago. He 
said Ivanka Trump was the catalyst for long-
overdue action, bringing her own business 
experience and clout to what he said would be 
an important initiative to drive economic 
growth and help reduce chronic inequities still 
facing women, especially in developing 
countries. “This is going to be a what we hope 
will be a multibillion dollar fund to support 
women entrepreneurs,” he said.
 
Ivanka, who wore a pink tailored dress,  said it 
was exciting how quickly the project caught 
on. “It all started in a conversation with 
President Kim about what’s being done 
around the world to fuel female 
entrepeneurship. And we all know, and study 
after study shows, showed that investing in 
women is not only the right thing to do, but it’s 
also a very strategically prudent thing to do as 
you think about developing those economies.” 
She said she was surprised at how little was 
being done to promote female business-
owners.  She said there was a female credit 
deficit of around $300 billion.
 
Kim noted that he was the only man on the 
panel and said it gave him insight into what 
Lagarde, who had been the first female G7 
finance minister, faced at events she attended 
as the only woman.  “I’m quite overwhelmed 
to be the only man on this panel,” he said. He 
said the initiative was needed given ongoing 
issues that women faced in getting credit for 
their ventures. Ivanka’s backing was 
important, he said. “We haven’t done this 
before and at this speed because we haven’t 
had a global champion who was willing to put 
it all on the line. When you have a champion it 
always works better if the champion knows 
the field and knows what they’re talking 
about.” He said the bank had received $325 
million in initial donations, and more could 
still come in.
 
“The moral imperative is so clear,” Kim said, 
adding that it also made sense to invest in 
women because they were more credit-worthy, 
invested in their families and communities and 
hired more women. “We think that this is 
going to be a major driver of economic growth 
in the future.
This is not a cute little project. This is going to 
drive economic growth and it’s going to drive 
gender equality at the same time,” he said.
 
Lagarde said the project made sense. “For 
anyone who is results-driven, investing in 
women is a no-brainer,” she said.
 
United Nations Secretary General Antonio 
Guterres, seated in the front row of the 
audience, also welcomed creation of the 
facility.
“The empowerment of women is absolutely 
essential,” he said, noting that the world was 
seeing a certain regression in women’s rights 
and issues especially in the private setor. He 
cited areas such as the digital and high-tech 
sectors where he said “male dominated 
cultures” were developing.
“This is a crucial battle and you are in the 
center of that battle,” he said.
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 
joined the event, and later told the audience 
that Canada was promoting a new feminist 
guided foreign policy. He said Canada was 
donating $20 million for the fund.  “If we want 
to change the world, we have to invest in 
women,” he said.
 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel. U.S. 
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Treasury 
Secretary Mnuchin also were in the room. 
Merkel said the initiative proved that the G20 
was more than just a two-day summit, noting 
that the initiative was first discussed several 
months ago during a G20 event focused on 
women that Ivanka Trump also attended. 
Ivanka Trump kissed Merkel when she arrived. 
Merkel made a special point of saying 
goodbye to her before she left the event, also 
posing for selfies with the women 
entrepreneurs.  She lauded the speed with 
which the new credit facility had been created. 
“If everything went as quickly at the World 
Bank … then we would be much more 
efficient.”

Several other G20 leaders joined President 
Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 
including British Prime Minister Theresa May 
and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm 
Turnbull.  Upbeat mood all around.  
 
 
Andrea Shalal
Senior Correspondent
Thomson Reuters




Saturday, July 01, 2017
10:03 PM -0500

Date: July 1, 2017 at 9:26:55 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool 5/Trump remarks

 

Potus spoke before a nearly full Kennedy 
Center concert hall, using his remarks to 
honor and rally veterans and Christians. He 
also devoted a chunk of the address to 
bashing and taunting the press.  

A church choir was onstage before Trump 
took the microphone, performing a song titled 
“Make America Great Again,” which 
apparently was the first time it had been 
performed. The conductor said it was written 
and composed by Gary Moore of First Baptist 
Church in Dallas, who was in the audience and 
stood to receive applause. That was followed 
by Battle Hymn of the Republic, during which 
the audience stood and waved miniature 
American flags.

Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist 
Church of Dallas, who introduced Trump, 
called his victory “the greatest political upset 
in American history. On that day, Nov. 8, that 
God declared the people, not the pollsters, 
were going to elect the next president of the 
United States and they chose Donald Trump.”

Jeffress: “Wherever I go, people are more 
excited about Donald Trump than on election 
day.”

Jeffress: “Millions of Americans believe that 
[Trump’s victory] represented god giving us 
our next chance, perhaps our last chance, to 
Make America Great Again.”

Trump took the stage to a standing ovation 
and raucous applause.

Speaking to veterans, Potus said of his first 
Independence Day event: “There is no place I 
would rather be than with you.” He touted the 
Veterans’ Accountability Act he signed last 
week, saying that for “40 years” other 
administrations have failed to reform the VA 
leading to “robbing, stealing, hurting people.” 
But VA staff could never be held accountable. 
Now, with the VA Act, “you can finally say 
you’re fired,” he said.

More quotes from Potus, who at one point 
asked veterans in the audience stand to be 
honored.

“I was left a mess, the fact is, but we’re 
cleaning it up. You watch.”

“We love our families, we love our freedom 
and we love our God.”

ON THE PRESS:
Some quotes: “My administration is 
transferring power outside of Washington and 
returning it to where it belongs, the people. 
The fake media is trying to silence us but we 
will not let them. The people know the truth. 
The fake media tried to stop us from going to 
the White House, but I’m president and they’re 
not.”

“The fact is the press destroyed themselves 
because they went too far. Instead of being 
subtle and smart, they used the hatchet and 
the people saw it right from the beginning.”

“The dishonest media will not stop us from 
accomplishing our objectives on behalf of the 
American people. Their agenda is not your 
agenda.”

He said he would never stop fighting for the 
people. “I am delivering on trade, on the 
economy, the Supreme Court, on the Second 
Amendment, on the military and for our 
veterans and on our borders.”

“Parents not bureaucrats know best how to 
raise their children and create a thriving 
society.”

“In America, we don’t worship government, we 
worship god.” That line prompted the crowd to 
chant, “USA!”

To veterans and Wounded Warriors: “You have 
an entire nation of 300 million people behind 
you. And our nation’s getting strong again, 
have you noticed?”

Trump called out several veterans by name 
and praised their service and heroism, 
including an 89-y/o WWII veteran.

ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY:

“My administration will always support and 
defend your religious liberty. We don’t want to 
see God forced out of our public squares… 
We want to see prayers before football games 
if they want to say prayers.”

“No one is going to stop you from practicing 
your faith or saying what’s in your heart.”

“One of the greatest threats to religious liberty 
is terrorism, and specifically radical Islamic 
terrorism. We cannot allow this terrorism and 
extremism to spread in our country or find 
sanctuary on our shores or in our cities.”

He said people in the United States should 
“share our values,” and he pledged again: 
“We will build the wall” on the Mexican border.




Friday, June 30, 2017
04:44 PM -0500

Date: June 30, 2017 at 4:21:29 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report #1 –  JBA 
departure


On a warm, windy and sunny Washington 
afternoon, POTUS landed in Marine One at 
4:18 pm eastern time and quickly boarded the 
small AF1 for the 50-minute flight to 
Bedminster, NJ.

Your pooler saw FLOTUS, Baron Trump, 
FLOTUS parents, Keith Schiller. We are told 
Hope Hicks is on the plane and Lindsay 
Walters from the press office. 

We do not expect a gaggle during the short 
flight north. About to board the plane at 4:21 
pm and expect wheels up shortly. 





-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Friday, June 30, 2017
04:43 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 4:41 PM
Subject: In-town pool report #11
 
June 30, 2017
 
The White House passes on this list of 
officials who attended the executive order:
 
Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut, 1963 – 1971
Gene Kranz, Apollo 13 Flight Director
Benjamin Drew, NASA Astronaut, 2000 - 
Present
David Wolf, NASA Astronaut, 1983 - 2013
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
Under Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow
Dawn Eilenberger, Acting Deputy Director of 
National Intelligence
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
Rep. John Culberson (R-TX)
Rep. Steve Palazzo (R-MS)
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX)
Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL)
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Former Rep. Bob Walker (R-PA)
Sandy Magnus, Executive Director American 
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
David Melcher, Executive Director Aerospace 
Industries Association
Tory Bruno, CEO United Launch Alliance
Michal Riley, CEO AMRO Fabricating 
Corporation
John Couch, President Futuramic
Mike Cain, Owner Cain Tubular Products
Mary Lynne Dittmar, Executive Director 
Coalition for Deep Space Exploration
Dennis Muilenburg, CEO Boeing Company
Marilyn Hewson, CEO Lockheed Martin
Wes Bush, CEO Northrop Grumman
 
--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers




Friday, June 30, 2017
04:31 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 4:30 PM
Subject: In-town pool report #10
 
June 30, 2017
 
A few more POTUS quotes from the executive 
order signing, including a funny line and a 
mention of Korea trade.
 
"Today's announcement sends a clear signal 
to the world that we are restoring Americas 
proud legacy of leadership in space."
 
"Our journey into space will not make us 
stronger and more prosperous but will unite 
us behind grand ambitious and bring us all 
closer together. Wouldn't that be nice? Can 
you believe space is going to do that? I 
thought politics was going to do that." The 
room erupted in laughter/

POTUS called the council the "central hub" for 
space policy in his administration. The council 
will be made up of US officials, including the 
secretaries of State, Defense, Commerce, DHS 
and Transportation. An advisory board of 
private sector officials will advise the 
administration. POTUS said those members 
have not been selected yet. "Everyone wants 
to be on this board," he said.

POTUS also made reference to the earlier 
Korea visit when he saw Wilbur Ross in the 
room.

“We’re also joined by our great Secretary of 
Commerce, Wilbur Ross, who spent the 
morning negotiating trade deals with South 
Korea. And as you know, that trade deal is 
coming due, and it actually came due a couple 
of weeks ago. And I think we’re going to make 
a good deal, right?”

"We made some progress," Ross responded.

POTUS responded: "I think so, that’s what the 
word is, and good for both countries.”
 
Please check quotes against transcript.
 
--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers




Wednesday, June 21, 2017
06:49 PM -0500

Subject: Out-of-town pool report #3



Air Force One arrived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 
6:44 EST

White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay 
Walters participated in a gaggle aboard Air 
Force One. She was joined by Ag Sec. Perdue. 
(This was Walters first gaggle. )

Walters provided a brief preview of the speech 
saying POTUS will highlight the technological 
advancements in agriculture. He will focus on 
precision agriculture and trade. She said it's 
not just Silicon Valley that's taking advantage 
of tech but also other sectors, including 
agriculture.

POTUS will point out that it's not only about 
the advances in technological equipment but 
also the data and being able to use that data 
to its fullest potential. A big part of that is the 
initiative to bring broadband connectivity to 
more rural areas.

Walters said it's also a chance for a sendoff 
for former governor Branstad who is now 
ambassador of China.

Walters said Branstad was a great 
ambassador for Iowa and now will be an 
ambassador for the country in China and on 
trade.

Walters took several questions from the pool 
before passing baton to the Secretary.

·         On whether POTUS has given up on 
China helping with NK: “I’m not going to 
predict what the president… I’m not going to 
project his strategy. The tweets speak for 
themselves.”

·         Will there be any new programs or 
policies announced today: “I’m not going to 
get ahead of what the president’s speeches 
are going to be.” Se added that he would 
focus on precision agriculture and his 
commitment to work with Congress on 
increasing broadband connectivity for rural 
communities.

·         Did POTUS’ China tweet effect Sec. of 
State’s meeting with Chinese? “I’m not going 
to weigh in to the impact of tweets. … We’re 
not going to project the president’s strategy 
publicly.”

·         Will the WH suspend Kushner’s security 
clearance, as Democrats have suggested, or 
hand over the documents they’ve requested? 
“That’s something I’ll have to get back to you 
on.”

·         Does POTUS believe GA-6 was a 
personal victory? “The president is obviously 
happy with both of the wins. This just shows 
that the American people are resonating with 
the president’s agenda, and that they want to 
advance the president’s agenda. The 
American people care about having a better 
health care system that works for all 
Americans, for bringing jobs back to America, 
for growing our economy and making sure our 
nation is safe. So both wins in Georgia and 
South Carolina show that the American people 
want the president’s agenda enacted. They 
want they people of Washington to work with 
the president.”

·         Any updates on Comey tapes, POTUS’s 
reading of the health care bill, or his views on 
climate change?

o   “When it comes to the Comey tapes, I don’t 
have anything further than what Sean had, 
other than I can tell you that there will be 
something this week.”

o   “As for the Senate health care bill, the 
appropriate individuals have seen the bill. The 
president had the 13 senators over last week 
for dinner. The vice president has been going 
weekly to the senate lunches, where the focus 
of conversations has largely been on health 
care as well as the presentations. And the 
president’s legislative team has been working 
with the Senate leadership team as well as 
members on the Senate side. And the 
president has received a full brief from his 
legislative team.”

o   On climate: “I have nothing further than 
what’s been said on that before, that the 
president believes that the climate does effect 
things. Some good, some bad.”

·         Reaction to stabbing in Flint: “The 
president was briefed on the situation. As for 
any further details, I’ll have to get back to 
you.”

·         On Congressional Black Caucus 
declining invitation to the White House: “I’ll 
need to look into our official response. I do 
know the president had the leadership in. 
There was an invitation extended to all the 
membership.”

·         On whether POTUS will meet Putin in 
Germany: “I don’t have an announcement at 
this time.”

·         Response to report that Flynn didn’t 
report Saudi trip: “I’m going to need to refer 
you to Kasowitz.”

·         Has staff been given guidance on hiring 
personal attorneys re: Russia probe, and has 
Priebus, Spicer or Bannon hired attorneys: 
“I’m not going to comment on what 
individuals inside the White House have 
decided to do. You’re going to need to ask 
those individuals. And even furthermore, I 
would recommend you reach out to Marc 
Kasowitz.”

·         On whether POTUS has spoken to new 
Saudi crown prince: “I’ll look into that.”

Sec. Perdue then reemphasized many of the 
points made by Walters. He said POTUS will 
see great advancements such as self driving 
combines and witness how science and 
technology have played a big role in ag.

On precision agriculture, he said importance 
is using less resources, less fertilizer, and 
having less of a carbon footprint .

He highlighted food safety being a zero 
tolerance issue.

A large focus of his talk was the initiative to 
bring broadband to rural communities. Said 
govt help (local,state and federal) is needed 
too bring more connectivity but did not say 
how much or how much it's cost.

Perdue also reiterated that votes in Ga was a 
reaffirmation of Trump's agenda. He said 
Dems tried to make it a referendum and it was. 
And

"That's exactly what the vote was" Perdue 
said.

He said voters want to see Trumps agenda 
implemented.

POTUS emerged from AF1 at 6:48 on a rainy 
Iowa day.

Motorcade was moving at 6:51.

A big thanks to fellow pooler Mike Bender of 
WSJ.

[image1.JPG]

Congrats to Walters on first gaggle
--
Franco Ordoñez
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Washington Bureau




Wednesday, June 14, 2017
01:41 PM -0500

Date: June 14, 2017 at 12:21:31 
Subject: pool report 6
Just in case, poolster is passing this on from 
WH staff:
Today at the White House, Secretary of Health 
and Human Services Dr. Tom Price, 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services Seema Verma, and White 
House staff met with medical and healthcare 
professionals who have been adversely 
affected by the disastrous Obamacare law. 
This listening session is one of many the 
White House has hosted as the Administration 
continues to work with Congress to a path 
forward to repealing and replacing 
Obamacare, and reforming the broken 
healthcare system. These doctors and medical 
professionals represent many different 
specialties, and each have a unique 
perspective on how Obamacare has adversely 
affected their practice.  
 
The individuals who participated in the 
roundtable include:
 
•             Dr. Joseph Abboud – Orthopedic 
Surgeon, Philadelphia, PA
•             Dr. Ralph Alvarado– Primary Care 
Doctor and State Senator, Winchester, KY
•             Dr. Robin L. Armstrong – Internist, 
Houston, TX
•             Dr. David L. Cannon - Orthopedic 
Surgeon, Germantown, TN
•             Dr. Raymond DeCorte - General 
Surgeon, Metairie, LA
•             Dr. Ada Fisher – Retired Physician, 
Salisbury, NC
•             Ms. Tonya Horton – Small Medical 
Business Owner, Patient, Employer, AR
•             Dr. Thomas Little - Cardiologist, 
Cookeville, TN
•             Dr. Ryan Stanton - Emergency Medical 
Doctor, Lexington, KY
•             Dr. William Thornbury – Primary Care 
Physician, Family Practice, Glascow, KY  
•             Dr. Joe Uddo - General Surgeon, 
Metairie, LA
•             Dr. Jill Vecchio - Radiologist, Denver, 
CO
•             Dr. Anthony Vintzileos - Obstetrician-
Gynecologist, Mineola, NY
 
 
Kevin Diaz
Washington Correspondent
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers




Tuesday, June 13, 2017
12:30 PM -0500

Date: June 13, 2017 at 1:13:01 PM EDT
Subject: WH Pool Report 2b

 

Below are some of POTUS’s remarks from the 
Cabinet Room pool spray. (Please note that 
not all paragraphs are quotes – some are 
paraphrasing.)

 

(NB: The president was asked at least four 
separate times at the end about whether 
special counsel Robert Mueller should be 
fired. He did not answer the question.)

 

"Republican senators, we're going to be 
discussing the urgent need to repeal and 
replace the disaster known as Obamacare."

 

“It was just announced yesterday that 2 
million people have dropped out of 
Obamacare. 2 million additional. They are 
leaving fast."

 

Trump then read off a list of how much 
premiums have increased nationally and in 
some states.

 

“Insurers are fleeing the market. Last week it 
was announced that one of the largest 
insurers is pulling out of Ohio, the great state 
of Ohio, that could mean another 20 counties. 
At least 19,000 people in Ohio will have no 
plan at all."

 

“Obamacare is broken and it's been a broken 
promise."

 

“The House has passed a bill and now the 
Senate is working very, very hard and 
specifically the folks in this room and I really 
appreciate what you're doing to come out with 
a bill that's going to be a phenomenal bill to 
the people of our country: generous, kind, 
with heart. That's what I'm saying."

 

“You have the Democrats on the other side, 
who have truly become obstructionists. Even 
their new motto: Resist. And I guess it's a 
pretty accurate motto. Every time I see it, I say, 
that's right, that does represent the 
Democrats. It's called 'Resist,' and it's very 
unfortunate."

 

Trump said that even if he and Republicans 
came up with up with the best tax cut plan in 
history, they wouldn't get one "Democrat" 
vote.

 

"We've passed and signed 38 pieces of 
legislation, which nobody likes to talk about. I 
think probably seldom has any president and 
administration done more or had more 
success so early on."

 

Trump said jobs are starting "that would never 
have started, ever, under any circumstances."

 

"I'd like to thank all of the senators who I have 
so much respect for. I've gotten to know and 
love some of them, and know and like others. 
But I have great relationships with every one 
of them."

 

"Unemployment has fallen to a 16-year low, 
and manufacturing confidence is at an all-time 
high."

 

Trump said companies are moving back into 
the United States, and said he is happy that a 
new coal mine is opening up in Pennsylvania.

 

Trump said the next priorities will be tax cuts 
and reform and his infrastructure plan.

 

"So we've kept our promises, we've gotten rid 
of the regulations, the economy is going really 
well and going to get even a lot better."

 

Trump predicted that the second-quarter GDP 
numbers would be "shockingly good."

 

-30-

 
_______________________
 
S.V. Dáte
Senior White House Correspondent
HuffPost




Sunday, June 11, 2017
04:32 PM -0500

Date: June 11, 2017 at 5:07:36 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #2/NJ fund-raiser
The pool departed its hotel in Branchburg, NJ, 
about 4:55 pm en route Newark International 
Airport. As far as we know, the president 
remains at Trump National Golf Club in 
Bedminster.

At 4 pm he was scheduled to headline a 
fundraiser for Rep. Tom MacArthur at the club. 
The event remained closed press, despite 
several requests from poolers who noted that 
previous presidents routinely allowed the pool 
into such events, at least to witness 
presidential remarks.

According to the invitation, tickets started at 
$5,400 per couple for a reception, with other 
price points of $25,000 for a “co-host” and 
$100,000 for a “host,” each of which came 
with VIP photo opportunity and reception. The 
VIP photo opportunity was limited to 20 
guests, the invite said.

White House aides provided no information 
about the event. MacArthur aides wouldn’t say 
how many people attended or how much it 
would raise. According to the invitation, the 
funds would be shared among “MacArthur 
Victory, a joint fundraising committee 
authorized by and composed of MacArthur for 
Congress, Inc., NRCC, TMAC PAC, and New 
Jersey Republican State Committee (Federal 
Account).”

It’s the first personal fund-raiser Trump has 
held for a House incumbent. 


Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News




Friday, June 09, 2017
12:25 PM -0500

Date: June 9, 2017 at 12:07:46 PM EDT
Subject: [WHCA Print] [WHCA Pool] In-town 
Pool Report #6
The president entered the atrium at 11:45. He 
gave remarks, which were televised, while 
flanked by four American flags. He finished 
speaking at 12:04. 

There were props. He flipped through binders 
full of pages of what he said was "nonsense" 
permit paperwork for an 18-mile road in 
Maryland. He tossed at least two of them down 
on stage after he thumbed through them. He 
made a few, off-microphone remarks as he did 
so, which the audience laughed at, but your 
pooler was at the back of the room and did not 
hear them. 

Several televisions in the room had the 
presidential seal on the screen. 

Sec. Chao and Sec. Zinke both gave remarks 
before the president took the stage. Zinke said 
Trump was "the best boss I've ever had." Your 
pooler also spotted Stephen Miller in the 
room. 

White House said (on background) earlier that 
the audience included: "Members of 
Congress, representatives of the 
transportation community, heads of State 
Departments of Transportation, and U.S. 
Department of Transportation staff." 

-- 
Kaitlan Collins
White House Correspondent
The Daily Caller




Friday, June 09, 2017
11:29 AM -0500

Date: June 9, 2017 at 11:30:45 AM EDT
Subject: [WHCA Print] [WHCA Pool] In-town 
Pool Report #5 -- Roundtable
The president, wearing a blue tie, spoke at the 
Roads, Rails, and Regulatory Relief 
Roundtable at DOT. 

"Thank you for being here," he said. "Thank 
you Secretary Chao for your service, and for 
your great leadership as we rebuild America"

He said that was "going ahead of schedule."

"It's wonderful to be joined by so many 
incredible leaders from all over the country," 
he said. "You're really the stewards of the vast 
majority of our nations' roads, and bridges, 
and so many other things. I know you just had 
a very productive discussion about ways the 
federal government can help expedite vital 
infrastructure products." 

He mentioned this week is being called 
"infrastructure week."

"We are working very hard to reduce the 
permitting and approval process of major 
projects from 10 years down to the shortest 
time possible. Yesterday I said two years or 
less, I'd like to say one year. A highway today 
takes years and years and years to get 
approved -- sometimes as much as 15 or 17 
years. By the time they get the approvals, they 
need another highway." 

"We want to partner with state leaders like you 
to fix our crumbling infrastructure, build new 
shining monuments. We are going to 
massively streamline that process. Faster 
approvals and innovative partnerships with 
the state, local and private sector leaders will 
translate into dramatic improvements all 
across the country." 

"We are starting to see the fruits of our labor -- 
starting to see it very, very quickly already, 
and it hasn't been very long that we've been in 
office. Our infrastructure will once again be 
the envy of the world. Right now it's being 
scoffed at and laughed at -- it will once again 
be the envy of the world."

A transportation official from Georgia who 
dealt with the I-85 fire in Atlanta was there, 
Sec. Chao pointed out.

"We got you those funds very early," Trump 
said.

"Amazingly fast," the man remarked. "Thank 
you." 

Trump: "A lot of people get the money but 
they don't know what to do with it. You were 
able to do it." 

The president then went around the table and 
had everyone introduce themselves.  Pool was 
ushered out at 11:16. 

Your pooler spotted Gary Cohn. Here's what 
the White House said about attendees earlier 
(on background): "The roundtable will include 
approximately a dozen heads of State 
Departments of Transportation,  U.S. 
Department of Transportation leaders, and 
White House senior officials."

Let me know if anyone wants a full list of 
attendees and I will get you one.

The president will deliver remarks soon, which 
will be open press. 

-- 
Kaitlan Collins
White House Correspondent
The Daily Caller




Friday, June 09, 2017
11:26 AM -0500

Date: June 9, 2017 at 10:58:54 AM EDT
Subject: [WHCA Print] [WH Pool] In-town pool 
report #2
Excerpts of the President’s remarks at DOT 
are below. They are embargoed until delivery. 

--

Both Secretary Chao and Zinke joined us at 
the White House yesterday for a meeting with 
state and local leaders to develop plans to 
replace America’s decaying infrastructure and 
to construct new roads, rails, pipelines, 
tunnels, and bridges all across this nation.

We are here today to focus on solving one of 
the biggest obstacles to creating this new and 
desperately-needed infrastructure – and that 
is the painfully slow, costly and time-
consuming process for getting permits and 
approvals to build.

My Administration is committed to ending 
these terrible delays once and for all.  The 
excruciating wait time for permitting has 
inflicted enormous financial pain on cities and 
states – and has blocked many important 
projects from ever getting off the ground.

…

It took only 4 years to build the Golden Gate 
Bridge and 5 years to build the Hoover Dam – 
but today it can take 10 years just to get the 
approvals and permits needed to build a major 
infrastructure project.  These charts beside 
me are actually a simplified version of our 
highway permitting process. It includes 16 
different approvals involving 10 different 
federal agencies being governed by 26 
different statutes.

The $2.3 billion Ohio River Bridges Project, as 
an example, amassed a 150,000-page 
administrative record. 150,000 pages is a 5-
story tall mountain of paper. 

How can a country prosper under such 
restraints?

Why should we continue to accept what is so 
clearly unacceptable?

I was not elected to continue a failed system – 
I was elected to change it.

…

To all our state and local leaders here today, I 
want you to know that help is finally on the 
way.  We are giving control back to the cities 
and the states.  You know best how to plan 
your communities, analyze your projects, and 
protect your local environment.

…

To do this we are setting up a new Council to 
help project managers navigate the 
bureaucratic maze.  This Council will also 
improve transparency by creating a new 
online dashboard allowing everyone to easily 
track major projects through every stage of 
the approval process.

This Council will make sure that any federal 
agency that consistently delays projects by 
missing deadlines will face tough, new 
penalties.  We will hold the bureaucracy 
accountable.

We are also creating a new office in the 
Council of Environmental Quality to root out 
inefficiency, clarify lines of authority, and 
streamline federal, state and local procedures 
so that communities can modernize their 
aging infrastructure without fear of outdated 
federal rules getting in the way.

This massive permit reform is only the first 
step in renewing America’s roads, rails, 
runways and rivers.

As I discussed in Cincinnati, my new vision 
for American infrastructure will generate $1 
trillion in infrastructure investment.

State and local leaders will have more power 
to decide which projects get built, when they 
start and how they are funded.

And investors will have a much more 
predictable environment that encourages 
them to invest billions of dollars in capital that 
is currently stuck on the sidelines.



-- 
Kaitlan Collins
White House Correspondent
The Daily Caller




Friday, June 02, 2017
04:01 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, June 2, 2017 3:46 PM
Subject: White House Pool Report #2a - 
Quotes from bill signing + full participant list
 
As President Donald Trump walked into the 
White House's Diplomatic Reception Room for 
the bill signing, he said hello to the crowd 
inside.
 
"Hi everybody," Trump said,
 
Before sitting down, Trump shook hands and 
exchanged greetings with several of the law 
enforcement officers who were lined up 
behind the small table and chair set up for the 
ceremony. 
 
"Thank you all. It's a great honor," Trump said 
as he sat down. 
 
Trump went on to thank Vice President Mike 
Pence and Ivanka Trump for "being here."
 
"It's an honor," Ivanka said.
 
Trump went on to praise the crowd behind him 
as a "great group" including some who are 
"very good friends for a long time." 
 
"We are here today to reaffirm our 
unbreakable support for the American heroes 
who keep our streets, our homes, and our 
citizens safe. And they've been doing an 
amazing job under very adverse conditions. 
We will always support the incredible men and 
women of law enforcement. I can speak very 
strongly for myself and for Mike Pence our 
vice president. We are behind you 100 
percent," Trump said.
 
Trump said "law enforcement officers, 
firefighters, first responders, and their families 
make tremendous sacrifices" every day. 
 
"We know they are here to serve and to 
protect us all. They sacrifice every day to keep 
us safe. Many have paid the ultimate price 
laying down their lives to save others — 
incredible people. They're true heroes and we 
will always be grateful so I want to thank you 
for us," Trump said, adding, "That is so true."
 
Trump continued by saying Americans have a 
"duty" to "honor their service and sacrifice 
and to protect those who protect us." 
 
"Today I am proud to sign two laws to help 
fulfill that very, very sacred commitment. First, 
the Public Safety Officers' Benefits 
Improvement Act will help disabled officers, 
and firefighters, and families of those who fall 
in the line of duty quickly receive all of the 
benefits they so justly deserve," said Trump.
 
He said various people have wanted this law 
"for a long time." 
 
"For too long injured officers have suffered 
and the children of fallen officers have put 
their dreams of college on hold while 
bureaucracy delayed crucial benefits, made it 
impossible for their families. No longer. It's 
unacceptable and it's going to end today. In 
fact, it's going to end in about one minute," 
Trump said. "This bill speeds approval times 
by giving state and local enforcement greater 
role in determining eligibility and lets 
applicants track the progress of their claims 
online. So, a much, much faster situation."
 
Trump then turned back to the crowd behind 
him and asked, "You're all happy with that?" 
Many of them replied in the affirmative. 
 
"Second, the American Law Enforcement 
Heroes Act allows the use of federal grants to 
help our military veterans transition to new 
careers in law enforcement. America's proud 
of our veterans and I think I can say a double 
proud or a triple proud. We love our veterans 
and they're serving overseas, they're in harms 
way, they are doing things that very few 
people would have the courage to do and we 
will be and always will be incredibly proud to 
have them with us. And they've been with us 
like nobody and we are going to be protecting 
them," said Trump.
 
Trump called "keeping Americans safe" his 
"highest duty" as president. 
 
"And supporting law enforcement is my 
unwavering commitment," he added. "I am 
very proud to sign these two great bills today."
 
Trump then signed both bills. He described it 
as "something that I'm very happy to be 
doing" and then offered congratulations to the 
people behind him. 
 
"That's a big one right?" Trump asked. 
 
When he signed the American Law 
Enforcement Heroes Act, Trump had a 
question for the officers who stood behind 
him..
 
"You're all heroes aren't you?" 
 
Trump handed out the pens he used to some 
of the people behind him. 
 
"Who gets this pen?" he said. 
 
A man and woman reached for one of the 
pens. The man deferred and Trump gave him 
an approving shoulder squeeze. When Trump 
was done, the group behind him applaued. 
 
"Thank you very much everybody. This is 
slightly less controversial than yesterday," 
Trump said, provoking laughter from the 
crowd. 
 
Trump then stood up and began to leave the 
room. He did not respond to a question about 
Geraldo Rivera saying his decision to pull out 
of the Paris agreement was "appalling" due to 
potential environmental consequences. Trump 
also ignored a question about whether he'd 
use executive privilege to block James 
Comey's testimony.
 
The full list of external participants in the 
event provided by the White House is below.  
 
External Participants:
 
State Officials:
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Col. William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent, 
Maryland State Police
 
Police Organization Representatives:
Chuck Canterbury, Fraternal Order of Police 
National President
Jim Pasco, Fraternal Order of Police Senior 
Advisor
Greg Champagne, President National 
Sherriff’s Association and St. Charles Parish 
Sheriff's Department (LA)
John Thompson, Executive Director National 
Sheriff's Association
 
Law Enforcement Officers:
Carolyn Welsh, Chester County Sheriff's 
Department (PA)
Vern Stanforth, Fayette County Sheriff's 
Department (OH) 
Mark Wasylyshyn, Wood County Sheriff's 
Department (OH) 
Craig Webre,​Lafourche Parish Sheriff's 
Department (LA)
Paul Laney, Cass County Sheriff's Department 
(ND)
Nick Harlow, Albemarle County Police 
Department (VA) 
William Raddatz, St. Mary's County Sheriff's 
Department (MD) 
John Telechea, Prince George's County Police 
Department (MD) 
O'Brien Atkinson, Anne Arundel County 
Sheriff's Department (MD)
Mark Gass, Anne Arundel County Sheriff's 
Department (MD) 
Michael Shier,​Anne Arundel County Sheriff's 
Department (MD) 
Joshua​Shapiro, Anne Arundel County 
Sheriff's Department (MD) 
Kiersten Thompson, Anne Arundel County 
Sheriff's Department (MD) 
Tracy Lieberman, Maryland Park Police (MD)
Clyde Boatwright, Baltimore City Police 
Department (MD)
--
Hunter Walker
White House Correspondent
Yahoo News




Saturday, May 27, 2017
08:39 PM -0500

Date: May 27, 2017 at 9:07:41 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report #11 -- JBA 
Arrival


Air Force One, carrying POTUS, FLOTUS 
and White House staff landed at Joint 
Base Andrews at 8:54 pm eastern time, 
officially returning POTUS from his 
first overseas trip. POTUS and FLOTUS 
emerged shortly after and at 9:04 the 
first couple deplaned and have boarded 
Marine One and your pooler is handing 
off to the in-town pool. 

A senior administration official 
gaggled at the beginning of the 
flight. You should already have the 
transcript. But I sent out a short 
summary with some quotes. 

If you would permit me, your pooler 
would like to thank some people:

Jeff Mason and the WHCA board for the 
hard work of planning for this trip, 
and for negotiating with the White 
House for access. 

The White House advance staff, 
wranglers, travel office and press 
staff for their help getting us where 
we needed to be to cover POTUS 
(especially Ashley, Giovanna, and 
Michael)

Michael Memoli, who organized the pool 
rotations and did so much more on the 
trip. 

My colleagues. It's an honor to be 
part of the hardest-working press 
corps in the world. 

Until the next time. 

Mike. 

-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Saturday, May 27, 2017
08:20 PM -0500

Date: May 27, 2017 at 8:58:34 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool Report #10 - 
gaggle


A Senior Administration Official 
gaggled on background on AF1 about 20 
minutes into the flight from Sicily to 
JBA. The official spent about 24 
minutes talking with reporters, 
largely about the just-concluded 
foreign trip.

You are likely to have the full 
transcript of the gaggle by the time 
you read this, so your pooler is going 
to do a very brief description of the 
subjects covered with a few quotes. 

Anyone who has further questions 
should refer to the transcript. In the 
event of an issue with the WH 
transcript, I will also post the 
audio.

1. The official started by noting that 
the US got what he called a major 
“policy victory” by getting migration 
language in the G7 communique saying 
that countries should look to dealing 
with migration issues within their own 
borders, and that they have the right 
to control their own borders. The 
official said the US “fought really 
hard for” the language, though he 
declined to describe the opposition 
from other nations. “This kind of 
policy actually puts more pressure on 
sending countries and the larger 
broader regions to deal with their own 
crises and take a greater role in 
managing those crises because other 
countries won’t be able to provide as 
much of a relief valve.”

2. Asked about the relations with the 
other leaders, the official said the 
president had “built an extraordinary 
rapport with the other leaders” and 
said the US goals and interests were 
reflected in “profound ways that will 
shape, I think, history for 
generations to come.”

3. Asked about the Article 5 issue, 
the official noted (with 95 percent 
certainty) that German chancellor 
Merkel did not reaffirm her commitment 
to Article 5 in her speech “because I 
think everybody agreed that it went 
without saying.” He said “you have to 
believe me when I tell you …. That the 
first time any of us ever thought 
about the issue of putting in a 
reaffirmation was when we got 
inquiries about it after the speech. 
It was just not ever something that we 
even consider would be asked about 
because it goes without saying.”

4. Talked about renewing alliances and 
compared POTUS relations with foreign 
countries to the previous 
administration. “People didn’t feel 
like they knew where America stood, 
they didn’t feel like they knew who 
America’s friends were, who America’s 
foes were.” He added that “this trip 
has left no one with any doubt about 
who America’s friends are.”

5. On climate, he declined to say 
anything, but said the president would 
announce a decision in the coming 
week.

6. He talked about America First and 
the fact that a strong America and a 
prosperous America is good for the 
world. And he talked about America 
establishing “a signpost for the 
world.”

7. He said POTUS’s leadership on 
fighting terrorism has been a hallmark 
of his early presidency. Asked about 
whether the president sees an endless 
war on terrorism, the official 
referred to passage in the Saudi 
speech about “principled realism” and 
said that the goal is to get other 
nations more involved in the fight 
against terrorism.

8. He criticized past administration’s 
focus on humanitarian issues, which he 
said “invoked humanitarian goals but 
taken actions which produced 
tragically unhumanitarian results.”

9. Closed with an enthusiastic praise 
of the foreign trip, calling it 
“historic” and “unprecedented” and 
saying it deepened friendships and 
bonds with allies. 


-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Friday, May 26, 2017
07:01 AM -0500

Date: May 26, 2017 at 12:22:49 PM 
GMT+2
Subject: Pool report #5 Greek theater 
entrance + Gary Cohn comments on "very 
bad" leak

Trump's motorcade arrived at the top 
of the Via Teatro Greco at the gates 
entrance of the Greek Theater in 
Taormina Sicily at 11:56am.  The car 
was surrounded by secret service 
personnel, Italian military and 
Carabinieri. 

He was the last leader to arrive at 
the G7 Summit.

Succession of arrivals:

Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni
EU commission President Jean-Claude 
Juncker
EU Council President Donald Tusk
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
French PM Justin Trudeau
French President Macron
German Chancellor Merkel
US President Trump

President Trump 
"Hello everybody, Hello everybody," 
Trump waved to cameras as he walked up 
the incline to the theater with a 
serious face and no signature toothy 
smile. 

At 12:11pm he walked back down the 
entrance past the gates and into a 
side entrance at the Grand Hotel 
Timeo. 

He reemerged from the side entrance at 
12:15pm when a suburban SUV with an 
Italian and US flag pulled up. He 
waved to onlookers and then hopped 
into a golf cart with National 
Economic advisor Gary Cohn that was 
followed by an entourage as moved down 
via Teatro Greco. 

Cohn clarified to your pooler Trump's 
comment "very bad" comment in der 
Spiegel article.

"He said they're very bad on trade but 
he doesnt have a problem with Germany. 
He said his dad is from germany. He 'I 
don't have a problem  Germany, I have 
a problem with German trade."

More quotes from Cohn coming

TARA PALMERI | POLITICO | White House 
Correspondent




Thursday, May 25, 2017
11:09 AM -0500

Date: May 25, 2017 at 5:45:05 PM GMT+2
Subject: Travel Pool Report Np. 13: NATO 
ceremony
Travel Pool Report No. 13


President Trump attended an outdoor 
ceremony to mark the transfer of NATO’s new 
headquarters building from the Belgian 
government to NATO. The ceremony took 
place on a large plaza outside the new 
headquarters.

 

The leaders took their seats in white chairs 
under a clear awning. A few of them put on 
sunglasses because of the bright sun, 
including Canadian Prime Minister Justin 
Trudeau, though Trump did not.

 

As they waited for the ceremony to begin, 
Trump chatted briefly with British Prime 
Minister Theresa May, who sat next to him to 
his left.

 

Belgian King Philippe and NATO Secretary 
General Jens Stoltenberg arrived and took 
their seats in the front row, next to Trump, as a 
military band performed.

 

As the band played, Trump leaned over to chat 
with May some more.

 

The prime minister of Belgium, Charles 
Michel, was the first speaker. It was difficult 
for your pooler to understand his remarks. 
Although he spoke in English, he had a heavy 
accent, and the wind outdoors did not help. 
Michel welcomed guests to the ceremony and 
referenced the attacks in Manchester to issue 
a call for unity.

 

Michel said all leaders have to work together 
to preserve security. He talked about the need 
for civility and security. He talked about NATO 
coming to the United States’ defense after the 
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and how many citizens 
of NATO member states served in 
Afghanistan.

 

Michel said, “Our alliance has been strong for 
almost 70 years and these new headquarters 
are the symbol we need because I believe 
NATO can and will continue to make a 
difference.”

 

The next speaker was NATO Secretary General 
Jens Stoltenberg, who said of the new 
building: “This is a 21st century headquarters 
for a 21st century alliance.”

 

Stoltenberg talked about tragedy striking on 
Sept. 11, 2001, and the world changing again. 
He talked about the fight against terrorism and 
NATO’s role bringing peace and not conflict. 
He said there has always been “one constant” 
since NATO’s founding: “Our unity.”

 

“Our alliance stands strong, united and 
resolute,” Stoltenberg said. Trump and the 
other leaders applauded.

 

At times during both Michel and Stoltenberg’s 
remarks, Trump crossed his arms and fidgeted 
slightly, looking around at the scene before 
him or staring down at his feet. Many of the 
other leaders sat still throughout.

 

After the two speeches, the leaders all stood 
at attention as uniformed military officers 
raised the 28 flags of NATO countries and 
trumpets played. There was a 29th flagpole, 
which was empty today but will soon fly the 
flag of Montenegro, which is soon becoming a 
NATO country.

 

The band played the NATO anthem, as the 
leaders remained standing. Trump stood still, 
watching attentively as the ceremony was 
conducted. He was the only male leader in the 
front row with his suit jacket unbuttoned.

 

The leaders then stepped into the plaza as six 
separate groups of military aircraft from 
different countries flew over the headquarters 
in formation. The planes were Grippen F-16s 
from Belgium and Awac planes owned by 
NATO, which are one of NATO’s contributions 
to the anti-ISIS campaign. A final, seventh 
group included six jets leaving streaks of 
black, yellow and red smoke, to represent the 
Belgian flag.

 

Trump stood watching next to Stoltenberg and 
May, looking into the sky as Stoltenberg spoke 
in his ear, perhaps explaining the significance 
of the fly-over.

 

The ceremony concluded with the band 
playing the Belgian hymn.

 

The other leaders, including Trump, remained 
standing on the plaza as King Philippe and 
Stoltenberg exited and a band played an 
anthem. The leaders were then invited to 
proceed to a meeting in the conference center.

 

As the leaders dispersed, Trump walked out 
alone and did not talk with any other leaders, 
even as some others mingled with each other.


Philip Rucker

The Washington Post

White House Bureau Chief




Thursday, May 25, 2017
10:01 AM -0500

Date: May 25, 2017 at 4:17:34 PM GMT+2
Subject: Travel Pool Report No. 10: 
NATO Arrival

Travel Pool Report No. 10

President Trump arrived at NATO 
headquarters in Brussels at 4:14 p.m. 
after an uneventful drive. Pool is 
positioning for the memorials event, 
which will be held outdoors at the new 
HQ building. No sign yet of Trump. 

Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
White House Bureau Chief




Wednesday, May 24, 2017
12:00 PM -0500

Date: May 24, 2017 at 6:00:53 PM GMT+2
Subject: Pool report #14c - rest of Tillerson 
gaggle
Q: What about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
A: Well there were there were very substantive 
discussions in Israel with both Prime Minister 
Netanyahu as well as President Abbas. The 
president was very forceful in his 
encouragement to both of them to be serious 
about approaching these discussions in the 
future and recognize you have to compromise. 
Everyone has to compromise. So he was he 
was putting a lot of pressure on them that it 
was time to get to the table that he's made the 
point several times. We solve the Israeli 
Palestinian peace dilemma, we start solving a 
lot of the peace throughout the Middle East 
region. 
 
Q: Does the Palestinian peace process have to 
get started in order to move forward with 
some bilateral between Israel and other 
countries in the region or do you think it can 
go the other way around?
 
 
A:I think that's a question for each individual 
country to answer. I wouldn’t want to speak on 
behalf of any of them.
 
Q: What's the president's style been and it's 
his first foreign trip What's his style at 
interacting with these foreign leaders?
 
A: Well the president's quite a communicator. 
Which shouldn't surprise you. I think he adjust 
his style to the people he's meeting with but 
also to the issues and the importance and in 
his view the urgency around these issues, so 
he tends to dial the urgency up and therefore 
the style dials up and I can certainly tell you 
that in the meetings in Israel and Palestine he 
was very energized because he does feel 
there's a certain sense of urgency for these 
parties to finally get on with it take it take 
advantage of this opportunity and I think he 
has to set his tone depending upon you know 
how important or urgent the issues are. 
(11:47)And obviously taking into account the 
counterparty he's dealing with. So he's he's 
been pretty remarkable I have to tell you for 
someone that you know this is my first time to 
get have the opportunity to see the president 
interact in this way. And he's he's been pretty 
remarkable.
 
Q: Is it a softer tone with the pope? 
 
A:Well I wasn't in the one on one with the 
pope. We had an audience with the pope 
where the rest of us joined. But it was strictly 
photographs and just some exchange of 
greetings with the Pope so I was not in that 
meeting.
 
Thank you.
 
(Thanks Tamara Keith for the assist) 


-- 
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal




Wednesday, May 24, 2017
11:57 AM -0500

Date: May 24, 2017 at 5:40:19 PM GMT+2
Subject: Pool report #16 - 5/24/17
Pool was not in President Trump's photo with 
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. A preset 
camera was there.

Pool was brought into the room where POTUS 
is meeting with Prime Minister Charles Michel 
of Belgium. The US delegation, Rex Tillerson, 
HR McMaster, Dina Powell, Gary Cohn and 
others, was already in the room, along with 
the Belgian side.

Prime minister spoke first after the two of 
them entered and took their seats across from 
each other and flanked by members of their 
delegations. "Its a pleasure to meet you." He 
welcomed POTUS to Brussels. Pool could 
barely hear him. The acoustics were awful. 

POTUS gave brief remarks:
"It's an honor to be with you. ... We've been 
looking forward to this trip.
He said he had a great discussion with the 
king. He said we will work together on various 
problems, the top problem right now is 
terrorism.

"We are fighting very hard, doing very well 
under our generals. Making tremendous 
progress. But when you see something like 
what happened a few days ago you realize 
how important it is to win this fight. And we 
will win this fight."

He said, "It's a horrible situation" what 
happened in Manchester, "unthinkable. But we 
will win." 

They sat at a long table under an expansive 
crystal chandelier. There was a small plate of 
chocolates on the table. 

Pool was immediately ushered out. We're 
holding in vans.

-- 
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal




Wednesday, May 24, 2017
10:23 AM -0500

Date: May 24, 2017 at 4:41:12 PM GMT+2
Subject: Pool report #14 - gaggle
Here's the first half of the gaggle:

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
Gaggle
May 24, 2017
 
He said he’s having a great time on the trip. He 
said POTUS’s meeting with the pope went 
longer than expected. He said he didn’t get a 
full readout of the meeting but he knows they 
had “pretty extensive conversations around 
extreme terrorist threats and extremism, 
radicalization of young people. That’s one of 
the reasons the meeting went long. “They got 
into quite a good conversation about it.”
 
He said their meeting with the Vatican’s 
secretary of state was a fulsome. He said they 
discussed a range of issues.
 
The meeting with the president of Italy was 
“rather short” partly because the president 
was running a little behind. The meeting with 
the Italian prime minister was mostly about 
the G7.
 
In Brussels, the president will have a meeting 
with the new president of France, then will go 
over to the new NATO headquarters.
 
Q: What are you hoping to get out of NATO?
“As the president has said, he really wants 
participating NATO members to step up and 
fully meet their obligations of the burden 
sharing. 2% of GDP was a target they all 
agreed to. I think you can expect the president 
to be very tough on them, saying ‘Look the US 
is spending 4%. We’re doing a lot. The 
American people are doing a lot for your 
security for our joint security. You need to 
make sure you’re doing your share for your 
own security as well. So I think that’s going to 
be the core of his message to NATO.”
 
Q: Do you believe NATO should join the ISIS 
coalition?
“NATO joining the ISIS coalition, we do think 
that would be a really important step for them 
to take. They’ve been an observer. But they’ve 
become more and more engaged in the actual 
fight to defeat ISIS. I think Secretary 
Stoltenberg feels that would be an important 
step for them to take. There are a couple of 
countries that are still thinking it over. I’ve had 
meetings actually with one of those. I think 
they’re going to support NATO joining and 
becoming a” member of the ISIS fight.
 
Q: Expect that to happen at this NATO 
meeting?
“That’ll be up to the Secretary General as to 
how he puts that on the agenda.”
 
Q: Has the president made a decision on 
Afghanistan troop levels?
“The Afghan policy review is still a work in 
progress. We have not completed the Afghan 
policy review. There’s still a number of 
elements of it that we have yet to develop. And 
so we’re - it’s not imminent. It’s probably a 
couple of weeks away at least before we’re 
going to be ready to present something to the 
president.”
 
Q: Did climate change come up in the meeting 
with the pope or the cardinal secretary of 
state?
“I don’t know in the meeting with the pope but 
it did come up with Cardinal Parolin. We did 
have a good exchange on the climate change 
issue.”
 
“The cardinal was expressing their view that 
they think ti’s an important issue. I think they 
were encouraging continued participation in 
the Paris accord. But we had a good exchange 
the difficulty of balancing addressing climate 
change, responses to climate change, and 
ensuring that you still have a thriving 
economy and you can still offer people jobs 
so they can feed their families and have a 
prosperous economy. And that’s a difficult 
balancing act to take, and so I think we had a 
good exchange there, and we look forward to 
having further talks with them on climate 
policy.”
 
Q: Did immigration come up?
“Immigration itself did not come up. Migration 
has come up because of the real challenge 
that Italy in particular faces with migration out 
of North Africa.”
 
Q: How did the president respond to the 
cardinal encouraging him to stick with the 
Paris agreement?
“The president indicated we’re still thinking 
about that, that he hasn’t made a final 
decision. He, I think, told both Cardinal Parolin 
and also told Prime Minister Gentiloni that this 
is something that he would be taking up for a 
decision when we return from this trip. It’s an 
opportunity to hear from people. We’re 
developing our own recommendation on that. 
So it’ll be something that will probably be 
decided after we get home.”
 
He said he didn’t know what POTUS was 
referring to when he told the pope he’d 
remember what he said.

MORE TK

-- 
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
08:11 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 10:23:38 AM 
GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 5: Arrival 
addendum

The pool was not able to witness an 
arrival ceremony to welcome POTUS but 
there was pre-set TV coverage. Some 
notes though:

Pool passed through the cream-colored 
stone palace's courtyard, decorated 
with a red carpet as an honor guard 
dressed in ivy green was now milling 
about after the ceremony. An entry 
plaza featured seven alternating U.S. 
and Palestinian flags in a center 
grass island surrounded by the 
driveway.

The Beast was positioned at the foot 
of an entry archway topped by a larger 
Palestinian flag.

One other note of interest: before 
entering the Palace pool was advised 
by staff to take off any credentials 
that displayed the Israeli flag.




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
08:08 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 
12:48:45 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 10a: 
Additional Background, from 
Yad Vashem

Press materials from Yad 
Vashem describe what POTUS 
will participate in as a 
memorial ceremony. 

More from them: 

"Yad Vashem Chairman Avner 
Shalev will accompany 
President Donald J. Trump 
and First Lady Melania Trump 
while at Yad Vashem. 
Israel's Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu and his 
wife Mrs. Sara Netanyahu, 
and Chairman of the Yad 
Vashem Council Rabbi Israel 
Meir Lau will also join the 
President during his visit 
to Yad Vashem.

While the President’s visit 
to Israel is brief, he has 
chosen to commemorate the 
six million Jewish victims 
of the Holocaust by 
participating in a memorial 
ceremony in the Hall of 
Remembrance. During the 
ceremony, the President will 
rekindle the eternal flame 
and lay a wreath on a stone 
slab under which ashes from 
extermination camps are 
buried. El Maleh Rachamim, a 
Jewish prayer for the souls 
of the martyrs' of the 
Holocaust, will be sung by a 
cantor.

President Trump will be 
invited to sign the Yad 
Vashem guest book and Yad 
Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev 
will present the President 
with a token of remembrance, 
an exact replica of the 
original Holocaust-era 
personal album that belonged 
to Ester Goldstein who was 
murdered during the 
Holocaust at the age of 16. 
Ester's sister Margot 
Herschenbaum, the sole 
survivor of her immediate 
family, will attend the 
Presidential event at Yad 
Vashem. Ms. Colette Avital, 
Chairperson of the Center 
Organization of Holocaust 
Survivors in Israel will be 
present at the ceremony at 
Yad Vashem.

The President will be 
presented with a replica of 
a Holocaust-era personal 
album belonging to Ester 
Goldstein, murdered during 
the Holocaust at age 16.

About the Token of 
Remembrance:
Don't Forget Me: Ester 
Goldstein's Personal Album
“Love life, and don’t be 
afraid of death. Believe in 
God and a better future”

Written in the album by 
Ester’s classmate Bella 
Lassore. Bella was deported 
to Auschwitz in 1943 where 
she was murdered. The 
personal album of Ester 
Goldstein is one of hundreds 
of thousands of personal 
items preserved for 
posterity in the Yad Vashem 
Archives.

The album is comprised of 
messages of hope and 
everlasting friendship 
inscribed by Ester’s family 
and friends. Some of the 
pages are embellished with 
optimistic and innocent 
illustrations, while others 
include photographs of those 
dearest to her.

The dedications in the album 
express familial devotion 
and steadfast connection to 
Judaism. The first entry is 
from 1937, when Ester was 
eleven years old, and the 
final one is dated September 
16, 1942, about a month 
before Ester was deported to 
Riga (Latvia) and 
subsequently murdered.

This personal album is one 
of several included in an 
online exhibition available 
via Yad Vashem's website in 
four languages: English, 
Hebrew, Spanish and German.

Approximately 1.5 million 
Jewish children were 
murdered in the Holocaust, 
most of them leaving behind 
almost no trace – a handful 
of photographs and some 
personal belongings. This 
precious album offers 
insight into the life of a 
young girl that was cut 
brutally short.

Background on Margot 
Herschenbaum:

Margot Herschenbaum, was 
born in 1929. In 1939, she 
was sent to Australia as 
part of the Kindertransport 
(organized rescue efforts of 
Jewish children between 
1938-1940) and is the sole 
survivor of her immediate 
family. In 1999 Margot 
filled out a Page of 
Testimony commemorating her 
family murdered in the 
Holocaust.

Background on Ester 
Goldstein:

Ester was born in 1926 in 
Joachimstrasse, Berlin to 
Blima and David Goldstein, 
who moved to Germany from 
Poland two years before she 
was born. She had a sister 
Margot and a brother Heinz 
(Haim). In 1938, in the 
shadow of the increasing 
Nazi persecution of Jews, 
the family unsuccessfully 
attempted to flee Germany. 
However Ester was deported 
on 26 October 1942 to Riga 
and subsequently murdered at 
the age of 16. Details of 
this transport can be found 
on Yad Vashem's online 
database documenting the 
deportation of Jews from 
western European countries 
to ghettos, concentration 
and death camps in the east.

After liberation, Ester’s 
cousin David Werner returned 
to the Goldstein family home 
in Berlin, where a neighbor 
gave him a box of papers 
that she had kept safe 
throughout the war. Among 
the papers was the album, 
which he gave to Margot, and 
in 2006, Margot donated it 
to Yad Vashem for 
safekeeping.

"Do not forget me" was a 
dedication written in the 
album by Ester's classmate 
Sonja Strenger who was 
deported to Auschwitz in 
1943.

About Yad Vashem:

Yad Vashem, the World 
Holocaust Remembrance 
Center, was established by 
the Israeli Parliament in 
1953. Located in Jerusalem, 
Yad Vashem is dedicated to 
Holocaust remembrance, 
documentation, research and 
education. Through its 
International School for 
Holocaust Studies, 
International Institute for 
Holocaust Research, 
Archives, Museums and 
Library, Yad Vashem has 
become the global center for 
gathering and disseminating 
information about the 
Holocaust and seeks to 
meaningfully impart the 
legacy of the Shoah for 
generations to come.

The Hall of Remembrance was 
the first commemoration site 
established at Yad Vashem on 
the Mount of Remembrance. 
Its walls are made of basalt 
boulders brought from the 
area surrounding the Sea of 
Galilee, and its angular 
roof gives it a tent-like 
shape. Engraved on the 
mosaic floor are the names 
of 22 Nazi murder sites, 
symbolic of the hundreds of 
extermination and 
concentration camps, transit 
camps and killing sites that 
existed throughout Europe. 
The Eternal Flame 
continuously illuminates the 
Hall, its smoke exiting the 
building through an opening 
at the highest point of the 
ceiling. Before it stands a 
stone crypt containing the 
ashes of Holocaust victims.




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
08:06 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 
12:41:59 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 10: Yad 
Vashem Background

Pool is loaded in vans ahead 
of the next scheduled 
movement, to Yad Vashem for 
a wreath-laying ceremony and 
guestbook signing.


Here is some background 
provided by the U.S. Embassy 
via the White House on 
events and personnel POTUS 
will see there.


Yad Vashem Press Notes
  
 Yad Vashem, established by 
law in 1953, is Israel's 
official body entrusted with 
perpetuating the memory of 
the Holocaust. Official 
memorial ceremonies are held 
in The Hall of Remembrance, 
a solemn tent-like structure 
which allows visitors to pay 
their respects to the 
memories of the martyred 
dead. On the floor are the 
names of the six death camps 
and some of the 
concentration camps and 
killing sites throughout 
Europe. In front of the 
memorial flame lies a crypt 
containing ashes of victims. 
Press will enter the site 
via the Avenue and Garden of 
the Righteous Among the 
Nations, dedicated to non-
Jews who risked their lives 
to help Jews, which is a 
wooded area with honorary 
plaques, like the one 
pictured here.


Arrival
 
1. Avner Shalev, Chairman of 
the Yad Vashem Directorate
Shalev was born in 
Jerusalem, and holds a 
bachelor's degree in Middle 
East Studies from the Hebrew 
University. During the Yom 
Kippur War, he served as 
Bureau Head of the Israel 
Defense Forces' (IDF) Chief 
of Staff, and subsequently 
as Chief Education Officer 
of the IDF. Shalev served 
later as Director of 
Israel's Culture Authority. 
Since 1993, Shalev has led 
Yad Vashem in a 
comprehensive program to 
meaningfully teach and 
commemorate the Holocaust. 
Prioritizing education, 
Shalev founded Yad Vashem's 
International School for 
Holocaust Education. He also 
conceived and established 
Yad Vashem's Museums 
Complex, including the 
Holocaust History Museum, 
for which he serves as Chief 
Curator, and brought about a 
technological revolution at 
Yad Vashem. Shalev also 
serves as Chief Curator of 
Yad Vashem's permanent 
exhibition at the Auschwitz-
Birkenau (Poland) Museum's 
Jewish Pavilion. Under his 
direction, Yad Vashem was 
awarded the esteemed Israel 
Prize for Lifetime 
Achievement to Society and 
State, and the Prince of 
Asturias Prize for Concord. 
The President of France has 
appointed him to the Légion 
d'honneur. Shalev has also 
received the President of 
Israel's Medal from the late 
President Shimon Peres, the 
Hebrew University's Rothberg 
Award for Jewish Education, 
and the Worthy Citizen of 
Jerusalem Award. In December 
2016 he was awarded the 
title of Commander of the 
Order of Civic Merit by the 
Kingdom of Spain.
 
2. Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, 
Chairman of the Yad Vashem 
Council
Rabbi Lau was born in Poland 
in 1937 and liberated from 
the Buchenwald Concentration 
Camp in 1945 by the U.S. 
Army when he immigrated to 
Israel. His father was a 
famous Rabbi who was killed 
during the Holocaust in 
Treblinka. Rabbi Lau 
received his Rabbinical 
ordination in 1960, and in 
1971 was chosen as the 
regional Rabbi of North Tel 
Aviv. In 1979 he was chosen 
to serve as the Chief Rabbi 
of Netanya, and in 1983 
became the youngest member 
of the Chief Rabbinical 
Council of Israel. He was 
chosen as the Chief Rabbi of 
Tel Aviv-Jaffa in 1988, and 
from 1993-2003, he served as 
the Chief Rabbi of Israel. 
He was chosen to serve a 
second time as Chief Rabbi 
of Tel Aviv-Jaffa in 2005, 
and in 2008 became Chairman 
of the Yad Vashem Council. 
He has published many books, 
including Judaism, in Theory 
and Practice; Yahel Yisrael; 
a Commentary on the Ethics 
of the Fathers; and his 
autobiography, Do Not Raise 
Your Hand Against the Boy. 
In 2005, Rabbi Lau received 
the prestigious Israel Prize 
for Lifetime Achievement and 
Special Contributions to 
Society and the State.  In 
2011 French President 
Nicolas Sarkozy conferred 
the title of Legion 
d’Honneur on Rabbi Lau.
 
3. Inbal Kvity Ben Dov, 
Director of the Yad Vashem 
Commemoration & Community 
Relations Division
 
Greetings inside the Hall of 
Remembrance, before ceremony

1. Margot Hershenbaum (née 
Goldstein), is the sister of 
Ester Goldstein, the 
Holocaust Child Victim whose 
personal album will be 
presented to POTUS 
(http://www.yadvashem.org/yv
/en/exhibitions/albums/golds
tein.asp). Margot was born 
in Berlin in 1929. In 1939, 
she was sent to Australia as 
part of the Kindertransport 
(organized rescue efforts of 
Jewish children between 
1938-1940). She never saw 
her family again. She 
remained in Australia until 
1948 when she went to live 
with her uncle in the United 
States and attended nursing 
school there. In 1957 she 
moved to Israel and became a 
nurse at Hadassah hospital. 
She met her husband Pinchas 
Hershenbaum (a Holocaust 
survivor from Lodz) and they 
married in 1961. They had a 
son and a daughter. Margot 
and her family settled in 
the town of Netanya, where 
she resides until today. Her 
husband passed away one year 
ago.
 
2. Colette Avital, 
Chairperson Center 
Organizations of Holocaust 
SURVIVORS in Israel
Ambassador Colette Avital 
immigrated to Israel from 
Romania. She has held a 
variety of key Foreign 
Ministry posts, including 
Deputy Director of 
Information (1979-1981), 
Director of the Training 
Division and Head of the 
Ehud Avriel school of 
Diplomacy (1984-1986), and 
Deputy Director General for 
Information, Media 
Communication and Culture 
(1986-1988). She served in 
Montreal, Brussels, Paris, 
Boston, and as Ambassador in 
Lisbon. She led Ministry's 
efforts to upgrade the 
status of women in 
Diplomatic Service, and when 
she was appointed Consul 
General of Israel in New-
York in 1992, it was the 
highest position attained by 
a woman in the Foreign 
Service.  In January 1999 
she turned to politics and 
won a seat in the Knesset, 
the Israeli Parliament.  In 
the Knesset, she formed an 
Inquiry Committee for the 
Location and Restitution of 
the Assets of Holocaust 
Victims and initiated a law 
to create a State Company 
for the restitution of these 
assets. She served as 
Deputy- Speaker of the 
Knesset, and was a member of 
the Constitution and Law 
Committee, the Knesset 
Committee and the 
Immigration, Absorption and 
Diaspora Committee. She has 
been awarded the Palmes 
Academiques and subsequently 
La Legion d’honneur by the 
French Government; the 
Cavaliere del'ordine della 
Republica by the Italian 
Government and the National 
Order for Merit with the 
rank of High Officer by the 
Rumanian Government, and she 
has received the highest 
decoration given by 
Portugal, the Gran Cruz do 
Infante Dom Henrique.
 
3. Yossie Hollander, 
Chairman, Fuel Freedom 
Foundation
Yossie Hollander is the co-
founder of Fuel Freedom 
Foundation (FFF), a 
nonprofit dedicated to 
opening the transportation 
fuels market to competition 
from cheaper, cleaner, 
healthier American made 
alternative fuels. It aims 
to end the US oil imports 
and launch a trillion dollar 
private investment that will 
grow the US economy over the 
next two decades. Hollander, 
who lives in Irvine, 
California, is a son of 
Holocaust survivors and the 
founder and major funder of 
Echoes and Reflections, the 
largest Holocaust education 
program in the U.S. He is on 
the board of USC Shoah 
Foundation, which is 
dedicated to archiving 
stories from Holocaust 
witnesses and survivors. 
Hollander serves on many 
other boards, including the 
executive board and 
management committee of the 
Weizmann Institute of 
Science, where he launched a 
renewable energy initiative. 
He and his wife Dana founded 
the Dana and Yossie 
Hollander Center for 
Structural Proteomics, a 
world leader in the field. 
He also serves as the 
chairman of the Weizmann 
tenure committee.  Hollander 
has funded research at many 
universities, including 
Cornell, MIT, UC Berkeley, 
the University of Chicago, 
and Carnegie Mellon 
University. He is a member 
of the Board of Councilors 
at the University of 
Southern California’s 
Dornsife College. Hollander 
received an honorary 
doctorate from the Weizmann 
Institute in 2010.




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
08:04 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 
11:45:43 AM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 6b: 
Abbas remarks 

POTUS and Abbas entered the 
conference room at 11:03 am 
and at 11:04 am Abbas began 
remarks.
 
He began by welcoming POTUS 
as "a great guest" to 
Bethlehem and then discussed 
the Manchester attack. 
Thanks to NPR's Tamara Keith 
for helping with top of 
remarks as poolers' 
translation device was not 
functioning at first. 

"Allow me at the beginning 
to condemn the horrible 
terrorist attack that 
occurred in the British city 
of Manchester. ...  I do 
offer my warm condolences to 
the Prime Minister of 
Britain, families of 
victims, and the British 
people."

Abbas then said his meeting 
with POTUS at the WH last 
has given the Palestinian 
people and "all the nations 
across the region so much 
hope and optimism of the 
possibility to make true a 
long awaited dream and 
ambition, and that is a 
lasting peace."

"Our Palestinian people’s 
.attainment of their freedom 
and independence is key to 
peace and stability in the 
world."

Abbas reiterated "our 
commitment to cooperate with 
you in order to make peace 
and forge a historic peace 
deal," and as partners in 
fighting terrorism. 

"We reassert to you our 
positions of Accepting the 
two state solution along the 
borders of 1967, the state 
of Palestine with its 
capital as East Jerusalem 
living alongside the state 
of Israel in peace and 
security and good 
neighborhood, as well as 
resolving all the entire 
final status issues based on 
international law and 
internationally legitimate 
solutions and side 
agreements."

He referred to POTUS' 
"historic visit" Monday to 
what he called "occupied 
East Jerusalem. "The 
conflict is not between 
religions," he said "We are 
keen to keep the door open 
to dialogue with our Israeli 
neighbors from all walks of 
life."

“Our fundamental problem is 
with the occupation and 
settlements and failure of 
Israel to recognize the 
state of Palestine in the 
same way we recognize, which 
undermines the realization 
of a two-state solution."

"The problem is not between 
us and Judaism. It is 
between us and occupation.”

He also discussed a hunger 
strike underway and called 
protestors' demands "humane 
and just.” He called on the 
Israeli government to meet 
their demands.

Abbas said Palestinians were 
focused on building up their 
institutions and a “culture 
of peace and nonviolence,” 
while also focused on 
“building bridges instead of 
walls inside our lands.”

Speaking finally in English, 
he said he hoped POTUS "will 
go in history, the President 
Donald Trump who was the 
American president who 
achieved peace between the 
Palestinians and Israelis."

He then extended his hand to 
POTUS, who returned a 
handshake .

Mike Memoli




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
08:01 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 
11:34:58 AM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 6a: 
Trump's remarks in Mideast 
peace

Travel Pool 6a
Bethlehem
  
President Trump said he 
intends to do “everything I 
can” to bring peace to the 
Middle East. What follows is 
the statement he delivered 
on Middle East peace, 
alongside President Abbas at 
the Palestinian Authority 
Presidential Palace in 
Bethlehem.

(Additional report to come 
on color in the room)
 
“President Abbas assures me 
he is ready to work towards 
that goal in good faith, and 
Prime Minister Netanyahu has 
promised the same. I look 
forward to working with 
these leaders toward a 
lasting peace. I also look 
forward to working with 
President Abbas on other 
important matters, such as 
unlocking the potential of 
the Palestinian economy, 
which is having a very rough 
time, and building on our 
very positive 
counterterrorism efforts.”

“Several days ago in Saudi 
Arabia, I met with the 
leaders of the Muslim world 
and Arab nations from all 
across the region. It was an 
epic gathering. It was an 
historic event. Kind Salman 
of Saudi Arabia could not 
have been kinder, and I will 
tell you, he’s a very wise, 
wise man. I called on these 
leaders and asked them to 
join in a partnership to 
drive terrorism from their 
midst, once and for all. It 
was a deeply productive 
meeting. People have said 
there had really never been 
anything even close in 
history. I believe that. 
Being there and seeing who 
was there and hearing the 
spirit and a lot of love, 
there has never been 
anything like that in 
history. And it was an honor 
to be involved.”
 
“Great things can come from 
that meeting. I was 
gratified that President 
Abbas joined the summit and 
committed to taking firm but 
necessary steps to fight 
terrorism and confront its 
hateful ideology. And it’s 
so interesting that our 
meeting took place on this 
very horrible morning of 
death to innocent young 
people. Peace can never take 
root in an environment where 
violence is tolerated, 
funded and even rewarded. We 
must be resolute in 
condemning such acts in a 
single unified voice, peace 
is a choice we must make 
each day and the united 
states is here to help make 
that dream possible for 
young Jewish, Christians and 
Muslim children all across 
the region. In so doing, we 
will all enjoy a safer and 
brighter future and a safer 
and brighter world.”
 
“In this spirit of hope, we 
come to Bethlehem, asking 
God for more peaceful, safe 
and far more tolerant world 
for all of us. I am truly 
hopeful that America can 
help Israel and the 
Palestinians forge peace and 
bring new hope to the region 
and its people. I also 
firmly believe that if 
Israel and the Palestinians 
can make peace, it will 
begin a process of peace all 
throughout the Middle East, 
and that would be an amazing 
accomplishment. Thank you 
very much.”

Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
White House Bureau Chief




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
07:58 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 
11:36:00 AM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 6b: 
Color in the room at Trump-
Abbas meeting

Travel Pool 6b
Bethlehem

Below is color and 
observations from the joint 
appearance of President 
Trump and President Abbas at 
the Palestinian Authority 
Presidential Palace in 
Bethlehem. (Memoli is soon 
sending a report on Abbas's 
statement. We had some 
technical difficulties with 
the translation, so please 
standby for that report.)
 
As the pool preset in the 
conference room ahead of 
President Trump and 
President Abbas’ joint 
statements, there was some 
haggling between White House 
staff and Palestinian 
Authority officials over 
where the U.S. journalists 
could be positioned. It was 
negotiated such that White 
House pool correspondents 
could sit in the front row, 
with still photographers 
seated on the floor of the 
aisle, behind a red velvet 
stanchion that separated the 
press from the delegation 
staffs.
 
Roughly 10 minutes before 
Trump and Abbas entered the 
room, Johnny McEntee and 
Stephen Miller came in and 
McEntee placed a paper copy 
of what may have been 
Trump’s prepared remarks at 
the lectern. McEntee and 
Miller mingled with 
Palestinian Authority 
officials on the sidelines 
before the statements began. 
 
The two presidents spoke at 
twin lecterns on an elevated 
platform in front of a black 
curtain. The lecterns were 
made of a dark brown wood at 
the base and black top 
(similar in shape to 
presidential lecterns at the 
White House), with the 
Palestinian Authority seal 
on the front. Trump had two 
American flags and one 
Palestinian Authority flag 
alternating behind him, 
while Abbas has two 
Palestinian Authority flags 
and one American flag 
alternating behind him. 
 
Trump and Abbas’ meeting was 
scheduled to last 30 minutes 
and began roughly on time. 
But their discussion may 
have gone longer because 
their joint statements began 
about an hour after their 
meeting began.
 
Ahead of the statements, 
H.R. McMaster walked into 
the room, looked at the 
papers on Trump’s lectern 
briefly, and then exited the 
room. He returned moments 
later to take a seat in the 
front row, along with 
Secretary Tillerson, Jared 
Kushner and Gary Cohn. Dina 
Powell, walking in wearing 
sunglasses before removing 
them, took a seat in the 
second row, along with three 
staffers whom your pooler 
did not recognize. Stephen 
Miller, Avi Berkowitz and 
two other unrecognized 
staffers sat in the third 
row. Your pool also spotted 
Keith Schiller and George 
Gigicos standing at the side 
of the room.
 
A Palestinian Authority 
official had a brief 
conversation with Tillerson 
while the two staffs waited 
for the presidents to enter. 
The presidents walked in 
about 11:05 a.m.
 
As Abbas spoke, Trump 
listened to a translation 
through an earpiece and 
looked stone faced, gripping 
his lectern with both hands 
and staring straight ahead. 
He did not emote.
 
When their statements were 
concluded, both presidents 
exited the room and did not 
take questions.

Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
White House Bureau Chief




Tuesday, May 23, 2017
07:56 AM -0500

Date: May 23, 2017 at 11:18:45 AM GMT+
Subject: Travel Pool 6: POTUS on 
Manchester

From remarks in Bethlehem, just 
concluded. More to come with assist 
from co-pooler Phil Rucker 

"As President of the United State, on 
behalf of the people of the united 
States, I would like to begin by 
offering my prayers to the people of 
Manchester in the United Kingdom. I 
extend my deepest condolences to those 
so terribly injured in this terrorist 
attacks, and to the many killed and 
the families -- so many families -- of 
the victims. We stand in absolute 
solidarity with the people of the 
United Kingdom.

So many young, beautiful innocent 
people living and enjoying their lives 
murdered by evil losers in life. I 
won’t call them monsters because they 
would like that term. They would think 
that’s a great name. I will call them 
from now on losers, because that’s 
what they are. They’re losers. And 
we’ll have more of them. But they’re 
losers. Just remember that. 

This is what I’ve spent these last few 
days talking about during my trip 
overseas. Our societ can have no 
tolerance for this continuation of 
bloodshed. We cannot stand a moment 
longer for the slaughter of innocent 
people. And in today’s attack, it was 
mostly innocent children. The 
terrorists and extremists, and those 
who give them aid and comffort, must 
be driven out of our society forever. 
This wicked ideology must be 
obliterated, and I mean completely 
obliterated. Life must be protected.
All civilized nations must join to 
protect human life and the sacred 
right of our citizens"

Mike Memoli




Monday, May 22, 2017
09:52 AM -0500

Date: May 22, 2017 at 5:26:47 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Report #12a
Thanks to Reuters' Steve Holland for the 
following, which happened after we were 
ushered the people on the women's side were 
ushered away:



"Once he and melania reunited, trump's son in 
law jared kushner, economic adviser gary 
cohn and national security adviser hr 
mcmaster and secretary of state rex tillerson 
approached the wall en masse and offered 
their own prayers."




Monday, May 22, 2017
09:50 AM -0500

Date: May 22, 2017 at 2:50:24 PM GMT+3
Subject: Pool #8
From Giovanna:


Hi all,
 
Please see below for a transcript of the 
President’s meeting with the President of 
Israel for pool distribution. It’s embargoed and 
prepared for delivery.
 
Best,
Giovanna
 
Meeting with President of Israel
Thank you and shalom. I am honored to be in 
the great State of Israel, the homeland of the 
Jewish people.  I am awed by the beauty and 
majesty of this sacred and holy land.
 
President and Nechama Rivlin, thank you for 
opening your wonderful home and welcoming 
Melaniaand me to your amazing country.
 
On my first trip overseas, I have come to this 
ancient land to reaffirm the enduring 
friendship between the United States and the 
State of Israel. 
 
We are not only longtime friends – we are 
great allies and partners. We stand together 
always.
 
This moment in history calls for us to 
strengthen our cooperation, as both Israel and 
America face common threats – from ISIS and 
other terrorist groups, to countries like Iran 
that sponsor terrorism and fund and foment 
terrible violence. Together, we can work to end 
the scourgeof violence that has taken so many 
lives, here in Israel and around the world. 
 
 
 
Most importantly, the United States and Israel 
can declare with one voice that Iran must 
never be allowed to possess a nuclear 
weapon, and must cease its deadly funding, 
training and equipping ofterrorists and 
militias.
 
On those issues, there is a strong consensus 
among the nations of the world – including 
many in the Muslim world. I was deeply 
encouraged by my conversations with Muslim 
world leaders in Saudi Arabia. Many 
expressed their resolve to help end terrorism 
and the spread of radicalization.
Many Muslim nations have already taken steps 
to begin following through on this 
commitment.  
 
There is a growing realization among your 
Arab neighbors that they have common cause 
with you in the threat posed by Iran.
 
I thank both you and Prime Minister 
Netenyahu for your commitment to achieving 
peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  I 
also look forward to discussing the peace 
process with Palestinian President Mahmoud 
Abbas.
 
 
 
Young Israeli and Palestinian children deserve 
to grow up in safety, and to follow their 
dreams free from the violence that has 
destroyed so many lives.
 
The United States and Israel can also bring 
safety and greater prosperity to our peoples 
through stronger ties of trade and commerce. 
Already, our two countries do a great deal of 
business together. We have a strong 
foundation on which to build an even closer 
trading relationship that benefits both our 
countries.
 
Today we have so many incredible 
opportunities before us, and my hope for this 
visit is that we seize every single one of them.
 
I am thrilled to be here on behalf of the 
American people. I know Israel and America 
share the same goals, and I have great 
confidence we can achieve them together.
 
President Rivlin, I look forward to working 
with you, and to seeing more of this sacred 
land and getting to spend time with your 
remarkable people. 
 
Thank you.




Monday, May 22, 2017
09:46 AM -0500

Date: May 22, 2017 at 5:17:54 PM GMT+3
Subject: Pool report #13
Forwarding from Spicer:



The President and First Last were met at the 
Church of the Holy Sepulchre by:
His Beatitude Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox 
Patriarch 

His Beatitude Nourhan Manougian, Armenian 
Orthodox Patriarch 

Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy 
Land


At the Western Wall they were met by:

Shmuel Rabinovich, Rabbi of the Western Wall

Mordechai "Suli" Elias, Director General of the 
Western Wall Heritage Foundation 




Monday, May 22, 2017
09:45 AM -0500

Date: May 22, 2017 at 5:06:00 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Report #11

Travel Report # 11:
POTUS and FLOTUS arrived at the plaza in 
front of the
 Western Wall at 4:19 p.m., after finishing a 
closed-press tour of the Church of the Holy 
Sepulchre, accompanied by Jared Kushner 
and Ivanka Trump.
At the Wall, the holiest prayer site in Judaism, 
POTUS
 donned a black yarmulke. He and FLOTUS 
were accompanied by Ivanka and Jared, and 
greeted by the Rabbi of the Western Wall, 
Shmuel Rabinovich, and another rabbi, whose 
ID was not totally clear (it is likely the director 
general of the Western Wall Heritage
 Foundation, Mordechai Eliav, but not 
confirmed). Rabinovich and the other rabbi 
explained to Trump the history of the Wall, and 
it’s importance in Judaism, according to the 
White House (we couldn't hear).
The Trump group then divided by gender. On 
the men’s
 side of the Wall, we spotted Gary Cohn taking 
pictures with his phone, David Friedman, 
Jason Greenblatt, and Sean Spicer.
On the women’s side, Hope Hicks and Dina 
Powell sat in
 two rows of plastic chairs, set at the back end 
of the plaza.
On the men’s side, only Trump and Kushner 
approached
 the Wall, accompanied by the two rabbis. The 
rest sat in the plastic chairs.
As female poolers, Carol and I were 
technically on the
 female side of the Wall, separated from the 
male press pool by a small, low barrier that we 
could look over. We couldn’t hear anything of 
what was happening, but the rabbis spoke 
quietly to Trump as they approached the Wall.
At 4:23 p.m., Trump went up to the wall alone -
- even
 Kushner hung back. Trump touched the Wall 
with his right hand and stared straight ahead, 
swaying back and forth slightly. After a long, 
reflective pause in that position, he stuck his 
note into a crack in the wall (Spicer said he 
would get back to us about
 what the note said). Trump then took a deep 
sigh, turned toward the cameras and media, 
and seemed to mouth “thank you” at the press 
riser. He then was rejoined by the rabbis, who 
presented him with an oversized, gold-leafed 
book. We are trying to find out
 the significance of the book.
Kushner hung back, out of the photo-op.
After the photo, Trump signed another book, 
and the group
 left just after 4:25 p.m.
And here’s a feed from Carol, who watched the 
woman’s
 side:

Mrs. Trump walked with three women and 
Ivanka Trump. One of the women was Rabbi 
Rabinovich's wife, Yael. Mrs. Trump was 
listening to
 one of the women, who appeared to be telling 
her about the wall. They walked - both Mrs. 
Trump and Ms. Trump in very high heels - to 
the book placed on the podium in front of the 
women's side of the wall.

Mrs. Trump listened as she walked and the 
woman was telling her things your pooler 
could only hear snippets like "amazing" and 
'for your
 family and for the world."

After a few minutes standing and listening, 
Mrs. Trump approached the wall. She placed a 
folded up piece of paper in a crack (pool has
 asked for info about what it said), and then 
she placed her hand on the wall, standing for 
a few moments.

Ivanka Trump then approached the wall. Your 
pooler did not see her place a paper in it. She 
stood with her hand on the wall, appearing
 to pray. She stood much longer than Mrs. 
Trump. The women left after that. Mrs. Trump 
joined her husband where they had separated 
earlier.

We are now holding in a beautiful room at the 
King David hotel, with a balcony overlooking 
the old city.



Annie Karni

White House Reporter

POLITICO




Monday, May 22, 2017
07:08 AM -0500

Date: May 22, 2017 at 2:41:44 PM GMT+3
Subject: Pool #7

President Trump's first stop in Jerusalem was 
at the residence of the Israeli president,
 for a bilat with President Rivlin.
The two leaders sat in yellow, high-backed 
chairs in
 a smallish room off of the main, public atrium 
(currently set up for a post-meeting 
appearance in front of the press by the two 
leaders), with a small wooden side table 
between them, and the flags representing their 
countries on display behind them.
At the top of the meeting, POTUS made his 
most extensive, unscripted comments since 
the beginning of his trip three days ago. He 
sounded like the same, relaxed Trump who 
likes to chat during pool sprays at the White 
House.
“No wonder you’ve been doing so well, you’ve 
been doing it for so long," he told
 Rivlin, pointing to the aides seated along the 
side of the room and joking he should “give 
you most of the credit.”
“Likewise,” he said, “I have some talented 
people, but
 in particular, Jason, you love Israel so much, 
that you left a very, very, very substantial job 
to be able to help on a peace treaty, you would 
like to see that, wouldn’t you.” He was 
referring to Jason Greenblatt, who for the past 
two decades has worked as
 one of the top negotiators at the Trump 
Organization. 
“David Friedman, likewise, one of the most 
successful
 lawyers….[inaudible]," he said, 
complimenting his ambassador to Israel on 
leaving behind a big job for his posting here in 
Jerusalem.
He said it's on Greenblatt and Friedman to 
negotiate
 peace. “If not, you’ll be blamed because I just 
put it on record,” Trump joked. People in the 
room chuckled.
“My staff has been fantastic,” he said, giving a 
passing
 shout to "Rex."
“We just got back from the Middle East, back 
from Saudi
 Arabia….we were treated incredibly well, with 
a good feeling toward Israel….what’s 
happened with Iran has brought many of the 
other parts of the Middle East toward Israel, 
and you could say that if there’s a benefit, that 
would be the benefit. I’ve seen such
 a different feeling toward Israel from 
countries that, as you know, were not feeling 
so well about Israel not so long ago. It’s 
brought a lot of folks together, and I think 
you’ve seen it, and you’ve even mentioned it 
on many occasions. That is a real positive."
Rivlin chimed in to agree. "Every challenge 
creates opportunity,"
 he said.
Trump picked up the refrain. “It is a challenge 
and an
 opportunity. You have a great opportunity." 
He said that people have had "enough of the 
bloodshed and the killing and I think you can 
see it’s starting to happen. What we did over 
the weekend -- they say there’s never been 
anything like this ever before. It
 was really a coming together….we expect to 
have some very interesting developments."
Pool was ushered out of the room for the rest 
of the
 meeting. We are now waiting with a lot of 
local, Israeli press, for the two leaders to make 
statements at the conclusion of the meeting.


Annie Karni, POLITICO,




Sunday, May 21, 2017
11:26 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 6:35:18 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool Report #20 -- 
Speeches



POTUS delivered his speech in a vast, 
ornate grand hall, filled with 
hundreds of plush, theater-style 
seats, eleven enormous chandeliers and 
ringed with six huge video screens. 

The audience of the leaders of more 
than 50 Arab and Muslim countries, 
along with their entourages, watched 
the address, which followed a speech 
by King Salman.

The speeches were livestreamed so we 
are not going to try to offer lots of 
quotes here. Both speeches were 
delivered to a quiet audience, with no 
interruptions. King Salman spoke from 
his seat on the dias. POTUS spoke from 
a lecture using a teleprompter.

In the audience were also all of POTUS 
traveling staff, as noted in previous 
pool reports.

Sarah Sanders informs your pool that a 
transcript of the POTUS remarks is 
forthcoming very soon, so your pooler 
is not going to spend time 
transcribing quotes. 

Your pooler was whisked away as soon 
as POTUS speech ended and is now back 
at the Ritz awaiting the next 
movement, which should be to the 
combating extremism center in Riyadh.



-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
10:32 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 4:38:41 PM GMT+3
Subject: Foreign pool report # 6 POTUS with 
the Emir of Kuwait
Pool was ushered into the room , both POTUS 
and the Emir were seated and both of their 
delegation sat opposite each other's , Sheikh 
Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah read in Arabic from a 
written paper while the translator struggled to 
keep the pace , often speaking over each 
other's .

The Emir who is a soft spoken person , could 
hardly hear his voice in Arabic . He talked 
about the Stratigic relations with the US , he 
thanked the United States for its role in the 
liberation Kuwait when it was invaded by 
Saddam Hussien in 1990.

He mentioned that the Kuwaiti people love the 
US and took the opportunity to invite POTUS 
to visit his "tiny" country .POTUS didn't 
commit .

He added that kuwait is determined to improve 
relationship and activate alliances led by the 
US in counter terrorism domain to bring peace 
and security .

He also praised the US in trying to find a 
solution to the Israeli Arab conflict , end the 
crisis in Syria , Yemen and Iraq .

The Emir referred to the President as "my 
brother" which is an endearing term used 
often in Arabic to show respect and fondness .


Nadia Bilbassy
Bureau chief
Alarabiya News Channel
Washington DC




Sunday, May 21, 2017
10:28 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 3:28:14 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool Report #16 - arrival at 
conference center.

At 3:20 your pool was brought in to a big 
anteroom in the conference center where King 
Salman was positioned once again in a 
solitary chair near the center of the room, 
awaiting the arrival of POTUS.  

Before the arrival ceremony began the King 
summoned an aide to switch out of black 
sandals and replace them with black shoes.

The arrival ceremony began at 3:23. POTUS 
arrived to greet the king, who stood up to 
greet POTUS and then the two of them walked 
into another room. there was some brief small 
talk and some handshaking, and POTUS also 
greeted the deputy crown prince. 

After the POTUS entrance, he was followed by 
his staff, including Ivanka, Jared Kushner, 
Dina Powell, Gary Cohn, Stephen Miller, Steve 
bannon, Joe Hagin. 

Your pool is holding again. 
-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:27 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 11:49:16 AM 
GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool Report #7 - MOU



Your pooler was led into a large, 
ornate room in the conference center 
where POTUS sat in a large stuffed 
gold and blue chair. King Salman to 
his left. 

POTUS shook hands with a couple of 
folks and chatted briefly out of 
earshot of the pool. 

Also in the room, seated, were Dina 
Powell, Rex Tillerson, Jared Kushner 
and Gary Cohn. 

After a few minutes, an announcer 
spoke, first in Arabic and then in 
English, introduced King Salman and 
POTUS, and said that an MOU between 
the United States and the GCC had been 
signed to establish a center to fight 
extremism in Riyadh. 

The announcer said that Crown Prince 
MBN would represent the GCC and that 
Rex Tillerson would represent the US. 
The two men then exchanged the signed 
MOU in green folders and shook hands. 

Your pooler was led out of the room. 
-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:26 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 11:38:18 AM 
GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool 5: POTUS arrival 
for GCC

At 11:31 local time POTUS entered the 
ornate center atrium of the convention 
center hosting today's summits, 
walking alongside King Salman on a red 
carpet immediately into a side room 
where a restricted pool spray will 
occur.

Just prior to POTUS arrival via the 
short motorcade ride from the Ritz 
(pool had walked ahead of him), King 
Salman had entered the atrium and 
taken a seat bracketed by small end 
tables decorated with white roses and 
in front of a single Saudi flag, which 
was on a rectangular rug surrounded by 
the red carpet winding in an octagonal 
outline.  The Saudi Crown Prince MbN 
and Deputy Crown Prince MbS stood 
behind him.

Mike Memoli




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:24 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 11:09:39 AM 
GMT+3
Subject: Foreign pool report #4 POTUS 
and the President of Egypt 

President Abdul Farah Al Sisi made a 
statement in Arabic via a translator , 
he thanked POTUS  for the strategic 
relationship and assured him that " 
Egypt is secure , able and a stable 
county with the cooperation of the 
United States " .

He praised POTUS as " a unique 
personality who is capable of the 
impossible " which made POTUS happy 
with a big smile and a spontaneous 
response , " I agree "  everyone 
laughed.

Sisi invited POTUS to Egypt , The 
President responded favorably 
indicating that he will visit soon.

Spotted in the room on the Egyptian 
side is Foreign Minister and former 
ambassador to Washington , Sameh 
Shukri. Head of the intelligence 
service whom I didn't get his name .
Dina Powell who is of Egyptian origin 
and was in the room were smiling when 
POTUS said he will visit Egypt .

POTUS made a reference to the Egyptian 
Aid worker , Aya who was detained in 
Egypt for almost 3 years and was 
released recently upon a request from 
POTUS .
" the America people appreciated that 
".

Sisi whom POTUS addressed as (General 
) using his military title smiled 
widely .



Nadia Bilbassy
Bureau chief
Alarabiya News Channel
Washington DC




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:23 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 10:41:02 AM GMT+
Subject: Travel Pool Report #3a -- 
addendum to Egypt bilat



In addition to saying he would get to 
Egypt, POTUS added: "We will 
absolutely be putting that on the list 
very soon." 

In the room, in addition to the 
folkanat previous bilats, Jason 
Greenblat was also there. 

Also, POTUS did not respond to my 
politely shouted question asking him 
to comment on the recent Iranian 
election. Your pool was quickly 
ushered out. 


-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:22 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 10:29:43 AM 
GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool report #3 - Egypt


NOTE: Funny moment below. 

Your pool was led into a room where 
POTUS was sitting in a room with Abdel 
Fattah el-Sisi, the president of 
Egypt, sitting to the right. 

POTUS cakes Sisi "my friend" and 
praised the relationship with Egypt. 

"We've really been through a lot 
together positively," POTUS said. He 
said they are having "Very very 
important talks" and said that in 
Egypt "Safety seems to be very 
strong."

POTUS thanked Sisi for his help with 
the release of an American aid worker, 
saying Sisi had helped to bring "Aya" 
home. 

Speaking through a translator, Sisi 
said that the "Meeting really speaks 
of the strategic nature of the 
relationship" between the two 
countries. He invited POTUS to Egypt  

"Egypt is secure and stable and is 
going very well with the cooperation 
of the United States" Sisi said. 

Sisi added: "You are a unique 
personality that is capable of doing 
the impossible"

That made everyone laugh. And POTUS 
responded: "I agree!"

POTUS said that he will get to Egypt. 

Your pool is now walking to the 
conference center next to the Ritz for 
the GCC meetings. 



-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:20 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 
10:02:48 AM GMT+3
Subject: Foreign pool report 
#2 POTUS with the Emir of 
Qatar 



Not much to add to my 
colleague' s pool report.
The Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin 
Hamad Al Thani didn't make 
any comments , just a hand 
shake and a smile .It was 
hard to spot the Qatari 
delegation in a small 
crowded room .

I was told by one of the 
Qatari journalist in the 
pool that the Emir's bother 
Khalifa Bin Hamad was  there 
. I spotted the Foreign 
Minister , Mohammed 
Abdulrahman Al Thani.

POTUS short statement is 
quoted in the US pool.

Nadia Bilbassy
Bureau chief
Alarabiya News Channel
Washington DC




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:19 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 9:58:12 AM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool #3: Qatar and 
"beautiful military equipment"

At 9:42 am Pool entered a similarly-
situated meeting space as the previous 
bilat that was located in a 
neighboring suite to the last one, 
where POTUS was seated in a gold-
colored chair alongside the Emir of 
Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al Thani. Only 
POTUS spoke briefly during the quick 
spray.

He said the two nations have "been 
friends now for a long time," and 
previewed the "very serious 
discussions" they would have. "One of 
the things that we will discuss is the
Purchase of lots of beautiful military 
equipment because nobody makes it like 
the United States. And for us that 
means jobs and it also means frankly 
great security back here, which we 
want."

He told the emir it was an honor to be 
with him. They shook hands but the 
emir did not speak.

U.S. Participants in the bilat 
included the same roster as the last 
one as well as chief of staff Reince 
Priebus (who was gracious as he was 
surrounded by the pool) and another 
man poolers have not yet been able to 
ID.

Pool holding again.

Mike Memoli




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:18 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 9:31:24 AM GMT+3
Subject: Foreign pool report#1 POTUS 
Bilal with King of Bahrain

Pool was taken to the hotel room where 
both POTUS and the king of Bahrain 
were seated behind US and Bahrain 
flags .The king, Hamad Bin Isa Al 
Khalifa  dressed in a white 
traditional thobe smiled when POTUS 
was welcoming him . He asked to make a 
statement after POTUS . He spoke in 
English saying that Bahrain has a 
great relationship with the United 
States for 120 years .

"based on a very good foundation of 
mutual understanding and strategy that 
we all have worked with, led to a 
great stability in the region."

The Bahraini officials who were with 
him in the room are :
Crown Prince, Nasser Bin Hamad

Foreign Minister, Khalid Bin Ahmad Bin 
Mohamed Al Khalifa

Minister of Royal Court, Khalid Bin 
Ahmad .

Nadia Bilbassy
Bureau chief
Alarabiya News Channel




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:16 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 9:22:29 AM 
Subject: Travel Pool Report #2 - King 
of Bahrain



At 9:05 am, FLOTUS walked by the 
assembled press corps, wearing a tan 
outfit and smiling as the cameras 
clicked. 

A few moments later, your pool was led 
into a room inside one of the hotel 
suites. POTUS was seated in a red and 
gold armchair, with Hamad bin Isa Al 
Khalifa, the King of Bahrain to his 
right. 

POTUS told the king that it was "a 
great honor to be with you" and that 
there "has been a little strain but 
there won't be strain with this 
administration." POTUS added that the 
two countries have "many of the same 
things in common."

The king said the two nations had 120 
years of relations "based on a very 
good foundation of mutual 
understanding and strategy that we all 
have worked with, led to a great 
stability in the region."

Seated around the room was Jared 
Kushner, Rex Tillerson, HR McMaster, 
Gary Cohn, Dina Powell in addition to 
members of the Bahrain delegation. 

The pool was ushered out after that. 

Please check all names. Your pooler 
will seek to put them in, but we have 
not yet gotten a full list from the 
White House. 

We are standing by for the next one. 
-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Sunday, May 21, 2017
06:15 AM -0500

Date: May 21, 2017 at 8:39:23 AM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool Report #1 -- 
Bilat Day and the GCC


Hello everyone. 

Your pool has assembled at the Ritz 
for the start of a long day of bilats 
and group meetings with foreign 
leaders, all leading up to the speech 
later this afternoon and the tweet 
forum tonight. 

Looking forward to being your guide 
today, along with the great Michael 
Memoli. 

The first event begins at 9 am, a 
meeting with the King of Bahrain. 

Mike. 

-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times




Saturday, May 20, 2017
08:56 AM -0500

Date: May 20, 2017 at 4:36:05 PM GMT+
Subject: Travel Pool Report #15: color

The American delegation appeared to be in 
high spirits, following
 a long and lavish lunch and ahead of the bilat 
(details of which were in Jerome’s previous 
pool report). At 3:52 p.m., Jared Kushner 
greeted H.R. McMaster with a high-five when 
he entered the room where the bilat would be 
held. Bannon stood around chatting
 with Tillerson. Priebus appeared to be 
reviewing a schedule on someone else’s 
tablet.

Killing some time before POTUS entrance, 
Cohn paced around the
 room and came over to say hello to the press 
pool. What are you signing today? we asked 
him. He responded that the ceremony will be a 
signing “to invest a lot of money in the U.S. 
and have a lot of U.S. companies invest and 
build things over here.... They’re
 going to hire US companies….a bunch of 
infrastructure related things… A lot of money. 
Big dollars. Big dollars.”

How’s it all going so far, we asked Cohn, who 
arrived this morning
 aboard AF1 with POTUS. “Good,” he said. 
“Really well.”

Pool is now holding in another reception 
hallway that looks almost
 identical to the one where we witnessed the 
coffee ceremony and medal presentation -- 
only the color scheme here (chairs, carpet and 
walls) is a pea green, rather than a dark blue.

Annie Karni
White House Reporter
POLITICO




Saturday, May 20, 2017
08:53 AM -0500

Date: May 20, 2017 at 4:20:46 PM GMT+3
Subject: Travel Pool Report #14 - Documents 
being signed

Per Sarah Sanders :

This is what is being signed at signing 
ceremony today. 
-Joint vision statement 
-Defense cooperation agreements - there are 8 
letters of acceptance, 1 letter of intent 
$110 b effective immediately 
$350 b over ten years
-Additionally private sector agreements 

Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent




Friday, May 19, 2017
01:26 PM -0500

Date: May 19, 2017 at 2:04:09 PM EDT
Subject: In-town pool report #2

President Trump exited the West Wing 
at 1:57 pm, dressed in a dark suit and 
blue tie. He was joined by the First 
Lady and VP Pence. He spoke briefly 
with Pence, giving him a grip on the 
shoulder. Pence exchanged a hug with 
Mrs. Trump before Trump and the First 
Lady walked to Marine One. He stopped 
to wave to the cameras and give a 
thumbs up as he walked across the 
lawn.

He boarded Marine One at 1:58.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, 
holding hands, strode across the lawn 
shortly after and boarded Marine One. 
They were followed moments later by 
chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Marine One was wheels up at 2:02 p.m.

Over to you, travel pool. Safe 
travels.


Matthew Nussbaum
POLITICO White House Reporter




Wednesday, May 17, 2017
03:14 PM -0500


 
THE WHITE HOUSE
 
Office of the Press Secretary
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
_________
For Immediate Release                 
May 17, 2017
 
 
PRESS GAGGLE
BY PRESS SECRETARY SEAN SPICER
 
Aboard Air Force One
En Route Washington, D.C.
 
 
 
2:45 P.M. EDT
 
 
MR. SPICER:  Hi, guys.  How are you?  
I hope you all enjoyed your time in 
New London.  I think the President is 
getting some pretty wide acclaim for 
the speech at the Coast Guard Academy 
today.
 
I think just to kind of recap a couple 
of the points, he made it very clear 
in the speech, the advice that he gave 
to students, to not only defend the 
American security, but you protect 
American prosperity.  It’s a mission 
that goes back to the earliest days of 
the Revenue Cutter Service.
 
“Today, the Coast Guard helps keep our 
waters open for Americans to do 
business, it keeps our rivers flowing 
with commerce, and it keeps our ports 
churning with American exports. You 
help billions of dollars of goods to 
navigate our country every day.  
You’re the only federal presence in 
our inland waterways.  You police the 
arteries we need to rebuild this 
country and to bring prosperity back 
to our heartland.”
 
He talked about the fact, as you 
heard, that together, they have the 
same mission -- “Your devotion and 
dedication makes me proud to be your 
Commander-in-Chief.”  And then lastly, 
he basically made it clear and 
highlighted, as you heard, the speech 
trip he’s about to take when he said, 
“In a few days I will make my first 
trip abroad as your President, with 
the safety, security and the interests 
of the American people as my priority.  
I will strengthen our old friendships 
and seek new partners.  I will ask 
them to unite for a future of peace 
and opportunity for our peoples and 
for the world.  First, in Saudi Arabia 
where I’ll speak to Muslim leaders and 
challenge them to fight hatred and 
extreme -- and embrace a peaceful 
future for their faith.  Then in 
Israel, I’ll reaffirm our unbreakable 
alliance with the Jewish state.  In 
Rome, I’ll talk with Pope Francis 
about the contributions of Christian 
teachings to the world.  Finally, I’ll 
attend the NATO Summit in Brussels and 
the G7 in Sicily to promote security, 
prosperity and peace.” 
 
Tonight, after the President returns, 
he’s going to spend a good chunk of 
today preparing for the visit of the 
President of Colombia tomorrow. 
 
This evening, the Vice President will 
deliver remarks on behalf of the First 
Family at an Asian American Pacific 
Islander Heritage Month reception in 
his ceremonial office.  He’ll be 
joined by Secretary of Transportation 
Elaine Chao; Centers for Medicaid and 
Medicare Services, Seema Verma; and 
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs, Acting Assistant Secretary 
Susan Thornton.  The Vice President 
will discuss his recent trip to the 
Asia Pacific, the many contributions 
that Americans of Asian and Pacific 
Islander descent have made around the 
country. 
 
And lastly, the President will 
continue to meet with candidates for 
FBI director this afternoon.  He’ll 
meet with four more -- Andrew McCabe, 
Frank Keating, Richard McFeely, and 
Joe Lieberman.  So those will all 
happen upon return to the White House 
this afternoon.
 
And then, again, obviously, I 
mentioned yesterday that there will be 
some additional logistical guidance 
that will be given to the press, both 
to the pool and to the traveling 
members of the
-- the traveling journalists, as far 
as logistics and questions later 
tonight.  I think the time has been 
provided on the guidance.  If it 
hasn’t, it will be updated.  But we’re 
looking  -- I’m sorry, I’ve been out 
with you guys -- but there will be an 
opportunity I think to make sure that 
both with the pool and with members 
that are planning on traveling, just 
some off-the-record guidance in terms 
of timing and other movements that 
will occur, and events.
 
So with that, I’ll take a few.
 
Q    Sean, does the President support 
former Director Comey testifying 
before Congress about his recollection 
of their conversations and the 
investigation, and would he be willing 
to waive executive privilege about 
their conversations to allow them to 
discuss fully the nature of those 
conversations?
 
MR. SPICER:  The President wants the -
- is confident that the -- in the 
events that he has maintained, and the 
truth will
-- he wants the truth and these 
investigations to get to the bottom of 
the situation.
 
Q    Does he support --
 
MR. SPICER:  There’s two 
investigations going on in the House 
and Senate, and he wants to get to the 
bottom of this.
 
Q    Have you gotten a chance to look 
into a little bit more what took place 
in the meeting between the President 
and Comey in February?  What’s the 
President’s side of this?  We know 
that he says he did not ask about the 
Flynn investigation.  Can you tell us 
more about what the President says 
took place at that meeting?
 
MR. SPICER:  I'm not going to get into 
-- the President has been very clear 
that the account that was published is 
not an accurate description of his -- 
of how the event occurred.
 
Q    I guess can you confirm, though -
-
 
MR. SPICER:  I think that we’ve made 
it very clear.  I’m not going to give 
any further comment on that.
 
Q    So do you have any evidence to 
back up, like, what -- is it just that 
the President says that this didn’t 
happen, this conversation didn’t 
happen?  Or is there any recording or 
--
 
MR. SPICER:  This is not -- the 
President has been very clear that 
this is not an accurate representation 
of that meeting.
 
     Q    Are we just corroborating 
that based on his words, though?  I 
mean, he said in a tweet about tapes 
last week -- are there records, 
transcripts of those conversations?
 
     MR. SPICER:  I think we've been 
clear about that.  I think we've been 
very -- we put out a statement 
regarding that. 
 
     Q    Two quick questions. Is the 
President considering having personal 
lawyers, like outside of White House 
counsel, in light of these kinds of 
allegations and things that have come 
up?
 
     MR. SPICER:  If I have any 
updates for that at some point I'll 
let you know.
 
     Q    The White House disputed 
some of the characterizations of the 
conversation the President had with 
the Russian Foreign Minister.  It 
sounds like the Russian President said 
that their side is willing to release 
a transcript of the conversation.  Do 
you support the Russians releasing a 
transcript of that conversation to 
Congress?  And were you aware that 
they were recording the conversation?
 
     MR. SPICER:  I think each side -- 
I am not aware of anything on that, I 
don't have any update on that.  But I 
think we put out a statement very 
clearly about the President does not 
believe that is an accurate 
representation of that --
 
     Q    If the Russians have some 
sort of transcript, are you willing -- 
would you like it made public?
 
     MR. SPICER:  The Secretary of 
State, the National Security Advisor 
and the Deputy National Security 
Advisor have been very clear with 
their recollection of that meeting, 
with their account of that meeting.
 
     Q    -- that the President spoke 
to Bibi Netanyahu yesterday.  Can you 
discuss a little bit more about what 
they talked about?  And were the 
specific allegations that Israel 
intelligence was behind the -- what he 
told the Russians -- was that -- did 
that have anything to do with it? 
 
     MR. SPICER:  That phone call was 
purely a logistical and trip 
preparation.
 
     Q    Did they discuss the fact 
that the source of the intelligence 
that was told to the Russians --
 
     MR. SPICER:  That was 
preparation.
 
     Q    Okay.  Also it seems that 
the President has been a bit quiet in 
the last 24 hours, at least on Twitter 
and making any public remarks outside 
the official events.  Is there an 
effort to scale back events until -- 
or any kind of other comments about 
the issues that have been going on in 
the White House right now until he 
takes off on this trip?
 
     MR. SPICER:  I think that we put 
out a statement last night very clear 
what our position was.  I think 
there’s been a lot of questions that 
other people have -- that are out 
there talking about this or that in 
terms of what was appropriate with 
respect to some of the stuff that 
Director Comey did or did not do.  But 
the White House has put out a 
statement very clearly with our 
account.
 
     Q    How concerned are you by the 
comments that some of the Republicans 
in Congress are making, saying that 
this is starting to approach Watergate 
proportions and will affect the 
agenda?
 
     MR. SPICER:  -- very clear that -
- the President is obviously focused 
on his speech that he gave today, 
winning widespread praise for what he 
talked about -- the role of the Coast 
Guard and the future of these young 
ensigns that will go out there and 
help defend our homeland, and 
obviously he’s going to continue to 
prepare for the meeting with the 
President of Colombia tomorrow and 
looking forward to taking off on this 
trip.
 
     Thank you, guys.  Enjoy. 
 
     Q    Can you comment about --
 
     Q    Can I --
 
     Q    Can you just comment on the 
video --
 
     Q    Do you have a date for the 
budget?
 
     MR. SPICER:  The State Department 
put out a statement on that.
 
     Q    Was the President aware of 
that?  Did he see the video and did he 
--
 
     MR. SPICER:  I don't know.  I 
know the State Department has put out 
a statement on that.
 
     Thanks, guys. 
 




Wednesday, May 17, 2017
08:34 AM -0500

Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 9:16 AM
Subject: In-town Pool Report #1 – 
Departure
 
May 17, 2017
In town pool report #1
 
President Trump emerged from the West 
Wing at 9:05am in a dark suit. No 
thumbs up this morning. 
 
He boarded Marine One and helo lifted 
off at 9:11am en route to Joint Base 
Andrews. 
 
Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, Stephen 
Miller and Reince Priebus piled into 
the back of Marine One before takeoff. 
 
Handing off to travel pool.
 
--
Gabby Morrongiello 
Washington Bureau Chief 
New York Post 
 




Tuesday, May 16, 2017
05:04 PM -0500


From: Joseph, Cameron 
[mailto:cjoseph@nydailynews.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 5:37 PM
Subject: FW: Statements for pool 
distribution
 
The White House asked me to pass this 
along re: the NYT story.
 
Subject: Statements for pool 
distribution

Good Evening –
 
For pool distribution.  
 
On background: While the President has 
repeatedly expressed his view that 
General Flynn is a decent man who 
served and protected our country, the 
President has never asked Mr. Comey or 
anyone else to end any investigation, 
including any investigation involving 
General Flynn. The President has the 
utmost respect for our law enforcement 
agencies, and all investigations. This 
is not a truthful or accurate 
portrayal of the conversation between 
the President and Mr. Comey.
 
On background: Deputy Director McCabe 
said in his testimony last week that 
the WH had not interfered with any 
investigation. 
 




Tuesday, May 16, 2017
01:01 PM -0500

 
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 1:50 PM
Subject: In-town pool report 3: Trump-
Erdogan Roosevelt Room
 
President Trump and Turkish President 
Erdogan came into the Roosevelt Room 
for statements at 1:07pm. Here are 
Trump's notable remarks.
 
Trump:
 
"The Turkish people have faced 
horrible terrorist attacks in recent 
years and even recently. We offer our 
compassion to the victims and we offer 
our support to the Turkish nation. We 
support Turkey in the first fight 
against terror and terror groups like 
ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they 
haven no safe quarter, the terror 
groups. We also appreciate Turkey's 
leadership in seeking an end to the 
horrific killing in Syria. The Syrian 
civil war shocks the conscience of the 
whole world, and all you have to do is 
look on the front page of the papers 
today and you'll see exactly what 
we're talking about."
 
"It is a great pleasure to welcome 
President Erdogan for his first visit 
to the White House in years. The 
American and Turkish peoples have been 
friends and allies for many many 
decades" he said, praising Turkish 
soldiers' efforts in the Korean War 
and in the war on terror.
 
"The American and Turkish peoples have 
been friends and allies for many, many 
decades. Turkey was a pillar in the 
Cold War against Communism. It was a 
bastion against Soviet expansion. And 
Turkish courage in war is legendary. 
That is so true."
 
"The American and Turkish peoples have 
been friends and allies for many, many 
decades. Turkey was a pillar in the 
Cold War against Communism. It was a 
bastion against Soviet expansion. And 
Turkish courage in war is legendary. 
That is so true."
 
"Today, we face a new enemy in the 
fight against terrorism and again we 
seek to face this threat together."
 
"Military equipment was ordered by 
Turkey and the president, and we've 
made sure that it gets there quickly." 
 
"I look forward to working together 
with President Erdogan on achieving 
peace and security in the Middle East, 
on confronting the shared threats, and 
on working towards a future of dignity 
and safety for all of our people."
 
Cameron Joseph
Washington Bureau Chief
New York Daily News




Tuesday, May 16, 2017
12:57 PM -0500


From: emel bayrak 
[mailto:ebayrak2000@yahoo.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 1:29 PM
Subject: Foreign Press Pool Report II 
the joint statement with President 
Erdogan and President Trump
 
President Trump opened this remarks 
and said;
 
It is a great pleasure to welcome 
President Erdogan for his first visit 
to the White House in years. 
 
The American and Turkish peoples have 
been friends and allies for many, many 
decades. Turkey was a pillar in the 
Cold War against Communism. It was a 
bastion against Soviet expansion. And 
Turkish courage in war is legendary. 
That is so true.
 
Turkish soldiers fought bravely 
alongside of American soldiers in the 
Korean War, and we haven't forgotten 
what they did.
 
In some ways, when we looked at their 
great bravery in the fight of Korea 
and in Korea, it was just something 
that our soldiers and our great 
generals still remember.
 
Supreme Commander General Douglas 
MacArthur singled out and praised the 
exemplary valor of the Turkish soldier 
-- said some of the great soldiers of 
the world. 
 
Today, we face a new enemy in the 
fight against terrorism and again we 
seek to face this threat together.
 
The Turkish people have faced horrible 
terrorist attacks in recent years and 
even recently. We offer our compassion 
to the victims and we offer our 
support to the Turkish nation.
 
We support Turkey in the first fight 
against terror and terror groups like 
ISIS and the PKK, and ensure they 
haven no safe quarter -- the terror 
groups.
 
We also appreciate Turkey's leadership 
in seeking an end to the horrific 
killing in Syria. The Syrian civil war 
shocks the conscience of the whole 
world, and all you have to do is look 
on the front page of the papers today 
and you'll see exactly what we're 
talking about.
 
We also support any effort that can be 
used to reduce the violence in Syria 
and create the conditions for a 
peaceful resolution.
 
President Erdogan and I are also 
discussing the need to reinvigorate 
our trade and commercial ties. These 
are areas where we can build our 
relationship that will benefit both of 
our countries.
 
Military equipment was ordered by 
Turkey and the president, and we've 
made sure that it gets there quickly.
 
I look forward to working together 
with President Erdogan on achieving 
peace and security in the Middle East, 
on confronting the shared threats, and 
on working towards a future of dignity 
and safety for all of our people.
 
Mr. President, thank you for visiting 
our country and joining us today at 
the White House. It is a great honor 
to have you with us. Thank you.
 
Emel Bayrak
The White House Correspondent for TRT-
TURK




Monday, May 15, 2017
12:27 PM -0500

Date: May 15, 2017 at 12:29:17 PM EDT
Subject: Pool No. 6: Memorial event 
color, quotes

In the shadow of the Capitol:
Law enforcement officers and their 
families somber and stoic in memory of 
fallen officers, bowing heads during 
invocation, which included a line 
about the "ultimate sacrifice." 
Officers in dress blues stood at 
attention as American flag at half-
mast on Capitol building fluttered in 
wind. Sunlight glinted off of their 
badges and the brass buttons of their 
uniforms.

When he was introduced, POTUS received 
a standing ovation from the crowd. It 
appeared that VPOTUS was the first to 
stand on the dais and others followed 
suit. POTUS waved and pointed to the 
crowd in appreciation.

POTUS received another standing round 
of applause when he took the lectern 
to speak. Remarks lasted 25 minutes.

At one point during his speech, a man 
in the crowd shouted: "We love you, 
Donald!"

Cabinet and senior admin officials 
also on the dais: Transportation 
Secretary Elaine Chao, Labor Secretary 
Alex Acosta, Homeland Security 
Secretary John Kelly, Attorney General 
Jeff Sessions.

Some patches I saw in the crowd of law 
enforcement officers: Marion, Ohio; 
St. Charles Parish; Jefferson Parish; 
Border Patrol; Austin pipes and drums; 
Mason County; Enfield; Tasmania; 
Capitol Police (of course); little 
girl in front row wearing NYPD hat.

All remarks open press and carried 
live, but below are some notes if you 
need. I made audio, if anyone happens 
to need. Just ask.

Some VPOTUS remarks that stood out:
"Sacrifice and memory is what brings 
us to this place every year."
Administration working to "restore the 
respect and honor that is owed" to 
every officer.
POTUS supports law enforcement 
officers "without apology, and he 
always will."

Some POTUS remarks that stood out:
We're "blessed" with "so many 
incredible heroes"

Tells audience he wants them to 
remember and heed: "I will always 
support the incredible men and women 
of law enforcement ... as much as you 
have always supported me. And you did, 
big league."

"As the Bible tells us, there is no 
greater love than to lay down one's 
life for one's friends."

Says officers are owed "the 
appreciation that they have earned 
1,000 times over."

"We will keep America safe."

"You are the thin blue line between 
civilization and chaos."

Says so many police are "subject to 
unfair defamation and vilification, 
really, you see what's going on ... 
even worse, hostility and violence."

"The attacks on our police on a stain 
on ... very fabric of society"

Pledges to protect police and say, 
"Enough is enough."

---
Emily Ngo
Newsday
Washington bureau




Monday, May 15, 2017
12:25 PM -0500

Date: May 15, 2017 at 11:06:28 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report No. 3: From text 
of police proclamation 

Document that POTUS signed in Oval 
Office was titled: "Peace Officers 
Memorial Day and Police Week, 2017."

Cites 118 officers killed in the line 
of duty last year, including 66 in 
malicious attacks. A nearly 40 percent 
increase over 2015.

Some of text (seen from photo taken of 
document):
"That is why one of my first actions 
was to direct the Department of 
Justice to develop a strategy to 
better prevent and prosecute acts of 
violence against our Federal, State, 
tribal and local law enforcement 
officers."

Says the Trump administration 
additionally will take measures to 
"improve the lives of law enforcement 
officers and their families," by 
supporting the Officer Safety and 
Wellness Group and accelerating the 
processing of benefits through the 
Public Safety Officers' Benefits 
Program.

Declares May 15 Peace Officers 
Memorial Day and May 14-May 20 Police 
Week.

Says POTUS and FLOTUS will light the 
WH blue today to mark the memorial day 
and asks governors and other electeds 
around the country to fly flags at 
half-mast.

Pool still holding in vans outside WH 
as of 11:05.

---
Emily Ngo
Newsday
Washington bureau




Monday, May 15, 2017
12:23 PM -0500

Date: May 15, 2017 at 11:18:18 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report No. 4: Motorcade 
rolling to Capitol

Departing WH at 11:15 en route to the 
Capitol, where POTUS is to make 
remarks at 36th Annual National Peace 
Officers’ Memorial Service. Remarks 
are open press and will be carried 
live.

POTUS and VPOTUS seen getting into 
vehicle together.

---
Emily Ngo
Newsday
Washington bureau




Monday, May 15, 2017
12:21 PM -0500

Date: May 15, 2017 at 10:46:55 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report No. 2: Remarks 
from Oval & info on proclaimation

From Oval Office:
POTUS signed a proclamation relating 
to National Police Week. The following 
is from press office and then my 
transcription of his remarks comes 
after that.

The officers and guest who were in the 
Oval Office with the President are 
from police departments that recently 
suffered the loss of a police officer 
- Ulster County Sheriff’s Department, 
Phoenix Police Department, and the New 
Jersey State Trooper.

The President signed a proclamation in 
honor of police memorial week - Peace 
Officers Memorial Day and Police Week 
2017

Remarks:
POTUS: Last year, 188 officers died in 
the line of duty, says of those 66 
were "victims of malicious attacks." 
These attacks increased nearly 40 
percent from 2015, he said. (FYI, I 
heard 188 from him but proclamation 
has 118 as number of deaths.)

POTUS said:
"This must end, and that's why, in my 
first action having to do with this 
subject, the Department of Justice 
[inaudible] to develop a strategy to 
better prevent and prosecute crimes of 
violence against federal, state, 
tribal and local law enforcement 
officers."

"They've had it with what's going on, 
and we're going to get it taken care 
of. We're going to get it taken care 
of quickly."

He thanks everyone. Tells those in 
uniform it's an honor to have them 
there.

"Some of you have suffered greatly and 
we're going to take care of it, OK? 
We're going to take care of it."

Pool is holding in motorcade at WH.

---
Emily Ngo
Newsday
Washington bureau 




Monday, May 15, 2017
12:19 PM -0500

Date: May 15, 2017 at 10:24:00 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report No. 1: Rerouted 
to Oval briefly

Good morning. Was approaching 
motorcade at South Portico for Capitol 
when pool was rerouted and rushed to 
Oval Office. About 10:17.

POTUS surrounded by men and women in 
uniform speaking about violence 
against police. Includes stats. Signs 
document. Ex-NYPD Keith Schiller was 
present.

Pool ushered out without POTUS taking 
Qs. Remarks TK. Heading to motorcade 
now.

---
Emily Ngo
Newsday
Washington bureau



Sunday, May 14, 2017
09:56 AM -0500

Date: May 14, 2017 at 10:40:57 AM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #2

After an uneventful 36-minute 
motorcade on I-66, POTUS arrived at
Trump National Golf Club at 10:32 a.m. 
Pool immediately routed to PGA
media center; POTUS was glimpsed 
wearing a red baseball camp.

No word yet if POTUS is making phone 
calls/having meetings/playing
golf. Will advise when we know 
something.

Sent from my iPhone

Tom DeFrank
Contributing Editor
National Journal



Saturday, May 13, 2017
11:47 AM -0500

Date: May 13, 2017 at 11:19:19 AM EDT
Subject: WH travel pool report #6

POTUS took stage at 10:08 and sat 
alongside Falwell.

Speech began at 10:32, ended at 
11:05... lasted 33 minutes. Notably, 
he did not wear any academic regalia 
for speech.

Pool escorted to motorcade in midst of 
a song following the speech, which 
Trump remained on stage for.

Motorcade rolling back to Lynchburg 
Regional Airport at 11:17.
-- 
Al Weaver
Political Reporter
The Washington Examiner



Sunday, May 07, 2017
09:36 PM -0500

Date: May 7, 2017 at 9:54:57 PM EDT
Subject: In-town Pool #1
Marine One landed at 9.44pm on a chilly night.  
Potus (still without tie) descended and walked 
into the East Wing. Shortly afterwards, Steven 
Miller, Hope Hicks, KT McFarland and Dan 
Scavino got off Marine One and headed into 
the West Wing. 


Demetri

Demetri Sevastopulo (Bio)
Financial Times
Washington Bureau Chief



Sunday, May 07, 2017
09:34 PM -0500

Date: May 7, 2017 at 9:36:07 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool 4: Marine 1 wheels up
Cabinet door opened at 9:24 pm, and POTUS, 
sans tie, emerged at 9:26,
46 mins after wheels down.  He was followed a 
moment later by Hope
Hicks, Jared Kusher, KT McFarland, Stephen 
Miller and Dan Scavino.

No immediate explanation from press shop for 
the delay.

Kushner walked by the press corp, and 
stopped briefly in front of
reporters. "Every is good. He was just working 
on something," Kushner
said.

One reporter asked if he would do any more 
briefings. "I don't think
so. I'm not as good as Sean."

That's it for the Traveling Pool. Good night.
—Mike Bender, The Walk Street Journal



Sunday, May 07, 2017
09:19 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 3: wheels down, POTUS 
still aboard
Air Force 1 landed at joint Base Andres at 8:40 
p.m. after a brief,
uneventful flight.

At 9:18 pm, the traveling press is standing 
outside still awaiting
POTUS to deplane. No explanation yet for 
what is keeping the
president.

Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and their 
children deplaned at 8:56 pm.
She and the two eldest climbed into a black 
SUV, he tucked the baby
into a silver minivan for the drive home. 
Kushner got back on board,
deplaned again at 9:07 pm. He and got back 
on board two minutes later,
and his family drove off.

—Mike (Bender), The Wall Street Journal.



Thursday, May 04, 2017
08:52 PM -0500

Date: May 4, 2017 at 9:37:57 PM EDT
Subject: Travel pool report #6
President Donald Trump and Australian Prime 
Minister Malcolm Turnbull were seated at the 
same table in the center of the dining room of 
the Intrepid. 

President Trump sat in between First lady 
Melania Trump and Lucy Turnbull. Prime 
Minister Turnbull sat to the right of his wife, 
Lucy Turnbull. 

The event started with a trio of singers who 
sang the Australian anthem, followed by a 
color guard presentation. It was followed by 
the U.S. national anthem and then another 
color guard presentation. 

Also in attendance: Rex Tillerson, Reince 
Priebus, former Australian Prime Minister 
Kevin Rudd, U.N. ambassador for Australia 
Gillian Bird, John Travolta and country singer 
Kellie Pickler. 

Anthony Pratt, executive chairman of Visy 
industries and Pratt Industries in the U.S., 
took the stage to pledge an investment of $2 
billion over the next decade for "high paying 
manufacturing jobs" in the Midwest. 

Mr. Turnbull took the stage to underscore the 
closeness of the two countries. "We are 
always more assured of winning when we are 
fighting together," he said. 

He also said the U.S. and Australia "condemn 
and we resist North Korea's reckless 
provocation."

Turnbull: “Today and together we condemn 
and resist the reckless provocations of North 
Korea. We fight together in iraq and 
Afghasnistan to defeat and destroy the 
terrorrists who threaten our way of life. Today 
Australians and Americans stand shoulder to 
should defending our freedoms."

Rupert Murdoch followed Turnbull to 
introduce Trump. He noted the significance of 
the President’s announcement that he will visit 
Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Vatican later this 
month. 

Trump took the stage at 9pm. He thanked the 
Australians for fighting alongside the U.S. in 
Iraq and Afghanistan. He spoke about the 
history of the Battle of the Coral Sea. 

“There’s no better place to remember the 
impact of military readiness than this ship,” 
Trump said. 

“This week my administration reached a 
historic deal with Congress, to end the 
devastating cuts to the United States military.  
I don’t know what they were thinking when 
they started cutting, and it’s coming back 
bigly. We’re ordering lots of ships, lots of 
jobs."

“We will add $25 billion for national defense in 
a short period of time.” 

Trump said that he had a “productive 
discussion” with PM Turnbull about the future 
of the two countries from national security to 
trade to immigration and enhanced economic 
cooperation. 

“We affirmed the tremendous friendship 
between the US and Australia,” Trump said. 
"The armed forces are fighting side by side to 
defeat isis and the scourge of terrorism, and 
we will eradicate terrorism.” 

For nearly a century Americans and 
Australians have fought together, bled 
together, he said.

"Our brave warriors have fought shoulder to 
shoulder in every major conflict together," 
Trump said, citing Normandy, Vietnam and the 
Middle East.

He said:  “Our two nations were born as the 
rebellious children of the same parent. 
Americans have had no better friends than the 
Australians, I mean that.” 

Trump recounted the battle of the Coral Sea 
that he said formed the foundation of the 
strong ties that exist today. 

He thanked Australia for its contributions to 
the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. 
"We are profoundly grateful for Australia’s 
contribution in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

“On behalf of the United States, I thank 
Australia tonight.. we love Australia very 
much.” 

At the end he said: "So with love for our two 
nations, with pride in our shared history and 
with faith in almighty God we renew our old 
friendship.” 

He said the U.S. and Australia have a "great, 
great relationship."

Other highlights from Trump's speech: 

- Trump started his speech by calling Rupert 
Murdoch a “good friend,” adding there’s “only 
one Rupert Murdoch” 

 - He also thanked pro Australian golfer Greg 
Norman, who he said convinced him that he 
could never be a great golfer. 

 - Mr. Trump chided Australian billionaire 
Anthony Pratt, who pledged $2 billion over 10 
years to invest in U.S. jobs, particularly in the 
Midwest: "That's peanuts for Anthony. You 
can do better," Mr. Trump said.

“  On the January phone call between Turnbull 
and Trump, he said: "We really didn’t have a 
rough phone call. Everyone is talking about 
this phone call…. Now the record is straight, 
all of those people there,” Trump said pointing 
to the media in the back of the room. "It got a 
little bit testy but that’s okay. We have a very 
good relationship and i’ve very proud to it.” 

-  Trump said he's been donating to the 
organization hosting the dinner, the American 
Australian Association, for years because 
Rupert Murdoch would pester him for money. 
He joked that he never really understood what 
he was giving to. "Now I realize it was money 
well spent," he said.



Thursday, May 04, 2017
02:50 PM -0500

Date: May 4, 2017 at 3:19:35 PM EDT
Subject: In-town print pool #3
Press were ushered into the Rose Garden at 
roughly 2:55 for the president’s press 
conference on passage of GOP legislation to 
roll back the Affordable Care Act.
 
“Welcome to the beginning of the end of 
Obamacare,” declared vice president Mike 
Pence.
 
Roughly 60-70 Republican House members 
are in attendance, lined up on the stairs in 
photo formation. One notable placement: 
Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows 
is front and center, right beside the president 
and Speaker Paul Ryan.
 
Health and Human Services Secretary Tom 
Price received a big round of applause as he 
entered and joined his former colleagues 
behind the podium.
 
Spotted in the crowd so far: Ivanka Trump and 
Jared Kushner, Transportation Sec. Elaine 
Chao, OMB director Mick Mulvaney, press 
secretary Sean Spicer, chief White House 
economist Gary Cohn.
 
--
Lachlan Markay
The Daily Beast



Sunday, April 30, 2017
10:54 AM -0500

Date: April 30, 2017 at 11:34:19 AM EDT
Subject: WH pool report #3

Arrived with POTUS to Trump National Golf 
Club at 11:33 am.

See website for more details about the Golf 
Club, tho note that address on the website is 
inaccurate. We are def in Sterling, not 
Potomac Falls. 
http://www.trumpnationaldc.com/

Annie Linskey
Boston Globe, DC bureau



Saturday, April 29, 2017
08:00 PM -0500

Date: April 29, 2017 at 7:42:21 PM EDT
Subject: WH Travel Pool Report #4
Pool arrived at the Farm Show Complex and 
Expo Center in Harrisburg at 7:32 pm. Trump's 
rally will be held in the rodeo arena. 

Signs seen in the crowd: "Promises made. 
Promises kept" "Drain the swamp" and 
"Women for Trump"

Young girls could be heard chanting "We want 
Trump," as pool was led in. A rendition of "I 
did it my way" was playing on the sound 
system. 

One man wore a red shirt with the words 
"Let's all make America great again."

Pool is at the side of the arena waiting for 
Trump to make an entrance. Speech is open 
press. 

Brian Bennett
Los Angeles Times



Saturday, April 29, 2017
07:56 PM -0500

Date: April 29, 2017 at 7:24:37 PM EDT
Subject: WH Travel Pool Report #3
Factory Tour and Executive Order Signing

Motorcade arrived at the Ames Companies 
after a 15-minute, mainly
Interstate drive, from the airport.

Along the way, we passed a billboard that said 
"1 in 5 children faces hunger."

Motorcade pulled across railroad tracks to a 
warehouse surrounded by
18-wheeler trailers. Ames makes 
wheelbarrows and landscaping and
gardening tools.

Once inside the factory, from a distance, out 
of earshot, POTUS could
be seen inspecting a lineup of colorful 
wheelbarrows. VP Pence and
Wilbur Ross stood alongside.

POTUS then moved to an assembly line, 
where he greeted workers, posed
for pictures, and conducted a fairly extensive 
on camera interview
with John Dickerson.

Cheering and chants of USA! USA! broke out.

Other WH officials, including Steve Bannon 
and Peter Navarro, mingled
with the factory management.

Later, POTUS spoke with the management. 
Pool overheard the Ames CEO,
Ron Kramer, tell POTUS,
"We'll do just fine if there's a level playing 
field,"

POTUS escorted Kramer to the pool, who then 
explained that Mexican and
Chinese competitors import tools with lower-
cost steel and wood, which
undercuts Ames.

POTUS then answered some general 
questions:

Asked what his message to North Korea: 
"You'll soon find out."

Asked if he planned military action, he replied, 
"you'll soon find out."

Asked about the WHCA dinner, he said, "I 
hope they have a good dinner.
But ours is going to be much more exciting, I 
think. We have a big
crowd. We sold thousands and thousands of 
tickets."

Asked how his trade policy would help Ames 
compete, he said "We've
more than leveled the playing field."

Asked what his message was to climate 
protesters in DC, he said,
"Enjoy the day. And the weather."

Then POTUS sat behind a wooden desk, with a 
row of shovels behind him,
to sign two executive orders: one creating a 
WH Office of Trade and
Manufacturing, and one directing a review of 
all existing trade
agreements.

POTUS delivered a familiar pitch on the need 
to end unfair trade
agreements and level the playing field for 
American workers.

"We believe in Made in the USA and it's 
coming back faster and
faster," POTUS said. "We've taken 
unprecedented steps to bring back
American wealth, American jobs and 
American dreams."

POTUS then handed the pen to Peter Navarro, 
who will head the new trade office.

Motorcade is now rolling to the rally site.

Mark Landler
NY Times



Saturday, April 29, 2017
05:46 PM -0500

Date: April 29, 2017 at 6:19:51 PM EDT
Subject: WH Travel Pool Report #2
Thirty-one minutes after taking off from 
Andrews, Air Force One landed
at Harrisburg International Airport.

Flight was not only brief but uneventful. 
Weather is cooler and less
muggy than DC.

Air Force One taxied to a stop, within sight of 
the cooling towers of
Three Mile Island, downriver from the airport.

Air Force Two was parked nearby. Vice 
President Pence and his wife
Karen boarded Air Force One after it rolled to 
a stop. They will
attend the rally, a WH official said.

At 610, POTUS disembarked, followed by VP 
and Mrs. Pence. He and the
VP greeted a rope line of mostly military 
families. A couple of people
in the back held up placards that said "Trump 
Digs Coal." Chants of
"Trump! Trump! Trump!" broke out.

Color note: Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross 
and his wife wandered
briefly into the press scrum waiting under the 
wing of AF 1, before
being escorted to a staff van.

Among the greeters at the bottom of the 
stairs: Senator Pat Toomey.

Motorcade is rolling for the Ames Companies 
at 617.

Mark Landler
NY Times



Saturday, April 29, 2017
05:10 PM -0500

Date: April 29, 2017 at 5:06:29 PM EDT
Subject: In town pool report #1 / lift

April 29, 2017
In town pool report #1

President Trump emerged from the West Wing 
at 457 pm in a dark suit and red tie. He gave a 
thumbs up and a few waves to reporters 
before boarding Marine One. Helo was off the 
lawn at 502 pm en route to Joint Base 
Andrews. Priebus, Miller, Hicks and Bannon 
followed the president aboard. Though music/ 
drums from the climate marchers was audible 
most of the afternoon in the briefing room it 
could not be heard over the idling helo. 

Handing off to travel pool. 

John Fritze 
The Baltimore Sun 



Friday, April 28, 2017
11:23 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, April 28, 2017 11:47 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #3 -- quotes
 
Following are highlight quotes from the EO 
signing event in the Roosevelt Room; please 
check against transcript.
 
VP Pence: said this was “an important step 
toward American energy independence.” From 
the outset of this administration, Trump has 
been delivering on his promises that he made 
to the American people, and they all begin 
with strengthening the American economy. 
Trump has been fighting for American jobs, 
slashing regulations and ensuring beneficial 
trade relationships.
“Thanks to the president’s leadership, more 
than 500,000 jobs have been created in 2017 
alone.”
Energy has been a central focus of this 
president and this administration since Day 
One. The president has put focus on 
developing America’s resources and 
economy, including orders to build the 
Keystone and Dakota pipelines, rolling back 
the Clean Power Plan and declaring the “war 
on coal is over.”
 
President Trump: acknowledged the members 
of Congress and energy industry leaders at 
the White House. “And I want to get them 
immediately back over there, because I know 
they’re going to be voting on lots of different 
things,” he said. “We can’t spend too much 
time talking about drilling in the Arctic, right? 
And we’re opening it up,” he said.
It’s a great day for America workers, 
unleashing American energy and clearing the 
way for thousands and thousands of high-
paying American energy jobs. Our country is 
blessed with incredible natural resources, 
including abundant offshore oil and natural 
gas reserves.
“But the federal government has kept 94% of 
these offshore areas closed for exploration 
and production, and when they say closed, 
they mean closed.”
This deprives our country of potentially 
thousands and thousands of jobs and 
potentially billions of dollars in wealth.
This EO starts the process of opening 
offshore areas to job-creating energy 
exploration. “It reverses the previous 
administration’s Arctic leasing ban,” he 
repeated twice. And it directs Secretary Zinke 
to allow responsible development of offshore 
areas that will bring revenue and jobs, he said 
to applause.
In addition, Zinke will be reconsidering 
burdensome regulations that slow job 
creation. Finally, the EO will enable better 
scientific study of offshore resources, 
“research that has blocked everything from 
happening for far too long.”
 
 
Q. Mr. President, Day 99, what’s made this job 
harder than you thought?
A. “We’re moving awfully well. We’re getting a 
lot of things done.  We are, I don’t think there’s 
ever been anything like this. It’s a false 
standard, 100 days, but I have to tell you, I 
don’t think anybody has done what we’ve 
been able to do in 100 days, so we’re very 
happy.”
 
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent
 
Bloomberg BNA



Thursday, April 27, 2017
01:44 PM -0500

Date: April 27, 2017 at 2:29:26 PM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #4 - order signed, no 
news
Reply-To: Olivier Knox <oknox@yahoo-
inc.com>
POTUS signed the aluminum order at the 
Resolute Desk, promising to return American 
aluminum to its former glory. There were 14 
people arrayed behind him, aluminum firm 
executives (ALCOA represented), aluminum 
industry association types, members of 
Congress, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur 
Ross.

POTUS said it would be "absolutely insane" 
for the United States to rely on foreign 
producers for aluminum needed for national 
security applications.

POTUS on Ross: "He is quickly demonstrating 
to the entire world that we're serious about 
protecting our jobs and industries like 
aluminum."

POTUS on the aluminum industry: "I'd like to 
get it to be where it was or even beyond if 
that's possible."

The industry has been "severely damaged by 
unfair foreign trade. Cheap subsidized foreign 
exports have flooded into the market, 
destroying thousands of great American 
jobs."

Upon signing the order, he provided the pen to 
Ross, and the entourage standing behind the 
Resolute Desk applauded.

He ignored a question about Michael Flynn, 
looking up at the media and offering the 
traditional curtain-lowering "thank you!'




Olivier Knox Chief Washington Correspondent 
Yahoo News



Thursday, April 27, 2017
12:48 PM -0500

Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2017 12:18 PM
Subject: Pool Report #2 - more NAFTA news, 
some more from Oval Spray
 
Your pooler asked POTUS in the luncheon 
spray whether he had a timeframe in mind for 
the NAFTA renegotiation. "It'll start very soon. 
It's actually starting today." POTUS ignored a 
Q on Michael Flynn.



Pool was ushered into the Cabinet Room at 
noon for the working lunch. Packed room, 
simultaneous translation set up. POTUS made 
one announcement: "Given the risks of our 
increasing dependence on the Internet, 
President Macri and I have agreed to launch a 
new, bilateral cyber working group which will 
help protect the security and economic 
interests of both of our countries. And we be 
working on that very hard. Our companies, 
Internet users and the global cyber community 
will all be getting together. We will be working 
diligently."

 
And POTUS made a couple of jokes, noting 
that Macri will host the G20 summit next year 
in Buenos Aires. "Where I will be going, I 
suspect. I think I've been invited by you 
[laughter] I've known him a long time, maybe 
he won't be inviting me." And he joked about 
how long they have known each other. "It's a 
great day when two friends, friends that have 
known each other for many many years - I 
won't even tell you how many years, but I 
knew him when he was young, believe me, 
and he knew me when I was pretty young.

 
More from Oval Office Spray Earlier



Apologies, but your pooler was ushered out of 
the Oval Office with a muscular set of Thank 
You Thank Yous  BEFORE the Argentine 
president had spoken. Some defiant 
stragglers may have been able to get sound 
from Macri, but your pooler, who tried to 
scramble back into position, was unable to. 
Your pooler has been told that the lunch spray 
has been killed.



Asked by an Argentine reporter whether he'd 
resolve the trade dispute over Argentine 
lemons. "I know all about the lemons. And 
believe it or not the lemon business is a big, 
big business." Why not just say yes, the 
reporter called out. POTUS said the US will 
"give that very serious consideration" and that 
he was "very favorably disposed."



More TK
 
Olivier Knox Chief Washington Correspondent 
Yahoo News



Wednesday, April 26, 2017
03:16 PM -0500

Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2017 3:18 PM
Subject: In-town pool 6 -- education EO 
signing
 
The president walked into the Roosevelt Room 
at 2:44 p.m., having been introduced by Vice 
President Pence. He was greeted by a group 
of about 25 people, including teachers, 
lawmakers and governors, and Education 
Secretary Betsy DeVos.
A bit of banter:
Mr. Trump joked with Nevada Gov. Brian 
Sandoval, incoming head of the National 
Governors Association, about the length of 
Sandoval's prepared remarks, with Trump 
saying he decided to stay in the room after his 
own comments because "I know it's going to 
be a short speech" from Sandoval.
Mr. Sandoval laughed and told the president, 
"It just got shorter."
A few moments later during his remarks, Mr. 
Sandoval said, "I'm going to skip a page."
The president, standing to the rear of the 
group, called out, "Education for North 
Korea."
During the event, Mr. Trump also said he was 
heading afterward for a "very important" 
briefing for senators on North Korea.
During the president's formal remarks, he said 
the education executive order will help to 
restore local control of education. It calls for a 
300-day review of Obama-era regulations and 
guidance for school districts and directs 
DeVos to modify or repeal measures deemed 
an overreach by Washington.
"We know that local communities do it best 
and know it best," the president said. He 
called it "another critical step to restoring 
local control, which is so important."
"Previous administrations have wrongly 
forced states and schools to comply with 
federal whims and dictates for what our kids 
are taught," he said. "The time has come to 
empower teachers and parents to make the 
decisions that help their students achieve 
success."
Among those in attendance were Sen. Lamar 
Alexander, Rep. Virginia Foxx and Alabama 
Gov. Kay Ivey, Gov. Herbert of Utah and 
LePage of Maine, and Iowa Gov. Terry 
Branstad, nominee for ambassador to China.
Mr. Trump told Mr. Branstad, "They're looking 
forward to seeing you" in China.
 
 
--
Dave Boyer
White House correspondent
The Washington Times



Tuesday, April 25, 2017
04:10 PM -0500

Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 3:26 PM
Subject: In-town Pool Report No. 6: Trump 
vows wall will get built
 
In-town Pool Report No. 6
 
At a meeting of agriculture leaders to sign a 
new executive order, President Trump 
commented briefly on his plan to build a wall 
on the border with Mexico. Responding to 
questions from the pool, Trump said, “The 
wall is going to get built.” He vowed that 
construction would begin soon. More to come 
momentarily once I listen to the audio.
 
Trump signed an executive order to promote 
agriculture and establish an interagency task 
force on agriculture rural prosperity to be led 
by Agriculture Secretary Perdue. Trump said 
he wants to "make life better" for farmers, 
ranchers and other workers to get rid of 
regulations and make them prosperous.
 
As he walked into the room, Trump said "Great 
farmers! We love our farmers." He noted 
“America’s noble farming tradition.”
 
Trump mentioned the plight of dairy farmers 
up in Wisconsin and elsewhere and talked 
about Canada's influence on the dairy 
industry. 
 
"This has been going on for a while and we're 
not going to put up with it,” Trump said.
 
Referencing the new tariff on soft wood 
lumber, Trump said, "People don't realize 
Canada's been very rough on the United 
States...they've outsmarted our politicians for 
years."
 
Trump said, "We don't want to be taken 
advantage of by other countries and that's 
stopping and that's stopping fast."
 
Trump signed the order and gave his pen to 
Perdue. 
 
He was joined by Vice President Pence, who 
sat at the end of the table, and Perdue, who 
sat to the president’s right.
 
Below is a list of participants in the meeting, 
as provided by the White House:
 
•   Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
•   Lisa Johnson-Billy, farmer and former OK 
House member, Lindsay, OK
•   Luke Brubaker, Brubaker Farms, Mount Joy, 
PA
•   Hank Choate, Choate’s Belly Acres, Cement 
City, MI
•   Tom Demaline, Willoway Nurseries, Avon, 
OH
•   Zippy Duval, President of American Farm 
Bureau Federation and a farmer from 
Greensboro, GA
•   Valerie Early, National FFA Central Region 
Vice President and former 4-H member, 
Wykoff, MN
•   Lynetta Usher Griner, Usher Land and 
Timber, Inc., Fanning Springs, FL (also farms 
in the state of KS)
•   A.G. Kawamura, Orange County Produce, 
Newport Beach, CA
•   James Lamb, Lamb Farms and Prestage 
Farms, Clinton, NC
•   Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture 
and farmer, Spirit Lake, IA
•   Jose Rojas, VP of Farm Operations for 
Hormel, Colorado Springs, CO
•   Terry Swanson, Swanson Farms, Walsh, CO
•   Maureen Torrey, Torrey Farms, Elba, NY
•   Steve Troxler, NC Commissioner of 
Agriculture and farmer, Browns Summit, NC
 
Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
White House Correspondent



Tuesday, April 25, 2017
10:36 AM -0500

Date: April 25, 2017 at 11:09:39 AM EDT
Subject: In-town Pool Report No. 2

In-town Pool Report No. 2

President Trump arrived at the U.S. Capitol at 
11:06 a.m. following an uneventful trip. Scores 
of people stood in rain jackets and under 
umbrellas on the sidewalk of Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW to take pictures of the motorcade 
and to wave, including a couple dozen outside 
the Trump Hotel. 

The motorcade carried Trump to the House 
side of the Capitol. Your pool said not see him 
or Vice President Pence enter the Capitol. 

Philip Rucker
The Washington Post
White House Bureau Chief



Tuesday, April 25, 2017
10:34 AM -0500

Date: April 25, 2017 at 11:02:22 AM EDT
Subject: In-town Pool Report No. 1

In-town Pool Report No. 1

President Trump departed the White House at 
10:59 a.m. en route to the U.S. Capitol for the 
Holocaust Memorial Museum's National Day of 
Remembrance event. Your pool did not see 
Trump enter his vehicle. 

Vice President Pence was scheduled to travel 
in the motorcade, fresh off his trip to Asia, but 
your pool did not see him. 

Your pool spotted a couple senior staff 
members joining the motorcade, including 
Sean Spicer and Marc Lotter. 

It is a crisp 58 degrees in Washington, 
overcast with a light drizzle.

Philip Rucker
The Washington Post



Friday, April 21, 2017
11:15 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: Pool Report 3
 
 
Pool quickly assembly for Oval Office event: 
President Trump greeting Aya Hijazi, the U.S. 
citizen just released from prison in Egypt.
"We are very happy to have Aya back home 
and it’s a great  honor to have her in the Oval 
Office," Trump said, noting that her brother 
also attended.
Trump said he wouldn't take questions, but 
did respond to a query about talks to avoid a 
government shutdown: "I think we're in good 
shape."
Pool was in at 11:24 a.m. and out in less two 
minutes.
Trump and his guest sat in chairs, flanked by 
two couches.
Spotted on the couches: Ivanka Trump, Jared 
Kushner, and Dina Powell.
 
David Jackson
USA Today



Friday, April 21, 2017
11:13 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 11:48 AM
Subject: Pool Report 2

Pool Report 2

Trump did respond to a question about 
avoiding a government shutdown.

"I think we're in good shape," Trump said 

MTK
 
David Jackson
USA Today



Friday, April 21, 2017
11:10 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, April 21, 2017 11:48 AM
Subject: Pool Report 1

Pool Report 1
April 21, 2017
 
Quick pool spray as President Trump greeted 
Aya Hijazi, just released from prison in Egypt
 
"We are very happy to have Aya back," Trump 
said in Oval Office.
 
MTK

David Jackson



Thursday, April 20, 2017
12:57 PM -0500

Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2017 12:58 PM
Subject: Pool Report #2b: More quotes/color 
from Oval
 
POTUS was seated behind the Resolute Desk 
as pool entered, with invited attendees 
standing behind him. As he spoke, he 
appeared to be reading from two pages of 
typed remarks; the second page included 
some written additions in bold black ink, 
perhaps the NAFTA comments.
 
Other administration attendees in the Oval 
spotted by your pooler: Priebus, Kushner, 
Bannon, Miller, Navarro. Scavino was 
snapping photos on his smartphone.
 
POTUS said that he pledged in his campaign 
that he would take action on behalf of 
American workers, which was “one of the 
primary reasons I’m sitting here today as 
president.”
 
“Since the day I took office, I have followed 
through on that promise big league, beginning 
with our withdrawal from the Trans Pacific 
Partnership.” He said he was proud of that 
withdrawal, which would have been “another 
NAFTA disaster.”
 
POTUS described his memorandum as one 
that “would prioritize the investigation that 
began yesterday, and really, long before that” 
the investigation of foreign steel arriving in 
U.S. markets, and its affect on national 
security.
 
“Maintaining the production of American steel 
is extremely important to our national security 
and our defense industrial base. Steel is 
critical to both our economy and our military. 
This is not an area where we can afford to 
become dependent on foreign countries.”
 
Based on the findings off the report, Secretary 
Ross will make formal recommendations to 
the White House “in the very, very near 
future.” He said his action was “the next vital 
step toward making America strong and 
prosperous once again.”
 
POTUS then said he wanted to add at the end, 
“I wasn’t going to do this,” but referring to his 
trip to Wisconsin what Canada had done to 
U.S. dairy farm workers was a “disgrace.” 
“The fact is, NAFTA, whether it’s Mexico or 
Canada, is a disaster for our country. It’s a 
disaster. It’s a trading disaster.”
 
“What happened to our dairy farmers in 
Wisconsin and New York State – we’re not 
going to let it happen. We can’t let Canada or 
anybody else take advantage and do what 
they do to our workers and to our farmers.”
 
He said lumber, timber and energy were also 
included in those abuses. “We’re going to 
have to get to the negotiationg table with 
Canada very, very quickly,” he said.
 
POTUS then invited some of the attendees to 
speak. None of the three who did identified 
themselves except for the last – Leo Gerard of 
the United Steelworkers. Gerard said he had 
worked with Ross before on steel import 
issues. “This executive order will give us the 
tools we need to lure our companies back and 
our people back to work,” he said (check 
against transcript).
 
POTUS then added that unions have been 
working with his administration very closely. 
He then signed the memorandum, noting its 
recommendations could come in 30-50 days. 
“Maybe sooner than that. Statutorilly, we 
probably want to take a good, strong, hard 
study.”
 
After signing the memorandum he joked about 
whom he should give the pen to: “To labor or 
to steel?” he asked to laughter in the room. 
“How about we give it to the union for a 
change, should we do that?” He did so, and 
just asked: “treat us fairly.”
 
Jeff Mason then asked the question noted in 
previous report about whether the action 
would affect dealings with China on North 
Korea. A follow-up question went unanswered 
as the room began to applaud the 
proceedings.
 
After leaving the Oval and walking alongside 
the Rose Garden, your pooler couldn’t help 
but note it was a beautiful, crisp spring day.
 
Mike Memoli



Thursday, April 20, 2017
12:49 PM -0500

Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2017 12:32 PM
Subject: Pool Report 2: memorandum signing 
and NAFTA
 
Pool entered at 12:13 pm and remained for 
about nine minutes. POTUS delivered remarks 
on the memorandum he signed and also on 
NAFTA. Highlights, with more to follow:


POTUS called the signing of the executive 
memorandum a “historic day for American 
steel,” saying his administration would “fight 
for American workers and American-made 
steel, and that’s beginning immediately.” The 
Commerce Department investigation could be 
completed in as little as 50 days, POTUS said, 
a timeline that is well ahead of what is called 
for under law.


In response to a shouted question about this 
will affect dealings with China on North Korea, 
POTUS answered: “This has nothing to do 
with China. This has to do with worldwide, 
what’s happening. The dumping problem is a 
worldwide problem.”


Acknowledging he was breaking from 
prepared remarks, POTUS also spoke out 
strongly on Canada, referring to his trip this 
week to Wisconsin. “What they’ve done to our 
dairy farm workers is a disgrace. It’s a 
disgrace,” he said, adding that it was a result 
of a NAFTA deal that has been “a disaster for 
our country.” “We’ll be reporting back some 
time over the next two weeks as to NAFTA and 
what we’re going to do about it.”
 
 
 
Mike Memoli
Los Angeles Times / Tribune Washington 
Bureau



Thursday, April 20, 2017
11:41 AM -0500

Date: April 20, 2017 at 11:54:07 AM EDT
Subject: Pool Report 1: Signing ceremony 
participants
Pool is readying for scheduled spray in Oval 
Office of signing of an executive 
memorandum on investigation of steel 
imports, as previewed by Secretary Ross. 

The White House sends the following list of 
expected attendees:

Beth Ludwig - AK Steel
Roger Newport - AK Steel
Thomas Gibson - American Iron & Steel 
Institute
John Brett - Arcelor Mittal
Conrad Winkler - Evraz Steel
John Bass - Nucor
John Ferriola - Nucor
Chuck Schmitt - SSAB Americas
Katie Larson - SSAB Americas
Time Timken - Timken Steel
Ryan Stenger - Timken Steel
Mario Longhi - U.S. Steel
Kelley Gannon - U.S. Steel
Leo Gerard - United Steelworkers (USW)

Mike Memoli



Wednesday, April 19, 2017
12:18 PM -0500

Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 12:51 PM
Subject: In-town print pool No. 2
 
From the WH, per veteran bill signing:
 
Internal Participants:
 
Rob Porter, Staff Secretary
Stephen Miller, Senior Advisor for Policy
Andrew Bremberg, Director of the Domestic 
Policy Council
Katy Talento, Special Assistant to the 
President and Domestic Policy Advisor
Andrea Brian, OMB Staff
Laura Duke, OMB Staff
 
External Participants:
 
Secretary Dave Shulkin 
 
Members of Congress:
Representative Phil Roe (R-TN)
 
Veterans Groups:
Joe Chenelly, AMVETS

Marc Lucas, Concerned Veterans for America

Garry Augustine, Disabled American Veterans

Sherman Gillums, Paralyzed Veterans of 
America

Verna Jones, The American Legion

Bob Wallace, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Rick Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America

Aleks Morosky, Military Order of the Purple 
Heart

Dana Atkins, Military Officers Association of 
America

 
State Officials:
Governor Rick Scott (R-FL)
Glenn Sutphin, Executive Director, Florida 
Department of Veterans Affairs
Col. Kat Miller, USA (Ret.), Director, Nevada 
Office of Veterans Affairs
Randy Reeves, President, National 
Association of State Directors of Veterans 
Affairs & Executive Director, Mississippi 
Veterans Affairs Board

Alex Leary
Washington Bureau Chief
Tampa Bay Times



Wednesday, April 19, 2017
12:14 PM -0500

Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 12:18 PM
Subject: In-town print pool No. 1
 
POTUS signed S. 544, the Veterans Choice 
Program Extension and Improvement Act, in 
the Roosevelt Room. The program allows 
veterans to seek private care. 
 
POTUS entered the room at 11:32 a.m. and the 
event went until 11:40 a.m. He announced a 
veterans news conference to be held next 
Thursday.
 
“The veterans have poured out their sweat 
and blood and tears for this country for so 
long and it’s time that they are recognized and 
it’s time that we now take care of them and 
take care of them properly,” POTUS said.
 
“It speaks for itself,” POTUS said of the 
legislation, emphasizing it allows veterans to 
see “the doctor of their choice” and not have 
to travel long distances to get care. “It’s not 
going to happen anymore.”
 
Still, POTUS called it a good start and “there is 
still much work to do. We will fight each and 
every day to deliver the long-awaited reforms 
our veterans deserve and to protect those who 
have so courageously protected each and 
every one of us.”
 
POTUS thanked Rep. Phil Roe (who was in 
attendance and got the signing pen) Sens. 
John McCain and Johnny Isakson, veterans 
groups, VA Secretary David Shulkin. He gave a 
special notice to “my good friend, Florida Gov. 
Rick Scott, a Navy veteran who is here with us 
to represent more than a million veterans from 
the state of Florida.” Scott stood beside 
Trump and later gave brief remarks.
 
Some news: POTUS said next Thursday at 2 
p.m. (subject to change) “We’re going to have 
a news conference with David and some 
others to tell you about all of the tremendous 
things that are happening at the VA, what 
we’ve done in terms of progress and 
achievement.”
 
ROE: “It’s a privilege to work with all these 
great people up here to help make the VA 
better … What we want to do is put the veteran 
in charge of this process, not the 
bureaucracy.”
 
SHULKIN: “This is a good day for veterans. 
This is a great day to celebrate not only what 
veterans have contributed to this country but 
how we are making things better for them, and 
by working together, we’re going to continue 
this progress.”
 
SCOTT: “I know President Trump has been 
focused on our veterans and our military 
before he was president and I know he’s going 
to continue to do a great job.”
 
Pool has asked for a list of names of people in 
the room.
 
 
Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Washington Bureau Chief



Tuesday, April 18, 2017
12:04 PM -0500

Date: April 18, 2017 at 12:30:40 PM EDT
Subject: WH TRavel Pool Report #1
WH Travel Pool Report #1

Good afternoon from Joint Base Andrews on a 
perfect spring day. 

POTUS arrived on Marine 1 at 1222, wearing a 
black suit and bright red tie. 


Entering the plane via the forward staircase 
were:

Keith Schiller
Stephen Bannon
Stephen Miller
Kelllyanne Conway
Reince Priebus

At 1229 AF1 is rolling toward the runway.

-30-




------------------------------

S.V. Dáte
Senior White House Correspondent
The Huffington Post



Tuesday, April 18, 2017
12:03 PM -0500

Date: April 18, 2017 at 12:13:17 PM EDT
Subject: White House in town pool 4/18 report 
1
POTUS departed the White House via Marine 
One on a sunny, beautiful Spring day here in 
Washington. He is heading to Joint Base 
Andrews en route to Wisconsin. 

He exited the West Wing of White House at 
12:07. He walked alone to Marine One and 
gave the press a few thumbs up and a wave 
on his way to the aircraft. Your pooler spotted 
Reince Priebus, Kellyanne Conway, and Steve 
Bannon also boarding Marine One after him. 

Marine One lifted off of the South Lawn at 
12:11. 

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Monday, April 17, 2017
10:49 AM -0500

Date: April 17, 2017 at 10:50:52 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report #2

POTUS, FLOTUS, and Barron then walked 
down to a craft table. POTUS appeared to 
shake hands with some of the crowd. All three 
then sat at the table with some kids to design 
cards for soldiers (see photo attached, pooler 
had a hard time getting a good view)

Someone in the background was hiding up a 
red "Make America Great Again" sign. . 
POTUS conversed with the children as they 
designed cards though your pooler wasn't 
close enough to hear anything.

POTUS then said "thank you everybody" and 
stood up with the rest of the family. POTUS 
spoke to some more people at the side lines, 
apparently shaking more hands (again, pooler 
couldn't get a good view). POTUS stopped to 
sign what looks like a children's book before 
moving on at 10:49pm

Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown (www.symantec.com)



Breanna Edwards  |  News Editor  |  Univision 
Communications Inc.  | 



Monday, April 17, 2017
10:48 AM -0500

Date: April 17, 2017 at 10:40:22 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report #1

Good morning from the White House on this 
overcast and slightly nippy Monday (Easter 
Egg Roll day!). The sun is fighting to come 
through but it looks like a hard battle. 
Nonetheless that doesn't seem to be 
dampening the mood at the Easter Egg Roll.

Pool was escorted on to the South Lawn at 
10:05 am into the hustle and bustle of the 
lines. Your pooler has a good view of one of 
the egg roll locations where the little ones are 
waiting to participate. Your pooler spotted the 
Easter Bunny (identity unknown) in the 
distance. There's also a huge line waiting for 
the president to speak.

There was a slight downpour for about 5 
minutes as your pooler was waiting but now it 
has died down to a drizzle.

The Marine Band marched to the front of the 
residence at 10:15am and is serenading the 
crowd.

POTUS, FLOTUS, and Barron Trump walked 
out to the balcony of the residence 
accompanied by the Easter Bunny at 10:25am. 
POTUS is wearing his classic dark suit, white 
shirt and red tie. Flotus has on a light pink 
sleeveless dress and Barron is wearing a dark 
suit with a light blue shirt and no tie. All three 
Trumps stood at attention with their right 
hands over their hearts for the national 
anthem.

Trump started speaking at 10:27am.

"We will be stronger and bigger and better as 
a nation than ever before and we are right on 
track....Thanks you everybody for coming."

"we're going to do cards for soldiers. Melania 
and Barron and myself are going to sign some 
cards for some great troops... We're going 
come out and join you... for a great Easter egg 
roll."

"I've seen those kids and they're highly, highly 
competitive."

I just want to thank FLOTUS. She's been 
working on this for a long time to make it 
perfect... I want to congratulate her on this 
wonderful, wonderful day."

POTUS finished remarks at 10:29 and FLOTUS 
began speaking.

First time my husband and I are hosting this 
wonderful tradition. It's great that all of you 
are here with us today. I want to thank the 
military band, staff and all the volunteers who 
worked tirelessly to make sure you enjoy the 
activities.

I want to thank the military...all around the 
world who are keeping us safe.

FLOTUS finished speaking at 10:30am

POTUS finished up wishing everyone a great 
Easter and ensuring the crowd that he'd be 
coming down to join them.

FLOTUS, POTUS and Barron walked down to 
the Easter egg roll site where POTUS blew the 
whistle for the little ones to begin their roll.

"ready everybody?" POTUS said cheerfully 
before blowing the whistle.

POTUS blew the whistle a second time to 
switch groups and then blew the whistle again 
to start that crowd. He was smiling as he 
looked at the kids playing, but fore starting to 
move on.

Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown (www.symantec.com)



Breanna Edwards  |  News Editor  |  Univision 
Communications Inc.  | 



Saturday, April 15, 2017
03:22 PM -0500

Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2017 2:18 PM
Subject: WH pool report 2
 
Donald Trump has left the golf club and 
returned to Mar-a-Lago. Hundreds of 
protesters marched on the road demanding 
the president release his tax returns. More on 
that later.
 
Your pooler has yet to see POTUS or anyone 
in his inner circle today.
 
A vehicle known as the "Trump mobile," 
complete with abundant chrome trim, stars 
and stripes, a Trump puppet above the 
windshield, and signs saying "Make America 
Great Again" and "Trump Pence," exited the 
golf club at 1:10pm. No word on whether the 
owner or driver met with Trump.
 
The motorcade drove out of the Trump Int'l 
Golf Club at 1:29 pm.
 
As motorcade took the long loop of Australian 
Avenue around Palm Beach International, a 
parked Air Force One was clearly visible in a 
far corner of the airport.
 
After a drive along the sparkling beach we 
arrived at Mar-a-Lago at 1:50 pm, when your 
pool vans peeled away from the POTUS 
motorcade and headed back to our hotel.
 
Just a minute after splitting from POTUS, we 
encountered hundreds of protesters who, on 
US tax day, were demanding that the president 
release his tax returns.
"Pay your taxes!" several people yelled as 
they marched toward Mar-a-Lago.
"This is what democracy looks like," some 
chanted, including a handful of women 
wearing "pussy hats" made famous during the 
anti-Trump protests after his inauguration.
A man held up a sign that read "Just say 
Nyet!"
Others read "Show Me the Money," and 
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Czar, Putin Put You 
Where You Are."
One young girl among the marchers held a 
small sign that read "Trump is a tax e-VADER." 
It showed an image of Darth Vader wearing a 
blonde hair piece.
Handfuls of Trump supporters waving Trump 
flags offered counter protests. From your 
pooler's limited vantage point in a moving van, 
it looked peaceful.
 
Return to press hotel at 2:08. And with that, a 
lunch lid has been called until 5:30 pm today 
when there might be more information about 
evening activities.
 
Michael Mathes
Agence France-Presse



Saturday, April 15, 2017
11:46 AM -0500

Date: April 15, 2017 at 9:11:51 AM EDT
Subject: WH Pool report 1
Pool:

Good Saturday morning from West Palm 
Beach.

Your pooler entered the Mar-a-Lago club 
grounds to hold for the president shortly after 
8:30 am. By 8:46, we slipped into the back of 
the motorcade and rolled out.

Twelve minutes later, after an uneventful drive, 
POTUS entered the Trump International Golf 
Club.

There is no word on exactly what he is doing 
today at the club. But if someone were to be 
playing golf, he or she would be rewarded with 
75 degrees and partly sunny skies.

Your pooler is now holding across the street 
from the golf club, at the Palm Beach County 
Public Library.

Michael Mathes
Agence France-Presse



Sunday, April 09, 2017
09:40 AM -0500

Date: April 9, 2017 at 9:36:09 AM EDT
Subject: Fwd: Sunday print pool report 1

President Donald Trump stepped out of Mar-a-
Lago around 9:15am and appeared to spend a 
few minutes talking before getting into an 
SUV. President was wearing a white polo shirt 
and red cap. Motorcade departed 9:19 am. 

Spotted on the new helipad: Mr. Trump's 
private helicopter, which was flown in on 
Saturday according to the Palm Beach Daily 
News. It appears to be white and black with a 
red 'TRUMP' emblazoned on the side and exit 
ramp, as well as a gold Trump crest.  
http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/loc
al/private-helicopter-lands-uses-helipad-mar-
lago/44Jes2zatQ4qJAQiUo25KI/



Saturday, April 08, 2017
09:32 AM -0500

Date: April 8, 2017 at 9:09:56 AM EDT
Subject: Mar-a-Lago pool report No. 2
The motorcade crossed the Intercoastal 
Waterway and into West Palm Beach, arriving 
at the Trump International golf course at 9:05 
a.m. 

Motorcade stopped for traffic lights, and 
passed a small group of about a dozen 
protesters with signs reading "Resign," 
"Loser," and "Impeach Trump" outside the 
golf course entrance. 

Game time temperature: 61 degrees. 

Pool holding at the Palm Beach County Public 
Library System Main Library. 

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Friday, April 07, 2017
04:53 PM -0500

Http://WesternReserveNews.com



Friday, April 07, 2017
04:07 PM -0500

Date: April 7, 2017 at 4:40:52 PM EDT
Subject: Travel Pool report 8 (cabinet 
secretaries)
Pool was briefed for 23 minutes by three 
cabinet secretaries on China meetings and 
Syria strikes in the grand ballroom of Mar-a-
Lago. Transcript to come from White House. It 
was also piped into briefing room. Here are 
some highlights.
Secretary Mnuchin said added sanctions 
against Syria are forthcoming but gave no 
further details.
Secretary Ross said there was a 100-day 
action plan on trade with China, which he 
characterized as speedy, with “way-stations of 
accomplishment” along the way.
Tillerson said of the talks in general that “both 
the atmosphere and the chemistry between 
the two leaders was positive. The chemistry 
between the two really set the tone” for staff 
level meetings.
“The two leaders had positive productive 
meetings.”
There were no specific deliverables from the 
talks. But both sides saw a positive framework 
and new relationships. President Trump 
accepted an invite to China for 2017. No dates 
yet.
Secretary Tillerson said there was a 
commitment to a denuclearized Korean 
peninsula and agreed to increase cooperation. 
There was no kind of “package arrangement” 
on the topic but President Xi shared the US 
view that this has reached a very serious 
stage.
The US also raised the importance of human 
rights, but it was more embedded into other 
discussions than an issue unto itself. The 
environment was not discussed.
On Syria, Tillerson said future actions would 
be guided by their response to the strike. He 
conceded that the runway was still in use but 
said that was not a specific target because of 
its structure. He said the strikes were 
successful and that they took out 20 Percent 
of the 7th wing of the Syrian air force.
Tillerson said “I don’t have any information 
that it would be appropriate to share with you 
at this point” on the question of Russia’s 
possible role in Syrian gas attack.
Tillerson said Trump told Xi personally about 
the air strikes toward the end of the dinner, 
about 8:40 p.m. The president told him how 
many missiles launched and the rationale 
behind the strike. Tillerson said he heard that 
Xi understood that such a response was 
necessary when people were killing children. 
But he said that official response had also 
come through public statements from the 
Chinese.
 
Special thanks to Louise Radnofsky for help 
on this and other reports today.
 
 
Best,
Noah Bierman
Los Angeles Times
Washington Bureau



Friday, April 07, 2017
01:31 PM -0500

Date: April 7, 2017 at 1:59:14 PM EDT
Subject: travel pool 5 (spicer highlights)
 
 
Sean Spicer briefed for about 18 minutes from 
Tideline Hotel. Pool was not present but had 
access to live feed. White House preparing full 
transcript. Here are highlights:
 
Timeline:
President Trump first heard about the gas 
attack in Syria at his President’s Daily Briefing 
Tuesday at about 10:30 a.m. He asked 
questions and his team for a range of options.
There was another meeting at 8 p.m. Tuesday 
at the White House on options and again 
Wednesday morning with restricted principals.
Trump met again 3 p.m. Wednesday and 
decided to reconvene Thursday for a decision.
On route to Florida on Thursday, at about 1:30 
p.m., he spoke through secured video 
conference with his team and again at 4 p.m. 
with Rex Tillerson and others in a secure room 
in Palm Beach.
That’s when the “president gave the OK to 
move ahead.”
Missiles were launched at 7:40 p.m. during 
dinner.
Foreign leaders and congressional leaders 
were notified starting at 8:30 p.m., just as first 
impacts were hitting the ground. Sec of State, 
Defense and NSC made some of those calls. 
Trump informed President Xi as dinner 
concluded.
After dinner, president went to secure room 
with Secs. of State and Defense and had 
secure conference call with Joint Chiefs. 
Trump asked about effectiveness and was told 
it would take few hours but initial results 
positive. Also told congressional and world 
leaders had fairly unanimous praise.
This was an “evolving process” that included 
getting options, asking questions and refining 
options.
 
Next steps?
“He’s not going to telegraph his next move.”
The attack was “very decisive justified and 
proportional.”
Is this America First?
“Absolutely”
It is justified under Article 2, important to 
national security of the region and has huge 
humanitarian importance.
Does the administration have concerns that 
Russia was involved in the gas attack?
The actions that were taken were clearly 
against the Assad regime and I’m not going to 
say anything further than that. There was no 
political contact with Moscow, just military 
“last night sent a very clear signal.”
How did Pres. Trump’s thinking evolve?
“In his first 70 days…the president was very 
taken by this.”
 
“It was very disturbing and tragic and moving 
to him.”
 
“He had a very deliberative process of asking 
his national security team to develop options.”
 
“There was a level of assessment…”
 
“It evolved over a length of time.”
 
“Obviously beyond the information that he 
gets in his PDB (president’s daily briefing), 
there were clear images that were available…
that everybody in the world could see.”
 
Should Assad leave power?
Actions were clear. “First and foremost the 
president believes that the Syrian government 
[and the] Assad regime should abide by the 
agreement they made not to use chemical 
weapons.”
 
What about his campaign warning that 
attacking Syria could attract Russians and 
instigate WWIII?
“If you’ve seen the response from the world 
community…they understand that the U.S. 
acted appropriately and in most cases there is 
widespread praise from around the globe for 
the president’s actions.”
 
Can the US still work with Russia to defeat 
ISIS?
“There can be a shared commitment to defeat 
ISIS and also agree that you can’t gas your 
own people.”
 
“I think this was a clear response on 
humanitarian purposes that has been widely 
praised.”
 
More details on China summit coming later 
today:
“We’re in the midst of a very terrific visit”
 
 
 
Best,
Noah Bierman
Los Angeles Times
Washington Bureau



Friday, April 07, 2017
12:15 PM -0500

Date: April 7, 2017 at 12:53:18 PM EDT
Subject: travel pool 4 (stroll and Chinese 
translation)
*Beginning at about 12:25, President Trump 
and President Xi walked along the greens of 
the estate, providing a photo op for the pool, 
which was roped off from a distance of about 
30-50 feet. Two interpreters walked several 
paces behind them. Both presidents wore dark 
suits, Trump with a  red tie and Xi with a blue 
tie. President Trump appeared to be speaking 
and pointing out aspects of the grounds, as 
well as the Atlantic Ocean in front of them. 
They paused twice for photos and waved to 
the press as Trump yelled “Thank you folks, 
thank you.”

President Xi’s expects to depart in the early 
afternoon.

*On a separate note, Andrew Beatty of AFP 
provides a rough, partial and paraphrased 
translation of President Xi’s comments from 
the earlier spray, courtesy of his counterparts 
in China:

This meeting was very unique... it has an 
especially important meaning for the future 
development of China US relations... President 
Trump has made excellent preparations and 
warmly welcomed us... we have had lengthy 
and deep communication.

*Sean Spicer is providing a readout to 
reporters off camera shortly at the Tideline 
Hotel. Pool will not be there, but will have 
access to feed and will attempt to send 
highlights.

 

 
 
 
Best,
Noah Bierman
Los Angeles Times
Washington Bureau



Thursday, April 06, 2017
01:13 PM -0500

test



Monday, April 03, 2017
12:03 PM -0500

Sent: Monday, April 3, 2017 12:48 PM
Subject: pool report #2/Cabinet room with 
Egypt president
 
The pool was hastily assembled for a brief 
photo spray in the Cabinet Room that had 
been billed as closed press
 
Trump sat in the middle on the far side, 
flanked by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on 
his right and Defense Secretary James Mattis 
on his left. Among the others seated on US 
side of the table were Steve Bannon, Dina 
Powell, KT McFarland. There were others.
 
Trump: "We’re having great discussions with 
representatives of Egypt and with the 
president. … We have many things in 
common. We have [a few things?] that we 
don’t agree on. .. This is going to be a very 
productive day and it’s a great honor."
 
Sisi spoke briefly in Arabic but this was not 
translated for the pool. I'll pass along the 
foreign pool report on that from Nadia 
Bilbassy of Alarabiya.
 
One more Sisi quote from the Oval spray: 
“You will find me supporting you very strongly 
and very earnestly in finding a solution to the 
problem of the century.” It was unclear if he 
was talking about terrorism or the Israel-
Palestinian conflict, though Trump’s response 
was that “we will fight terrorism and other 
things.”
 
Also, in the Oval spray pool report, the 
reference to "al-Sisi" in the Trump quote was 
meant to reflect the president's pronunciation. 
And besides the presidents there were no 
major officials spotted.
 
Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News



Monday, April 03, 2017
11:57 AM -0500

Sent: Monday, April 3, 2017 12:29 PM
Subject: pool report #1/Oval with Egypt 
president
 
President Trump and Egyptian President 
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
 
Pool, along with about a dozen Egyptian 
media, was in the Oval for about 6 minutes.
 
Trump noted that he met Sisi during the 
campaign.. .
“We agree on so many things. I just want to let 
everybody know in case there wa any doubt 
that we are very much behind President al-
Sisi. He’s done a fantastic job in a very 
difficult situation. We are very much behind 
Egypt and the people of Egypt. The United 
States has believe me, backing, and we have 
strong backing.” 
 
He talked about building up the US military. 
“We are rejuvenating our military to the 
highest level… That’s what we need.”
 
“You have a great friend and ally in the United 
States and in me,” Trump said.
 
The presidents shook hands. Cameras 
clicked. Then Sisi spoke, in Arabic, with a 
translator to his right repeating his comments 
in English. 
 
"This is my first state visit to the United States 
since my inauguration,” and, he noted, the 
first visit of an Egyptian president to the US in 
eight years.
Since they met in September, he said, “I’ve 
had a deep appreciation and admiration of 
your unique personality” and the fact that 
Trump has been “standing very strong … to 
counter this evil ideology.”
 
Trump’s predecessor shunned Sisi, the former 
army general who overthrew a democratically-
elected Muslim Brotherhood president in 2013.
 
Trump:
“We will fight terrorism and other things. 
We’re going to be friends for a long long 
period of time. We have a great bond with the 
people of Egypt. … I look forward to a very 
long and strong relationship.”
 
Trump made no mention of human rights or 
military and economic aid.
 
He ignored questions as pool left. He seemed 
to listen intently and think about answering a 
question about whether he would declare 
Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, but said 
nothing. He ignored other questions about 
whether he had spoken with Putin about the 
St. Petersburg attack, and another about the 
“witch hunt” claim.
 
Pool was quickly recalled for a photo spray in 
the Cabinet room. More tk.
 
 
 
Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News



Sunday, April 02, 2017
06:44 PM -0500

Date: April 2, 2017 at 5:02:56 PM EDT
Subject: In town pool report #9
Upon arriving back at the WH, Sen. Rand Paul, 
of Kentucky, exited one of the SUVs in the 
motorcade and gave a brief statement to 
reporters on the lawn.
 
“We had a great day with the president. Played 
some golf, and we talked and we talked about 
a little bit of health care. I continue to be very 
optimistic that we are getting closer and 
closer to an agreement on repealing 
Obamacare,” Paul said.
 
An unidentified man walking with Paul, 
commented, POTUS had “sunk some 40-foot 
putts.” His tone indicated a joke, but perhaps 
not?
 
WH press office called a full lid at 4:52 p.m.
 
James Osborne
Washington Energy Correspondent
Houston Chronicle (D.C. Bureau)



Sunday, April 02, 2017
12:31 PM -0500

Date: April 2, 2017 at 12:36:27 PM EDT
Subject: In town pool report #6
POTUS's presence at Trump National is 
causing a minor stir in the club's tennis 
facility, where pool has been holding since 
around 11am. 

A group of three young women dressed to 
play a few sets gathered in the lobby, excitedly 
questioned a Secret Service agent on 
POTUS's whereabouts. 

"Do you think he'll come in here and play 
tennis?," one of the young women asked. 

The amused agent didn't offer any discernible 
intel to his junior inquisitors. 

James Osborne
Washington Energy Correspondent
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers



Sunday, April 02, 2017
11:05 AM -0500


From: "Osborne, James A" 
<James.Osborne@chron.com>
Date: April 2, 2017 at 11:07:41 AM EDT
Subject: In town pool report #5
An update from WH Deputy Press Secretary 
Stephanie Grisham:

POTUS is playing golf with Sen. Rand Paul 
and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. 

"They're discussing a variety of topics, 
including healthcare."

James Osborne
Washington Energy Correspondent
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers
1331 H Street NW, 11th Floor
Washington DC 20005
Tel: 202-263-6516
Twitter: @osborneja
-----

Unsubscribe

The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW · Washington DC 20500 · 202-456-1111



Sunday, April 02, 2017
11:02 AM -0500

Date: April 2, 2017 at 10:49:56 AM EDT
Subject: In town pool report #3
Motorcade arrived at Trump National Golf Club 
in Sterling, Va. at 10:44am. 

Secret Service was inspecting a golf cart upon 
arrival. 

WH staff says POTUS is having meetings. No 
further information at this time but will update 
if more comes in. 

James Osborne
Washington Energy Correspondent
Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspa



Tuesday, March 28, 2017
11:36 AM -0500

Date: March 28, 2017 at 11:38:51 AM EDT
Subject: In-town Pool Report #3
A Secret Service spokesman just made these 
comments off camera and on background 
regarding the "secure perimeter" at the White 
House this morning. Would not call it a 
lockdown.

A male suspect approached a uniformed 
officer at 15th and Penn around 10:15 a.m. this 
morning. He made suspicious comments and 
had a package. Officers then separated the 
individual and the package. At time of briefing, 
the individual was in Secret Service custody in 
a vehicle.

Explosives teams are on the scene and a 
security perimeter has been established. East 
Wing tours are temporarily suspended. All 
other activity continues as normal. 

Secret Service said they will tweet out a photo 
of the person on their Twitter account shortly. 

-- 
Kaitlan Collins
White House Correspondent
The Daily Caller



Monday, March 27, 2017
05:41 PM -0500

Sent: Monday, March 27, 2017 4:20 PM
Subject: Pool report 3
 
 
A small desk with presidential seal was set up 
in the Roosevelt Room. POTUS entered to 
applause, taking seat and exclaiming this is a 
child's desk! "It's the smallest desk I've ever 
seen." laughter all around from state and local 
officials assembled to celebrate POTUS 
signing 4 bills under the Congressional 
Review Act. 
"Only one time in our history did a President 
sign A bill to cancel federal regulations," 
POTUS said. He wd continue to use the CRA 
"To remove every job killing regulation we can 
find" He promised "a lot more coming."
 
He singled out the governors of Missouri and 
Utah and Lt Gov of Kentucky. Also standing 
rite behind him was Wyoming Sen Barrasso. 
Other lawmakers with a direct interest in the 
regs being lifted who were present: Alaska 
Sen Murkowski and Rep Don Young; Rep 
Virginia Foxx, NC; Wsconsin Sen Ron 
Johnson and Education Secretary DeVos.
 
The bills POTUS signed with great flourish are 
HR Res 37, 44, 57 and 58. 
 
POTUS said 37 "rolls back the so called black 
listed rule‎ ...one of the greatest treats to 
growing American busineses...a 
disaster...makes it easy for trial lawyers to go 
after" people. 
 
He described 44 as two or three "federal 
power grabs...which is never good, and 57 and 
58 as "removing an additional layer of 
bureaucracy to encourage freedom in our 
schools."
 
POtUS was jovial thruout relishing the 
moment and holding up each bill for the 
cameras. He handed out multiple signing pens 
as souvenirs. "This was a lot of work by a lot 
of people to get this done," he said. "It will 
lead to a lot more jobs for a lot more people."



Saturday, March 25, 2017
10:34 AM -0500

Date: March 25, 2017 at 11:04:13 AM EDT
Subject: In-town pool #3

POTUS arrived at Trump National Golf Club at 
11:01 am. Trump has a more casual look on 
this Saturday where the temperature is 
expected to hit the 70s this afternoon — a suit 
and a white shirt with no tie and a red hat that 
has USA emblazoned on the front. The pool is 
currently holding and doesn't know if the 
president will play golf, if he will hold 
meetings, or make remarks. Will try to get 
answers shortly. 



Friday, March 24, 2017
04:51 PM -0500

Date: March 24, 2017 at 5:12:20 PM EDT
Subject: Print pool #4 - AHCA things
Pool was escorted into the Oval Office at 4:11 
p.m. The President was behind his desk with 
30 Medal of Honor recipients, about 1/3 of the 
total living persons who have received the 
medal. 

Trump praised their courage in battle and said 
they were "more brave" than him. He called 
him "our greatest heroes and said "your acts 
of valor inspire us."

The President also received a book called 
"Portraits of Valor" from the members of the 
Medal of Honor society.  The ceremony ended 
at 4:15 p.m.

ON AHCA:

Following his statements, the recipients were 
escorted out of the room and the President 
took questions from the pool about health 
care. The questioning began at 4:25 and lasted 
about 10 minutes. The President was flanked 
by Secretary of Health and Human Services 
Tom Price and Vice President Mike Pence. A 
readout is below. 

"We were very very close. It was a very tight 
margin. We had no Democratic support," the 
President said in his opening statement. "I've 
been saying for the last year and a half that 
the best thing we could do, politically 
speaking, is let Obamacare explode. It's 
exploding right now."

He mentioned Arizona, Tennessee, and 
Kentucky specifically as states which are 
experiencing a rise in premiums.

"We couldn't quite get there, we were a small 
number of votes short," Trump said. "There 
are many people who don't realize how good 
our bill was." He said the people don't realize 
how good the bill was because they didn't 
realize there were two legislative phases to go. 

"If [Democrats] got together with us, and got 
us a real health care bill, I'd be totally okay 
with that. The losers are Nancy Pelosi and 
Chuck Schumer, because they own 
Obamacare. They 100% own it," Trump said. 
"They have Obamacare for a little while longer 
until it ceases to exist, which it will at some 
point in the near future. 

"When they all become civilized and get 
together, and try to work out a great health 
care bill for the people of this country, we're 
open to it," Trump said. "I want to thank the 
Republican Party. I want to thank Paul Ryan -- 
he worked very, very hard. I can tell you that." 

"I worked as a team player and would've loved 
to see this pass, but again, I think you know I 
was very clear --  there wasn't a speech I 
made, very few -- where I didn't say that the 
best thing that could happen is the thing that 
happened today," Trump said. "We will have a 
truly great healthcare bill in the future after 
this mess known as Obamacare explodes."

"This was an interesting period of time. We all 
learned a lot. We learned a lot about loyalty 
and we learned a lot about the vote getting 
process. And we learned about very arcane 
rules in both the Senate and the House," 
Trump said. "Certainly for me it was a very 
interesting experience, but for me, it'll be an 
experience that leads to an even better health 
care plan." 

QUESTIONS (All answers are from Trump) [If 
you haven't seen a TV feed I tried to transcribe 
most portions here]

Q: Is it now your intention to go for tax 
reform? What's next? 
A: "We are going, right now, for tax reform. 
Which we could've done earlier but this really 
would've worked out better if we could've had 
Democrat support. Remember we had no 
Democrat support. So now we're going to go 
for tax reform." 

Q: And your confident in Speaker Ryan's 
leadership and ability to get this done?
A: "Yes I am. I like Speaker Ryan. He worked 
very hard. Lots of different groups. Lots of 
factions and there's been a long history of 
liking and disliking within the Republican 
Party long before I got here. I have a great 
relationship with the Republican Party but it 
seems like both sides like Trump. And that's 
good. You see that more than anybody. I'm not 
going to speak badly about anybody within 
the Republican Party. Certainly there's a 
history but I really think Paul worked hard. 
And so we'll probably going to start going 
very strongly on big tax cuts. Tax reform that 
will be next." 

Q: Is it fair to the American people to let 
Obamacare explode? 
A: "It's going to happen. There's not much you 
can do about it. Bad things are going to 
happen with [crosstalk]. There's not much you 
can do to help it. I've been saying that for a 
year and a half. It's not sustainable...there's no 
way out."

More: "As we got closer and closer everyone 
was talking about how wonderful [Obamacare] 
was. Now it will go back to real life, people will 
se how bad it is and it's getting much worse. 
When President Obama left, 2017 was going to 
be a very bad year for Obamacare. Going to 
see explosive premium increases and the 
deductibles are so high that no one is going to 
be able to use it."

"I honestly believe the Democrats will come to 
us and say let's get together and get a great 
health care bill or plan that's really great for 
the people in this country and I think that's 
going to happen." 

Q: You could've done this without the bill in 
the House without any Democratic support? 
Why do you think you weren't able to craft a 
deal among the Republican Party? 
A: "We were very close. We were anywhere 
from 10 to 15 votes short. Could've even been 
closer than that -- although you'll never know 
because you'll never know how they voted. We 
would've been 10 votes maybe closer. It's very 
hard to get 100%. You're talking about a large 
number votes among any group. We were very 
close to doing it. But when you get no votes 
from the other side, meaning the Democrats, 
it's really a difficult situation. 

Q: Will you reach out to Democrats now? 
A: No i think we need to let Obamacare go its 
way for a little while. Then we'll see how 
things go. I love to see things do well but they 
can't. It's not a question of I hope it does 
well...I want great healthcare for the people of 
this nation. But it can't do well. It imploded, 
and soon will explode. And it's not going to 
pretty. The Democrats don't want to see this 
happen so they're going to reach out, when 
they're ready. And whenever they're ready, 
we're ready. 

Q: Do you feel betrayed by the House 
Freedom Caucus? 
A: "I'm not betrayed. They're friends of mine. 
I'm disappointed because we could've had it. 
So I'm disappointed. I'm a little surprised I 
could tell you. We really had it, it was pretty 
much there...but what's going to come out of it 
is a better bill. Because there were things in 
his bill that I didn't particularly like. But both 
parties can get together and do real health 
care...Obamacare was rammed down 
everyone's throat. 100% democrat. Having 
bipartisan would be a big, big 
improvement...I'm disappointed but I'm friends 
of mine. You know this is a very hard time for 
them." 

Q: You mentioned that there were things in 
this bill that you didn't necessarily love? What 
exactly were those?
A: "I think there are things I could've loved 
more. And if we had bipartisan than i think we 
could've had a health care bill that would've 
been the ultimate. And I think the Democrats 
know that also, and some day in the not to 
distant future, it'll happen. Ive been in office, 
what, 64 days?...I've never said repeal and 
replace Obamacare within 64 days. I have a 
long time. I want to have a great health care 
bill and plan and we will. it will happen...I think 
there will be some democratic support that 
will happen and it'll be....[fades]. I think we had 
a very good bill. i think it'll be even better the 
next time around. And it won't be too long of a 
period of time."

Follow up: But anything specifically you want 
to see change 
A: "I don't want to talk specifics. But there are 
things I woudl've liked even more. But I feel 
that overall this was a very good bill. And i 
thought Dr. Tom Price, who really is amazing, 
on health care and his knowledge, I thought 
he did an amazing job. Same with Mike Pence. 
These two worked so hard and did an amazing 
job. Thank you so much!"

He ignored further questions and pool was 
escorted shortly after. 



Friday, March 24, 2017
03:03 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, March 24, 2017 3:04 PM
Subject: Print pool #3
 
Pool, the entire cohort, was escorted into the 
White House's East Room around 2:15 p.m. 
Inside the room and in the adjoining vestibule, 
a reception was ongoing to honor Greek 
Independence Day. Food and drinks were 
available to attendees, who were mingling as 
music played. 
 
The East Room was about half full as the 
ceremony began with a performance by a 
Greek youth choir at 2:27 p.m. 
 
At 2:33, White House Chief of Staff Reince 
Priebus was introduced. 
 
"As a proud Greek American, I've had my eye 
on this event for weeks," Priebus said. 
 
He later praised President Trump's record on 
the economy and keeping campaign promises, 
before introducing Trump at 2:37 to heavy 
applause. At one point, Priebus mentioned the 
President's bid to "repeal and replace 
Obamacare." That line was met with applause. 
 
Trump spoke after. 
 
"I love the Greeks," Trump said as he took the 
podium. He also praised Priebus, saying he's 
now one of the "top Greeks" in the country. He 
also praised other staff members of Greek 
heritage. 
 
"Greek Independence Day celebrates the 
rebirth of liberty and independence for Greek 
people," Trump said. 
 
"We celebrate Greek history and celebrate the 
contributions of your people to our great 
country," the President said, concluding his 
remarks. 
 
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of the 
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America 
spoke after Trump. Demetrios was also 
present at the President's inauguration in 
January. 
 
The Archbishop affirmed the long standing 
relationship between the two countries and 
finished his remarks at 2:51 p.m. 
 
The President, after posing for a free photos 
left from the far entrance at 2:54. Pool was 
ushered out of the room shortly after. 



Friday, March 24, 2017
11:00 AM -0500

Date: March 24, 2017 at 10:54:50 AM EDT
Subject: Print pool #1
Hello all! 

The pool was called into the Oval Office 
around 10:10 a.m. Upon arrival, President 
Trump was seated behind his desk holding to 
be what he described as a "permit" for the 
construction of the Keystone Pipeline. 

The President described his excitement that 
the project was going forward and said he 
knows it will be built with the "greatest 
technology known to man." 

"It's a great day for American jobs and a 
historic moment for North America and energy 
independence," Trump said. "I think it's a lot 
safer to have pipelines than to use other forms 
of transportation for your product.

The full remarks were carried live by television 
stations. 

Standing around the President were Energy 
Secretary Rick Perry, Secretary of Commerce 
Wilbur Ross, Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, 
and Russ Girling, the president of 
TransCanada. Representatives from the 
building trades were also present. 

After a few minutes, the President invited 
Girling to speak, who began by thanking the 
administration for its support  before then 
touting the supposed benefits of the Keystone 
Pipeline, including tax revenue for local 
communities and job growth. 

"We're not going to let you down," Girling said 
to Trump. 

After he spoke, Trump asked Girling when he 
planned to start construction and Girling said 
the project still needed to secure permits in 
Nebraska. 

The President said he would call Nebraska 
today and added that thought Pete Ricketts 
was a "great governor." 

The press was then asked to leave. 

ON AHCA:

After the event concluded, several poolers 
began asking the President questions in 
regards to today's scheduled House vote on 
the conservative overhaul of the health care 
system.

Initially, Trump ignored the questions but 
eventually he responded "we'll have to see 
what happens." It was unclear which question 
he was specifically responding to. 

When one pooler asked if thought the 
President rushed into AHCA, he said "no." 

Another pooler said the President responded 
"yes," when asked if Paul Ryan should stay 
one as speaker, even if the AHCA vote fails. 

Your pooler cannot confirm that, as he was 
being ushered out the room by WH staff. 

-- 
Astead W. Herndon 
Globe Staff, Washington D.C. 



Thursday, March 23, 2017
03:35 PM -0500

Date: March 23, 2017 at 4:10:59 PM EDT
Subject: in-town report #2
More from Cabinet Room/ Coverage of South 
Portico. 


Trump was joined by Seema Verma, trucking 
CEOs and several drivers (listed below) at the 
Cabinet Room event. As noted in report #1, he 
did not take shouted questions on the AHCA 
vote. He spoke for about seven minutes:


"I know you had a big problem with 
Obamacare, and everybody does," the 
president told the group. "No one knows 
America like truckers know America. You see 
it every day. You see every hill, and you see 
every valley and you see every pothole in our 
roads that have to be rebuilt...


"Through day and night in all kinds of weather 
truckers course the arteries of our nation's 
highways. You carry anything and everything -
- the food that stocks our shelves, the fuel that 
runs our cars and the steel that builds our 
cities.


"You think I wrote that?" Trump said to 
laughter. "I want to save that paragraph." 


"But America depends on you. And you work 
very hard for America...


On ACA: 


"Obamacare has inflected great pain on 
American truckers. Many of you were forced 
to buy heath insurance on the Obamacare 
exchanges. You experienced a crippling rise in 
premiums, and a dramatic loss in options. And 
you just take a look at what's happened to the 
costs, and it's incredible...


"You know the problems. And it's put a lot of 
the trucking businesses out of business, 
which is pretty tough."


On AHCA: 



"Today, the House is voting to repeal and 
replace the disaster known as Obamacare. 
We'll see what happens. It's going to be a very 
close vote. By the way, it's close not because 
Obamacare's good -- it's close for politics. 
They know it's no good. Everybody knows it's 
no good. Only, politics. We have a great bill 
and I think we have a very good chance. But 
it's only politics." 



Trump then moved on to discussion of 
broader legislative agenda, promising to 
address trade, tax code, regulations, 
infrastructure. 



The president joked a couple of times that he 
couldn't spend too much time with the 
truckers because of the AHCA vote.  



"I'm not going to make it too long, because I 
have to get votes," he said to laughter. "I don't 
want to spend too much time with you. I'm 
going to lose by one vote and then I'm going 
to blame the truckers."   



Participants then introduced themselves one 
by one. When a CEO from Flint, Mich., 
introduced himself, Trump chimed in: 



"We just gave a check for a hundred million 
dollars to Flint. Think of that whole, horrible 
deal. That's great political leadership. What a 
disaster. In order to save a fee, they went to 
bad water and spent a fortune on pipes and 
infrastructure. Anyway, we're helping out 
Flint."



From the South Portico event that came 
minutes earlier (and with apologies for an 
earlier garbled email).  



Pool was brought out to the South Lawn 
shortly before 3 p.m. for the truckers/CEO 
welcoming event. President Trump emerged 
from the residence at 3:01 p.m. in overcoat 
and blue tie. He was joined by VP Pence. Two 
large trucks were parked in front of the White 
House, one emblazoned with a U.S. flag and 
other with a photograph of a trucker, a boy 
and the words: "It takes 7 million people to 
move America...like my dad." 



Trump made no remarks as he shook the 
hands of the drivers and CEOs, positioned in 
front of the trucks. Pool could overhear the 
president congratulating the drivers on their 
safety record: "Accident free," he said a few 
times. He later joked with the drivers as he 
turned to the CEOs,  "Who makes more, them 
or you?" 



The president then hopped up into one of the 
trucks. He hit the horn a couple of times, 
closed the driver side door and waved to the 
press from the window. After handshaking, the 
president walked toward the West Wing and 
was back inside the White House at 3:08 p.m. 



A list of participants, per the American 
Trucking Associations: 



CEOs:




* ATA President and CEO Chris Spear
* ATA Chairman Kevin Burch, president, Jet 
Express Inc., Dayton, Ohio;
* Jim Burg, president and CEO, James Burg 
Trucking Co., Warren, Mich.;
* David Congdon, CEO, Old Dominion Freight 
Line, Thomasville, N.C.;
* Mike Ducker, president and CEO, FedEx 
Freight, Memphis, Tenn.;
* Eric Fuller, CEO, U.S. Xpress Inc., 
Chattanooga, Tenn.;
* Neal Kedzie, president, Wisconsin Motor 
Carriers Association, Madison, Wisc.;
* Rich McArdle, president, UPS Freight, 
Richmond, Va.;
* Dennis Nash, CEO, Kenan Advantage Group, 
North Canton, Ohio;
* Tonn Ostergard, president and CEO, Crete 
Carrier Corp., Lincoln, Neb. and
* John Smith, chairman, CRST International 
Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Drivers:

* Steve Fields, Independence, Mo., (YRC 
Freight);
* Ralph Garcia, Albuquerque, N.M., (ABF 
Freight System);
* David Green, Hot Springs, Ark., (Werner 
Enterprises);
* Rhonda Hartman, Des Moines, Iowa, (Old 
Dominion Freight Line);
* John Lex, Monroe, Ga., (Walmart 
Transportation);
* David Livingston, Springfield, Ga., (TCW 
Inc.);
* Don Logan, Eskridge, Kan., (FedEx Freight);
* Charlton Paul Jr., Chester, N.Y., (UPS 
Freight);
* Russell Simpson, South Vienna, Ohio, 
(Holland Inc.);
* Todd Stine, Altoona, Pa., (Carbon Express);
* Barney Earl Taylor, Orlando, Fla., (Penske) 
and
* Derrick Whittle, Fieldale, Va., (Cargo 
Transporters Inc.)


John Fritze
The Baltimore Sun



Wednesday, March 22, 2017
12:38 PM -0500

Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 12:14 PM
Subject: In-town pool report #2
 
Quotes from Women in Healthcare panel:
 
Trump sat in the middle of the table with 
Seema Verma to his left and a woman to his 
right with the name card Parmis Khatibi. All 
women at the table except for Gary Cohn, who 
was sitting in the seat with the name card Tom 
Price. Pooler did not see HHS Secretary Price 
in the room. Pool has not been provided with a 
full list of attendees at today’s meeting.
 
Trump spoke from 11:24 a.m. to 11:27 a.m., 
then Verma spoke for a couple of minutes 
after the president. Please check the following 
comments against transcript.
 
POTUS: Thank you very much, I appreciate 
you being here. It’s a great honor. I want to 
thank Vice President Pence, Secretary Tom 
Price and Administrator Seema Verma 
[inaudible], for all the time and energy they put 
into repairing and replacing Obamacare. Big 
vote tomorrow in the House. I want to 
especially thank Seema the administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services a the wonderful job she’s doing and 
definitely a complex job—but you have it 
under control, right? For hosting this very 
important meeting to discuss the vital role of 
women playing in health care and the 
hardships inflicted on them by the Obamacare 
catastrophe. Pretty bad.
Administrator Seema Verma is playing the 
leading role for us in helping us to repeal and 
replace Obamacare. The doctors, nurses and 
health care professionals here today represent 
the millions of women, millions and millions, 
who play a vital and indispensable role in 
Americans’ health care.
Unfortunately Obamacare is making their lives 
so much more difficult, as you all know. And 
putting enormous barriers in the way of 
helping patients, who we are going to help and 
get this thing done, and get it figured out. It’s a 
tough situation our country has been put in, 
it’s not easy.
Women doctors and health care leaders have 
changed the face of health care in America, 
saving and improving countless American 
lives. In 1965, only 9 percent of accepted 
medical school applicants were women. 9 
percent, last year nearly 50 percent of newly 
accepted applicants were women. 
Congratulations. Good job.
38 percent of physicians and surgeons are 
women, and that number will continue to 
grow. That’s a big victory for our society, a big 
victory for America.
I want to also thank all the women nurses and 
health care aides for their incredible service 
and dedication to our country. What you do is 
remarkable. Unfortunately Obamacare is 
making it much harder for all of the doctors, 
nurses and health care professionals, men 
and women alike, to do their job. As 
[inaudible] Obamacare’s broken marketplace, 
and it is broken, it’s broken badly, the 
insurance companies are fleeing. Millions of 
patients can no longer access the health care 
professionals they know and trust. Keep your 
doctor, keep your plan—it didn’t work out that 
way, you don’t get your doctor, you don’t get 
your plan.
So that is one of the more vital reasons why 
we must repeal Obamacare, it’s one of the 
reasons why we’re here today.
So with that I want to turn it over to 
Administrator Verma, and we’ll start our 
meeting. Thank you very much.
 
Following Verma’s comments, a reporter 
yelled, Mr. President, if the House doesn’t 
repeal Obamacare, will you keep trying?
 
“We’ll see what happens,” was the reported 
response.
 
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent
 
Bloomberg BNA



Wednesday, March 22, 2017
11:01 AM -0500

Date: March 22, 2017 at 11:36:24 AM EDT
Subject: In-town pool report #1
According to the daily guidance, POTUS was 
scheduled to drop by the Women in 
Healthcare panel hosted by Seema Verma, 
administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services, at 11:00 a.m. in the 
Roosevelt Room.
Trump came into the room at 11:24 a.m., and 
apologized for being late because he was 
getting an update on U.K. shooting.
Trump spoke for 3.5 minutes on the "disaster" 
of Obamacare.
Quotes to follow in next pool report.
At end, reporters shouted what he would do if 
the vote failed. In a very low voice that pooler 
did not hear, but confirmed with others in the 
room, Trump responded, "We'll see what 
happens."

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA



Wednesday, March 22, 2017
10:59 AM -0500

Date: March 22, 2017 at 11:24:22 AM EDT
Subject: In-town supplemental pool report
Pool is currently holding outside Roosevelt 
Room. About 11:15, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-
N.C.) walked by and was asked by reporters 
why he was at the WH this morning.
McHenry said about 10 members were here 
with "myriad" concerns about AHCA and that 
he was "bringing them to the closer."
He mentioned House Whip Steve Scalise was 
there too.

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA



Tuesday, March 21, 2017
12:55 PM -0500

Date: March 21, 2017 at 11:22:15 AM EDT
Subject: In-Town Print Pool #5 S.442 signing
Your pooler was ushered into the Oval Office 
at about 11:06 a.m. to witness President 
Trump signing S. 442, which authorizes 
appropriations to NASA.

The Vice President and members of Congress 
were standing alongside President Trump as 
he signed the bill. Prior to signing it he read 
from a brief script and praised the bill as boon 
to NASA and a job creator.

Will send more details in a follow up email.

After the signing, reporters shouted questions 
including whether President Trump still thinks 
Obama wiretapped him and if he still has 
confidence in FBI Director Comey. President 
Trump was also asked if the healthcare bill 
should be called Trumpcare. 

"It could happen," Trump said. 

Detailed remarks coming ASAP. 
-- 
Hunter Walker
White House Correspondent
Yahoo News



Tuesday, March 21, 2017
11:57 AM -0500

Subject: In-Town Print Pool #5a More details 
from the Oval and lunch lid
Prior to signing S.442 President Trump made a 
brief statement. He was seated at his desk 
flanked by Vice President Mike Pence, NASA 
personnel, and members of Congress 
including Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, 
Sen. Bill Nelson, House Majority Leader Kevin 
McCarthy, and Rep. John Culberson. White 
House staff provided your pooler with a full 
list of attendees, which is included below. 

"For almost six decades NASA's work has 
inspired millions and millions of Americans to 
imagine distant worlds and a better future 
right here on Earth. I'm delighted to sign this 
bill. It's been a long time since a bill like this 
has been signed reaffirming our national 
commitment to the core mission of NASA, 
human space exploration, space science and 
technology. With this legislation, we support 
NASA's scientists, engineers, astronauts and 
their pursuit of discovery. We support jobs. It's 
about jobs. Also this bill calls for ongoing 
medical monitoring and treatment of our 
heroic astronauts for health conditions that 
result from their service," Trump said.

Trump paused to remark on the difficulty of 
being an astronaut.
 
"It's a pretty tough job," Trump said before 
turning to Cruz. "I don't know Ted would you 
like to do it? I don't think I would."

Cruz shook his head indicating that he would 
not want to be an astronaut. Trump then 
turned to Rubio. 

"Marco, do you want to do it?" he asked. 

"I'm not sure we want to do it," Trump said.

Cruz piped in with a proposal.

"You could send Congress to space," said 
Cruz.

"We could," Trump said turning to look at 
Pence. "What a great idea that could be."

This quip prompted laughs from the 
attendees. Trump then continued making his 
statement:  

"This bill will make sure that NASA's most 
important and effective programs are 
sustained. It orders NASA to ... continue 
transitioning activities to the commercial 
sector where we have seen great progress. It's 
amazing what's going on. So many people and 
so many companies are so into exactly what 
NASA stands for, so the commercial and the 
private sector will get to use these facilities 
and I hope they're going to be paying us a lot 
of money. ... They're going to make great 
progress. It continues support for the 
commercial crew program which will carry 
American astronauts into space from 
American soil once again — been a long time. 
It supports NASA's deep space exploration 
including the space launch system and the 
Orion spacecraft. ... It advances space science 
by maintaining a balanced set of mission and 
activities to explore our solar system and the 
entire universe and it ensures that, through 
NASA's astronauts and aeronautics research, 
the United States will remain a total leader in 
aviation. Now these astronauts are amazing. 
I've met some of them. They are very brave 
people and they're right at the forefront. So, 
we salute them with this legislation and we 
salute the ones who have lost their lives doing 
what they love to do. America's space 
program has been a blessing to our people 
and to the entire world. Almost half a century 
ago our brave astronauts first planted the 
American flag on the moon. It was a big 
moment in our history. Now, this nation is 
ready to be the first in space once again. 
Today we're taking the initial steps toward a 
bold and bright new future for American space 
flight. I am honored to sign this new bill. The 
folks behind me have been so involved in it. 
They love NASA. They love everything it 
stands for and they love the people in their 
areas. You have a couple of areas that are 
going to be ... very much benefited by this. So, 
I just want to thank all of the people standing 
behind me. They've done a great service for 
the country and for their community. It's a lot 
of jobs and these are great jobs, so thank you 
very much and we'll sign this."

Trump then proceeded to sign the bill with a 
black and gold pen. Afterwards, he began 
lifting the document to display it for the 
assembled cameras as the attendees 
applauded.. 

"So, I'll hold that up," Trump said. "It's a lot of 
pages. Look at the pages in there thats a lot of 
— we don't want to let that slip." 

Trump then handed out some of the pens he 
used to sign the bill. He was also presented 
with a NASA astronaut flight jacket on behalf 
of the agency. 

"Does anybody have anything to say? Ted you 
want to say something?" Trump asked. 

Cruz called the bill "terrific" and said it was 
"the first time in seven years we've had a 
NASA authorization bill." 

"Thank you Mr. President for signing it," said 
Cruz.  

Trump then invited Rubio to speak.

"Marco?" he asked. 

"I'm happy to see that Florida is going to 
continue to do more than Texas is," quipped 
Rubio. 

"It's going to be a good competition," Trump 
said turning to McCarthy. "Right Kevin?" 

Trump next invited Pence to speak. Pence 
suggested he allow Nelson to make remarks. 

"Well, he's a Democrat. I wasn't going to let 
him speak," Trump said as the group laughed. 

Nelson then praised the bill for putting the 
country "on the dual track." 

"We have the commercial companies going to 
and from the International Space Station and 
we have NASA going out and exploring the 
heavens," Nelson said, before adding, "And 
we're going to Mars." 

"Good. I love that," Trump said.

Culberson then piped in. 

"Mr. President, if I may? Just as Americans 
remember that President Eisenhower was the 
father of the interstate highway system, with 
your bill signing today and your vision and 
leadership, future generations will remember 
that President Donald Trump was the father of 
the interplanetary highway system."  

"Well that sounds exciting," Trump said, 
adding, "First we want to fix our highways. 
We're going to fix our highways." 

Pence was last to speak. He thanked the bill's 
sponsors and also vowed "that in very short 
order the president will be taking action to 
relaunch the National Space Council."

"We're going to be bringing together the best 
and the brightest in NASA and also in the 
private sector," Pence said. "We have elected 
a builder president and, as he said, America 
once again has to start building and leading to 
the stars."

The press was ushered out at about 11:15 a.m. 
As reporters departed they asked Trump about 
the wiretapping explanations, his confidence 
in FBI Director James Comey, and 
"Trumpcare." He did not respond to any of the 
questions except the one about whether the 
healthcare bill could be called "Trumpcare." 
Your pooler has posted a short video of this 
on Twitter for anyone who is interested. At 
11:25 a.m. the White House called a lunch lid 
until 1:15 p.m.  

Here is the list of people who attended the 
signing in the Oval Office that was provided to 
the pool by White House staff:

The Vice President

Rob Porter

Peter White

Michael Kratsios

Stephen Miller

Andrew Bremberg

 

 Robert Lightfoot, Jr., Acting NASA 
Administrator

Lesa Roe, Acting Deputy NASA Administrator

Christopher Cassidy, Active Astronaut

Sen. Ted Cruz, Sponsor of S.442

Sen. Bill Nelson, Cosponsor of S. 442

Sen. Marco Rubio, Cosponsor of S. 442

Sen. Luther Strange

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Leader

Rep. Lamar Smith, Chairman of House 
Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology

Rep. Frank Lucas, Vice Chair of House 
Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology 

Rep. Mo Brooks

Rep. Jim Bridenstine

Rep. Brian Babin

Rep. Martha Roby

Rep. Steve Palazzo

Rep. Robert Aderholt

Rep. Bill Posey

Rep. John Culberson

Rep. Neal Dunn


-- 
Hunter Walker
White House Correspondent
Yahoo News



Tuesday, March 21, 2017
11:53 AM -0500

Date: March 21, 2017 at 10:21:24 AM EDT
Subject: In-Town Print Pool #4
The president's motorcade departed the 
Capitol at about 10:13 a.m. We arrived back at 
the White House at about 10:20 a.m. after a 
short ride that took us past the Trump 
International Hotel. We did not see President 
Trump disembark. 

Your pooler has confirmed that Marc Short 
was the man who walked into the meeting 
earlier with Gary Cohn and Kellyanne Conway.
-- 
Hunter Walker
White House Correspondent
Yahoo News



Sunday, March 19, 2017
03:56 PM -0500

Date: March 19, 2017 at 4:13:57 PM EDT
Subject: Out-of-town pool report #6
At 4:03, the motorcade pulled out of Mar-a-
Lago and headed toward the airport.

The crowd of supporters at the foot of the 
nearby bridge crossing over
the Lake Worth Lagoon has doubled, if not 
tripled in size. It's also
become more demographically diverse with 
several African American
supporters joining the group. Several new 
signs that are being held up
include ... "45" and "Blacks for Trump, " and 
"very fake news"

Trump stoped the motorcade opened the door, 
stood on the edge and
waved to the crowd.
One of the supporters Andrea Harman said he 
shook several hands. She
gushed about the experience.

"That was so cool, " She said.

As the motorcade pulled a way, one supporter 
yelled "God Bless America."

Closer to  the airport a group of protesters 
lined street. Some turned
their back to the motorcade.

"Hit the road jerk," one sign read.

Other demonstrators held out pink and white 
placards that read,
"Loser" and "Narcissist"

Another sign read:
"Russian Headquarters aka Mar-A-Lago. "
-----



Saturday, March 18, 2017
09:30 AM -0500

Date: March 18, 2017 at 9:45:44 AM EDT
Subject: Pool report 2
After holding in the Mar a Lago parking lot, 
pool vans on the move.  We met up with the 
motorcade at 9:40 and are headed to the 
library while the president heads to Trump 
International Golf Course. Have not been 
advised on his plans once there. 

Your pooler has heard rave reviews about the 
library, is excited to expand his horizons with 
the power of books. 

No presidential sightings so far. But he has 
tweeted. First one came at 9:15, criticizing the 
"fake news" around his meeting with Merkel. 
He then continued to say Germany owes "vast 
sums of money" to both UN and NATO. 

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/843
088518339612673

https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/843
090516283723776

One add to pool schedule from last report: 
President will also be meeting with senior staff 
today. 
-- 
Ben Kamisar
Campaign reporter, The Hill



Friday, March 17, 2017
12:02 PM -0500

Date: March 17, 2017 at 12:19:57 PM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #7 - Merkel meeting

Pool escorted at 12:11 into Oval Office, where 
POTUS was seated in east part of room and 
Merkel, wearing a turquoise and black outfit, 
was seated to his right.

The two leaders had no prepared remarks and 
were largely unresponsive to the cacophony 
of questions asked as photographers snapped 
pictures.

However, asked about how meeting went, 
POTUS replied it went well. Merkel said the 
same, but in German.

Asked by Jeff Mason if they talked about 
NATO, POTUS replied, "We talked about lots of 
things."

Pool escorted out at 12:13.


-- 
Chris Johnson
Washington Blade
Chief Political & White House Reporter



Friday, March 17, 2017
11:20 AM -0500

Subject: Supplemental Pool Report - 
Chancellor Merkel arrival at the WH

Chancellor Merkel of Germany arrived at the 
White House (North Lawn) at 11:39 am under a 
beautiful blue sky.
President Trump welcomed her at the West 
Wing Portico as she stepped out of her car.
The two leaders shook hands, smiled looking 
at the cameras and entered the West Wing.

Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Friday, March 17, 2017
11:17 AM -0500

Date: March 17, 2017 at 11:52:53 AM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #6 - vocational meeting 
participants

From the White House:

BACKGROUND:

 

In both the United States and Germany, 
vocational training programs are an important 
component of public-private partnerships and 
workforce development. Today, President 
Trump and German Chancellor Merkel will be 
meeting with United States and German 
business leaders to discuss workforce 
development and vocational training.  

II.               PARTICIPANTS

 

United States 
The President

1.      The Vice President

2.      Secretary Wilbur Ross, Secretary of 
Commerce

3.      Mr. Reince Priebus, Assistant to the 
President and Chief of Staff

4.      Mr. Jared Kushner, Assistant to the 
President and Senior Advisor

5.      Ms. Ivanka Trump

6.      Mr. Gary Cohn, Assistant to the President 
for Economic Policy

7.      Ms. Dina Powell, Assistant to the 
President and Senior Counselor for Economic 
Initiatives

Germany     
Chancellor Angela Merkel 

1.      Mr. Steffen Seibert, State Secretary

2.      Dr. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of the 
Federal Republic of Germany to the U.S.

3.      Professor Dr. Lars-Hendrik Röller, 
Director General, Economic and Financial 
Policy Advisor to the Chancellor

4.      Dr. Bernhard Kotsch, Federal 
Chancellor’s Office, Deputy Chief of Staff

5.      Dr. Gesa Miehe-Nordmeyer, Head of 
Division, G7/G20 Sherpa-Staff, Federal 
Chancellery

Germany

1.      Harald Krüger, CEO of BMW AG

2.      Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens AG

3.      Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG

4.      Abigail Marie Davis, Apprentice 
[Schaeffler]

States

5.      Andrew Liveris, CEO of Dow Chemical

6.      Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM

7.      Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce

8.      Janiel Richards, Apprentice [IBM]

Additional Participants

1.      Ms. Andrea Thompson, National Security 
Advisor, Office of the Vice President

2.      Germany Apprentice, Maria Puckett

3.      Germany Apprentice, Chad Robinson

4.      US Apprentice, Leslieanne John

5.      Chris Liddell

6.      Kara McKee

7.      Stephen Miller

8.      Julie Radford

9.      George Sifakis

10.   Rachael Baitel



-- 
Chris Johnson
Washington Blade
Chief Political & White House Reporter



Friday, March 17, 2017
11:14 AM -0500

Date: March 17, 2017 at 11:13:25 AM EDT
Subject: Pool Report #4 - VA listening session

Pool escorted into Roosevelt Room at 10:22. 
POTUS entered at 10:30 and shook hands with 
those seated at the table, including the VA 
Secretary Shulkin, before seating himself at 
the center of the table.

VPOTUS seated on opposite, north side of 
table from POTUS. VA Shulkin was to his right. 
At the longest ends of table were Stephen 
Miller on the west side and Kellyanne Conway 
on the east side. 

Also present in the room and unseated were 
Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and 
Omarosa Manigault.

"We will protect those who protect us," 
POTUS said, adding that was a message at his 
campaign rallies. "I think the veterans have 
not been treated fairly."

POTUS said Shulkin forming a board and said 
tonight he's having a major meeting.

Alluding to Shulkin's wide support of support 
for confirmation, POTUS said it was like 100-0. 
"When I heard that, I said where does that 
come from?"

POTUS said he's heard "horrible stories" 
coming out of VA, but now situation is "much 
better."

"It's going to change, and under my 
administration it will change," POTUS said.

POTUS sais VA health plan moving ahead of 
schedule.

Shulkin said room is filled with "passionate 
people advocating for our veterans" and 
praised POTUS for budget, saying, "we are 
able to care for them."

POTUS repeated health care remarks from 
Oval Office, saying AHCA in "great shape" and 
they "rejiggered" it. Under Obamacare, POTUS 
said people have family members who "have 
suffered greatly" and people in Tennessee are 
left without insurance carrier.

No support from Dems, POTUS said, but there 
are "interesting little routes" to pass AHCA in 
pieces.

Pool escorted out at 10:36. Reporter's 
repeated questions on British intelligence 
were unanswered.


-- 
Chris Johnson
Washington Blade



Wednesday, March 15, 2017
05:49 PM -0500

Date: March 15, 2017 at 5:03:12 PM CDT
Subject: 3/15 Travel pool #12A
Correction: The president's remarks in front of 
The Hermitage were not open press. Here are 
highlights with an assist from WashPo's Abby 
Phillips:

Trump's speech again made comparisons to 
himself and Andrew Jackson in front of The 
Hermitage, Jackson's childhood home. 

"It was during the revolution that Jackson first 
confronted and defied an arrogant elite. Does 
that sound familiar?" Trump said to laughs 
from the crowd.

"What a great visit. Inspirational visit I have to 
tell you. I'm a fan."

"Captured by the red coats and ordered to 
shine the shoes of a British officer, Jackson 
simply refused."

"From that day on Andrew Jackson rejected 
authority that looked down on the common 
people." 

Trump said Jackson was the people's 
president and launched a campaign to root 
out government corruption.

"People are proud again of our country and 
your going to get prouder and prouder and 
prouder," Trump concluded.

Sent from my iPhone



Wednesday, March 15, 2017
05:23 PM -0500

Date: March 15, 2017 at 4:38:35 PM CDT
Subject: 3/15 Travel pool #11
POTUS walked into Andrew Jackson's 
Hermitage library on his 250th birthday under 
a gold-framed newspaper titled "President 
Andrew Jackson's Message." Surrounded by 
peach-colored walls with blue trim at the 
bottom, giant red, weathered antique books 
could be seen on the floor along with smaller 
red books on a nearby table and chair. 

A curator in charge of the museum said "This 
was his library" to Trump and he "wanted to 
make sure you saw this." The curator 
explained that Andrew Jackson subscribed to 
16 newspapers and made notes on what he 
agreed and disagreed with. On one editorial he 
particularly disliked he drew a big black X.

"We know that feeling, we know that feeling," 
Trump said, who otherwise smiled and nodded 
throughout the portion of the visit the pool 
was able to observe. 



Tuesday, March 14, 2017
07:59 PM -0500

Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 4:19 PM
Subject: Pool 3: VP swears in CSM admin 
Verma
 
VP swore in Seema Verma as the new 
Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services at 3:53 pm. POTUS was not 
present.
 
VP entered the Vice President’s ceremonial 
office in EEOB at 3:48 pm, along Verma. 
Speaking at a lectern he opened his remarks 
by saying it was his honor to administer the 
oath to Verma, the 15th person to hold the 
position. After a brief pause, he encouraged: 
“You can applaud that if you want.” The small 
audience complied. He then acknowledged her 
family -- husband Sanjay, daughter Maya and 
son Sean, as well as her mother and sister – 
before launching into remarks.
 
“We have come to a critical moment in the life 
of our nation,” he said, noting it had been 
seven years ago this month that the “failed 
law known as Obamacare” was signed. “It has 
proved to be a disaster,” he said, with damage 
to the economy and to the American people 
growing with every day.
 
“Obamacare is collapsing, and the American 
people know it.”
 
He then described the “multi-step” process 
the administration is undergoing now, starting 
with legislation to repeal and replace it, then 
regulation and additional legislation. The 
AHCA ends Obamacare taxes and penalties 
while expanding use of HSAs. New legislation 
to allow Americans to purchase insurance 
across state lines is “an idea whose time has 
come,” he added.
 
“At each step of this process, one of President 
Trump’s most important objectives, though, 
has been to give the freedom and flexibility to 
states across the country to design health 
care programs, especially Medicaid, to the 
unique needs of their most vulnerable 
citizens. And that’s where Seema Verma 
comes in,” he said.
 
VP called her one of the leading experts in 
America on state-based healthcare solutions, 
with a career that includes her work in the 
“great state of Indiana,” helping to design the 
“much heralded Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0.” He 
said it was leading the nation with emphasis 
on personal responsibility and effective care 
for people who need it most. She’s also helped 
states like Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan 
to develop their own programs.
 
“We’re confident that you’ll help restore health 
care decisionmaking to the states, and in the 
process help make the best healthcare system 
in the world even better,” he said. “As a fellow 
Hoosier, I couldn’t be more proud.”
 
The oath was then administered, with Verma’s 
family standing beside her.
 
VP and Verma then walked over to a small 
desk adorned with the seal of the vice 
president, where Verma sat to sign paperwork.
 
Verma then made brief remarks, first thanking 
her family who drove to Washington from 
Indiana after their flight had been canceled 
due to the snow storm.
 
She said she was proud to be part of the team 
addressing healthcare, and thanked “my good 
friend, Vice President Pence, for believing in 
me and all your support. … Your leadership in 
Indiana is paving the way for all states and the 
future of health care in America.” She also 
thanked those who assisted with her 
confirmation process.
 
The nation’s healthcare system “stands at a 
crossroads,” and we “have no choice” but to 
fix it. Under President Trump’s leadership they 
would reform the system to “one that puts 
Americans in charge of their healthcare” and 
ensures all have access to care.
 
Pool was quickly given instructions to leave at 
the conclusion of her remarks at 3:57 pm.
 



Tuesday, March 14, 2017
12:54 PM -0500

Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 1:28 PM
Subject: Pool 2: State Dining Room spray
 
Again, no remarks/news.
 
Pool went directly from the first spray in the 
Oval to the State Dining Room to preset for 
arrival of POTUS, the Deputy Crown Prince 
and the U.S. and Saudi delegations. An empty 
table had 10 place settings, five on one side 
facing toward the East Room, three on the 
other side facing the Lincoln portrait, and two 
seats at opposite one another at the head of 
the table. Glasses of water were beside each 
setting. Two bouquets of flower adorned the 
table.
 
At 1:14 pm, POTUS entered from cross hall 
and then stood to wait for bin Salman, 
reaching out to shake his hand after he 
followed him in. 
 
The two delegations then took their seats, with 
an usher in black tie pulling out the 
president's chair as he took his. Pool was 
ushered out at this time.
 
Taking seats on the U.S. side, from left to right 
facing them: Bannon, McMaster, POTUS, 
Kushner, Priebus. Pool was told that Dina 
Powell would be taking the seat at the head of 
the table beside Priebus.

Pool has asked for names and titles of the 
Saudi delegates. Bin Salman sat directly 
across from POTUS.
 
 
Mike Memoli



Monday, March 13, 2017
04:21 PM -0500

Date: March 13, 2017 at 4:39:41 PM EDT
Subject: In-town print pool No. 4
From the Oval Office, surrounded by Cabinet 
members, POTUS signed an executive order 
titled “Comprehensive Plan For Reorganizing 
The Executive Branch.”


He made brief remarks before the pool.


“We have assembled one of the greatest 
Cabinets in history and I believe that so 
strongly. And we want to empower them to 
make their agencies as lean and effective as 
possible and they know how to do it. Today 
there is duplication and redundancy 
everywhere. Billions and billions of dollars are 
being wasted …


“This order requires a thorough examination 
of every executive department and agency to 
see where money is being wasted, how 
services can be improved and whether 
programs are truly serving American citizens.”


POTUS said the OBM director will oversee the 
evaluation in consultation with experts in and 
outside the government as well as the public.


“Based on this input, we will develop a 
detailed plan to make the federal government 
work better, reorganizing, consolidating and 
eliminating where necessary. In other words, 
making the federal government more efficient 
and very, very cost productive. So we’re going 
to do something, I think, very, very special.”


That plan, POTUS went on, would be 
submitted to Congress for implementation.


P.S.: Thanks to the TV crew that played the 
video in briefing room as some poolers, 
myself included, missed the call, which came 
earlier than advertised.


Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times



Monday, March 13, 2017
02:10 PM -0500

Date: March 13, 2017 at 2:18:18 PM EDT
Subject: In-town print No. 2
More from this morning’s “listening session” 
on health care.



A collection of Obamacare “victims” from 
across the country shared their stories. 
(names below as provided by WH).



But first, more from POTUS, who said the 
Obamacare repeal and replacement must 
come in three steps, due to working with 
Congress. “I’d love to do it all in one package, 
but if you did it that way, it can’t get done.”



As pool was led out, a reporter asked POTUS 
if he had “any message” for people worried 
about losing coverage if Obamacare goes 
away.



“It’ll get better. If we’re allowed to do what we 
want to do, it will get better. Much better.,” 
POTUS replied. “Hopefully it will get very 
good.”

Mrs. Carrie Couey, from Colorado, said her 
rates are “three times” higher than when 
Obamacare began and that has hurt her family 
cattle ranching business. “We can’t afford our 
equipment if we’re paying these rates year 
after year after year. Our food source is in 
jeopardy because of this health care law.”
Ms. Brittany Ivey, Georgia, said she left a full-
time job in 2009 to raise her two children. She 
said a family plan for four cost them $650 per 
month and by 2015, it had gone up “102 
percent.” She said her husband’s employer 
dropped the family from coverage so she 
looked for a new job but couldn’t find one that 
offered insurance. At that point, the family got 
Obamacare. “We believed the sales pitch that 
if you like your doctor, you can keep your 
doctor. Even though we were going to have to 
pay $1,300 a month for Obamacare, we 
thought we’d still be ok with our doctors.” But 
she said doctors would not accept the 
coverage. “We paid them $8,000 in five 
months and were never able to use it.” She 
and her husband earn a combined $74,000 a 
year, Ivey said, but health care is too 
burdensome. “It’s almost put our family in 
financial ruin.”
Mr. Elias Seife, Florida, said his individual plan 
was canceled. He said his parents came from 
Communist Cuba. “They know what socialism 
is all about. I know what socialism is … and 
this whole system was meant to have one 
single provider.”
Ms. Kim Sertich, Arizona, said her premium 
last year was $365 a month and it had risen to 
$809 a month this year, with a deductible of 
$6,800. “It just didn’t seem like a good use of 
my money,” she said, adding she had opted 
out and went into a faith-based program.
Mr. Louis Brown, Virginia, said he worked for 
the Democratic National Committee when the 
Affordable Care Act was going through 
Congress in 2009 and that he later resigned, 
citing opposition to abortion. He supported 
Trump in the election and said that he was on 
hand to support efforts to place people “at the 
center of our American health care system, 
not the government.”
Dr. Manny Sethi, Tennessee, says he runs 
nonprofit called Healthy Tennessee and that 
he’s noticed that people can’t afford rising 
premiums. “So what they are doing is, 
effectively, they’re paying the tax penalty 
because it’s cheaper and works out better 
than paying for the insurance. That’s been a 
big problem that we’re seeing across the 
state.”
Mr. Joel Brown, Tennessee, said he’s in 
farming and he considered paying the penalty 
for not carrying insurance. He said there is 
only one option for coverage, Blue Cross Blue 
Shield Tennessee and the premium is $540 a 
month with a $7,000 deductible. “You’ve got to 
pay a high premium for a plan that I don’t need 
or don’t want.”
Dr. Robin Armstrong, Texas, said a lot of 
patients are not adequately covered by 
Obamacare and are hit with high premiums 
and deductibles. “I actually read the bill that’s 
been produced, that’s coming out of the 
House now and I really like a lot of the 
changes in it. I think this is going to correct a 
lot of issues that Obamacare has had.”
Ms. Gina Sell, Wisconsin, said she’s a nurse 
and mother and had to get a full-time position 
to pay the costs. “We could not afford a 
premium of $1,200 per month and a deductible 
that didn’t cover anything.” She said now the 
deductible is $6,500 “and so if I have a child 
who is extremely sick, it’s going to cost me 
hundreds of dollars.” Last week, she said, her 
daughter had a fever and she sent her to 
school for “three days straight because I had 
to work to afford our insurance” and couldn’t 
pay for a trip to the doctor. “It has been 
devastating for our family.”
Mr. Greg Knox, Ohio, began by giving POTUS 
a note and drawing from his 11-year-old son. 
The note was written on the back of a cutout 
face with orangeish hair. “Looks nothing like 
you,” Knox said to laughter. POTUS flashed a 
big smile and said, “I wish I looked that good.” 
Knox said he had meet with Secretary Price 
and Vice President Pence during a recent 
roundtable in Cincinnati. “We have the best 
health care system in the world. We do. But it 
needs to be fixed. Small business owners like 
myself -- I’m a manufacturer -- what we’d like 
to see is not a government-operated market 
but a free market.”
Mr. Stan Summers, Utah, said his son was 
born premature 26 years ago and they had 
good insurance but it deteriorated over time. 
Enter the ACA. “I’m not going to call it the 
other word. I call it the last president’s health 
care bill. I don’t need to say that name.” 
(POTUS: “Other than that, you like him a lot.” 
Laughter.) Summers said he has three 
businesses and drives a school bus to provide 
coverage for his family. He said he expects to 
meet a $6,000 deductible in April.
Secretary Price gave brief remarks about the 
stories. “This is about real people, about real 
patients.” He said he was “really excited” to 
help install a replacement.



POTUS then again bemoaned what he deemed 
“wonderful press” about Obamacare. “It’s a 
horrible thing, actually, and getting worse.”



VPOTUS thanked the participants. “These 
people are emblematic of the Americans that 
Obamacare has failed.”

 

 


Alex Leary
Tampa Bay Times
Washington Bureau Chief



Saturday, March 11, 2017
02:33 PM -0500

Date: March 11, 2017 at 1:34:19 PM EST
Subject: Pool report #4
Pool was escorted to what seems to be the 
main clubhouse at 1:00 pm for a small spray. 
After being led up some stairs, pool was 
escorted into a dining room where POTUS was 
seated at a table for what he described as 
"part of a cabinet meeting" for lunch to 
discuss the military and other things.

Present at the table were press secretary Sean 
Spicer, chief strategist Steve Bannon, chief of 
staff Reince Priebus, treasure secretary 
Steven Mnuchin and his fiancée, secretary of 
homeland security John Kelly, commerce 
secretary Wilbur Ross and his wife and 
secretary of veterans affairs David Shulkin 
and his wife.

Some remarks

"the economy is doing very, very well..we 
really had a mess and it's getting straightened 
out."

"we're also talking about Healthcare which is 
coming along."

Trump said "secret service did a fantastic job 
last night" adding that "it was a troubled 
person" in relation to last night's breach.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer came downstairs 
to speak to the pool briefly after Trump's 
comments.

Some of his remarks.

Regarding the breach:

"POTUS was made aware of the situation at 
the WH. General Kelly was kept aware of the 
situation the entire time."

Spicer directed any further questions directed 
to secret service media affairs.

In regards to today's lunch:

"POTUS wanted to take some key members of 
his team out and have a working lunch to talk 
about the economy, some of the issues we're 
dealing with with homeland security, 
obviously General Kelly is updating him on 
some of the steps he's taking with respect to 
the executive order on immigration. They're 
talking about healthcare and the repeal and 
replace effort and continuing strategy to work 
with Congress to see that forward.

Other small notes from Spicer:

"Secret service did a phenomenal job they 
continue to provide phenomenal protection to 
the president and the first family and the 
president was very appreciative of their 
efforts"

Spicer didn't know if POTUS had a chance to 
see any of VPOTUS' comments before 
departure from the WH.

Pool was escorted back to the Tennis Building 
at around 1:12pm


Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown (www.symantec.com)



Breanna Edwards  |  News Editor  |  Univision 
Communications



Saturday, March 11, 2017
12:58 PM -0500

Date: March 11, 2017 at 12:44:26 PM EST
Subject: Pool report #3
The motorcade pulled into the Trump National 
Golf Club at 12:39pm. Your pooler didn't see 
the president. Pool is holding in the Tennis 
Building with a view of quite a few tennis 
courts.



Friday, March 10, 2017
01:04 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, March 10, 2017 12:47 PM
Subject: pool report #3a - full POTUS 
Obamacare quote
 
Your pooler - and his otherwise-trusty 
recording device - could not clearly make out 
President Trump’s full quote about 2017, 
former President Obama, and his contention 
that the 2010 health law was designed to 
collapse in the 44th president’s first year out 
of office. Via my video pool colleagues, here is 
the full quote, aside from one inaudible part:
 
"’17 would be a disaster for Obamacare, that's 
the year it was meant to explode, because 
Obama won't be here,” Trump said. “That was 
when it was supposed to be [inaudible]. As 
bad as it is now, it will get even worse."
 
 
John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent 
CQ Roll Call 



Friday, March 10, 2017
12:58 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, March 10, 2017 12:35 PM
Subject: pool report #3 - POTUS/GOP 
chairs/health care
 
The pool was assembled in the briefing room 
around 11:30 a.m., then waited in a hallway 
outside the Roosevelt Room for about 10 
minutes. Reporters chatted and press aides 
darted to and from their Friday tasks.
 
A few minutes before the pool entered, White 
House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and 
Chief of Staff Reince Priebus entered the 
hallway and took a sharp right into the Upper 
Press area, where Press Secretary Sean 
Spicer had headed shortly before.
 
At 11:44 a.m., the pool entered the Roosevelt 
Room. The House GOP chairmen and 
chairwomen stood on the opposite side of the 
table, chatting among themselves. Chairman 
Walden - who is from Oregon, not Washington 
- told a fellow-pooler that he is a distinguished 
Eagle Scout. At 11:49 a.m., POTUS entered, 
trailed by Vice President Mike Pence and 
Priebus. He shook hands with the chairs, and 
shared a laugh with Chairwoman Virginia 
Foxx. The meeting participants, including 
POTUS, then took their seats.
 
POTUS read from a sheet of paper, though he 
appeared to deviate a few times.
 
Trump thanked the chairs for their “devotion 
and leadership,” which he said “has been 
amazing.” He also applauded their “diligent 
work to advance the Obamacare repeal and 
replacement.”
 
“That’s what people want: they want repeal 
and replace,” the president said.
 
POTUS did not seem certain that the House 
Energy and Commerce Committee on 
Thursday had approved the House health 
overhaul plan, but he verified it with Rep. 
Walden. He was more informed about the 
Ways and Means panel. “It was a very good 
vote,” Trump said, though it was not clear to 
which committee vote he was referring.
 
“We must act now to save Americans from the 
imploding Obamacare disaster,” Trump said, 
adding that “premiums have skyrocketed by 
double digits and triple digits, in some cases.” 
Notably, he suggested the 2010 law is going to 
collapse in 2017 specifically because Obama 
is out of office.
 
The president hailed the House bill for, as he 
described it “cutting taxes by hundreds of 
billions of dollars,” ending “the Obamacare 
mandate that forces Americans to buy 
government-approved plans - we all know that 
one.” He also trumpeted the measure because 
he said it “provides states with flexibility over 
how Medicaid dollars are spent, [taking] power 
from Washington and back to local 
governments.” Trump said the measure 
“empowers individual Americans,” and would 
implement a system that allows people to 
select their own coverage, “not a plan forced 
on them by government.”
 
“We all remember, ‘You can keep your doctor, 
you can keep your plan.’ I know Greg, you’ve 
never heard that, right?” the president asked, 
with a smile, of Rep. Walden. “It was said 
many, many times, and it turned out to be not 
true. This is the time we’re going to get it 
done. … You have tremendous spirit. I think 
it’s just something that’s going to happen very 
shortly.”
 
The president thanked the pool, our sign to 
exit. ABC’s Jonathan Karl asked POTUS 
whether he has any evidence to back up his 
claims that former President Obama tapped 
phone lines in Trump Tower. Trump did not 
respond. Another reporter asked if he knew 
former national security adviser Michael Flynn 
was technically a “foreign agent” due to work 
he was doing on behalf of the Turkish 
government. POTUS did not respond.
 
One of Trump’s personal security men entered 
the Roosevelt Room from a door behind the 
pool and began yelling loudly for us to clear 
out. So your pooler could not make out the 
specifics of other questions behind shouted at 
the president. I am told Chairman Walden 
made a joke second before the pool exited, 
and POTUS responded with a smile - but his 
words were inaudible over the yelling of the 
security man and a bevy of final camera 
shutter sounds.
 
-30-
 
John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent 
CQ Roll Call 



Saturday, March 04, 2017
02:58 PM -0500

Date: March 4, 2017 at 2:21:06 PM EST
Subject: Print travel pool report #4
Pool loaded into the vans at 1:05 pm outside 
the library. In a caravan, the three vans 
crossed the street to the golf club, looped 
through a driveway there and returned to the 
library parking lot. We held there for a few 
minutes, joined the very rear of the 
motorcade, lights flashing, and drove east.

The motorcade stopped briefly on Royal Palm 
Way where a group of about 100 supporters 
gathered on a grassy area for an elaborate 
display. They cheered, waved flags and held 
up signs. A few of of the signs read, "Donald 
J. Trump - Making America Great Again" and 
another read, "Investigate Obama's Secret 
Coup - Expel Schumer." A vehicle featured a 
digital screen with an image of POTUS and 
red, white and blue flashing lights.

The motorcade then entered Mar-a-Lago 
where the pool held in vans in the parking lot 
for a few minutes. The vans returned to pool's 
hotel. We have a lid until 4 pm. 

Jenna Portnoy
The Washington Post



Friday, March 03, 2017
11:23 AM -0500

Date: March 3, 2017 at 11:05:33 
Subject: POTUS pool report #1
President Trump arrived on Marine One at 
Joint Base Andrews at 10:56
am for his trip to Orlando, just as a few snow 
flurries began to fall.
The president saluted as he boarded Air Force 
One at 10:59 am.

Traveling with the president were daughter 
Ivanka Trump, son-in-law
and adviser Jared Kushner, and their two 
children.

Also traveling to Orlando is Education 
Secretary Betsy DeVos, who
boarded Air Force One just after 10 am.

The president is scheduled to tour St Andrew 
Catholic School, where he
will hold a meet and greet and parent-teacher 
listening session later
today, before traveling on to Palm Beach, 
where he will attend the RNC
Spring Retreat dinner at the Four Seasons 
Resort.

Air Force One was rolling at 11:05 am.



Thursday, March 02, 2017
03:52 PM -0500

Date: March 2, 2017 at 3:10:20 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool Report 5


Trump Travel Pool Report 5
March 2, 2017
A tour of the Gerald R. Ford

Combining report on public remarks with 
previous info from the president's tour of the 
aircraft carrier.

President Trump touted his defense budget 
hike and told crew members on the aircraft 
carrier Gerald Ford that he would provide 
them all the equipment they may need to win 
any military engagement.

Quotes:

- The US will provide "the resources you need 
to keep us safe .. the finest equipment in the 
world."

- "This ship will make an extraordinary 
addition to the fleet ... it represents the future 
of naval aviation."

- "I will always support you and your mission"

- Paraphrase: We hopefully won't have to use 
our military, but if we do the enemy will be in 
"big, big trouble."

- He pledged to back "the 12-carrier Navy we 
need."

Trump began his remarks at 2:25 pm
.. ended at 2:42 pm


Earlier:

Before his remarks, President Trump took a 
tour of the pre-commissioned aircraft carrier 
Gerald R. Ford.
Technically, the carrier is not yet the "USS 
Gerald R. Ford," because it has not yet been 
commissioned. The carrier is still considered 
a "PCU" -- Pre-Commissioning Unit.
Still, sailors and officials wore caps 
emblazoned with the term "USS Gerald R. 
Ford" -- including Trump himself during the 
tour. The president also wore a free jacket 
adorned with the ship's logo.
At 1:10 p.m., pool was led into a small and 
cramped "CO's import cabin," where President 
Trump was speaking with the carrier's 
commanding  officers.
President Trump sat in a chair that President 
Ford himself used when he was in the White 
House.
It was hard to hear, but one of Trump's 
questions was when the Gerald Ford would be 
fully ready.
"When will it be completely finished?" Trump 
asked.
He was told there would be "builder's sea 
trials" next month
Trump also asked what was the best aircraft, 
and specifically mentioned the "Super Hornet" 
at one point.
He was told that carriers require a variety of 
air craft.
Pool was ushered out at 1:12 p.m.
We then went down further into the interior of 
the carrier, to the section with the "advanced 
arresting gear" -- the contraptions that capture 
and stop the speeding planes after they land 
on the deck of the carrier.
"How often do you miss?" Trump asked at one 
point.

Answer: "Very rarely." (Missed planes simply 
circle back around for another landing.)

An officer said the landing success rate is 
96%.

"That's fantastic,"  Trump replied.

Trump also toured the Combat Direction 
Center, a road loaded with video screens.
This is where he answered questions about 
Jeff Sessions.  See earlier reports.
David Jackson
USA TODAY



Thursday, March 02, 2017
03:32 PM -0500

Date: March 2, 2017 at 2:30:29 PM EST
Subject: Trump travel pool Report 4a - 
Sessions

Trump Travel Pool Report 4a
March 2, 2017
Trump comments on Sessions

Bad service here - here is full report on 
Sessions comments 

During Trump's tour of the Gerald Ford, CNN's 
Jim Acosta asked Trump if he still had 
confidence in Sessions.

"Total," he said.

Later, during his tour of the ship's command 
center, Trump responded to more questions.

Should Sessions recuse himself?

"I don't think so"

Did you know Sessions spoke to the Russian 
ambassador?

"I wasn't aware at all."

Did Session testify truthfully to the Senate?

"I think he probably did."

Thanks to Andrew Beatty of AFP

David Jackson
USA Today



Thursday, March 02, 2017
01:42 PM -0500

Date: March 2, 2017 at 12:48:49 PM EST
Subject: VP pool report #5
VP Pence, Price and Regenold took about a 15 
minute tour of the Frame USA factory, where 
Pence actually stepped up to one of the 
machines and tried his hand at nailing a frame 
together. 

Looking at the results, according to Price, 
Pence should stay VP and leave the frame-
making to the professionals at Frame USA.
Pence laughed at this and proceeded to view 
the assembly of frames, and was presented at 
the end with a finished black frame with gold 
lettering that said, Mr. Vice President.

Earlier in the tour, Regenold lamented the low 
number of vendors still in business in the U.S.

"I just wanted you to know, in so many places, 
so many people going out of business," 
Regenold said. Pence nodded and patted his 
shoulder.

The tour consisted of five stops around the 
factory, including a mat cutting station, a laser 
engraver, shipping, cutting and final assembly 
of frames. Different Frame USA workers 
explained and demonstrated their jobs at each 
station.

Pence chatted amiably with the workers, but 
did not make remarks to the pool.

Holding now for Pence speech to crowd of 
roughly 200 assembled on the factory floor. 
Remarks are expected to be about 25 minutes 
and are open press.

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA



Monday, February 27, 2017
11:48 AM -0500

Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 11:28 AM
Subject: Pool Report #3a -- I haven't called 
Russia in 10 years, context
 
Pool Report #3a

As pool was being led out of “listening 
session with HC executives at approximately 
1113 am, he was asked if there should be a 
special prosecutor on Russia.

He did not respond to the question 
immediately, but as pool was mostly out, he 
mouthed the word “No” to those at the table.

And with most of the pool out of the room, he 
said:

“I haven’t called Russia in 10 years.”



Monday, February 27, 2017
11:15 AM -0500

Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 10:20 AM
Subject: WH Pool Report #1
 
Good morning,

President Trump delivered 21 minutes of 
remarks to the assembled governors in the 
State Dining Room of the White House. He 
entered the room at 0943 and pool was 
ushered out at 1004 as question and answer 
session began.

More details to come, but Trump partially read 
from prepared test and partially riffed on 
topics that will likely be included in his 
address to Congress tomorrow night.

Among them:

Streamlining regulations and speeding up 
approval process for new projects

Big defense spending increase

Slashing spending in other areas

Getting violent criminals out of the country

Reducing taxes, and making taxes related to 
imports and exports more fair

Infrastructure spending

Repealing and replacing the Affordable Care 
Act.

 

There is a second pooled event to start 
momentarily. I will try to upload the audio into 
dropbox and provide a link if I can before pool 
is called away.

Trump was wearing a navy suit and bright red 
tie and spoke from a lectern beneath a portrait 
of Abraham Lincoln.

The governors were seated at 8 round tables, 
with 6-7 governors at each, with a few Cabinet 
members interspersed among them.

I will also upload photos ASAP.

 



Friday, February 24, 2017
12:56 PM -0500

Date: February 24, 2017 at 9:38:33 AM EST
Subject: In town Pool Report #3
Spokesman Sean Spicer had strong words for 
the media, particularly CNN, on the White 
House-FBI contacts story.
"What you guys have done is indefensible and 
inaccurate," he said, quite heatedly. 
He pointed to TV chyron (new word for pooler) 
about White House asking FBI to deflate story.
Spicer argued to reporters that asking what 
can be done when FBI says a story is BS was 
a natural human reaction. If Priebus had just 
walked away, 'how insane would that be?' 
Spicer said.
He also said that if the WH put out a story that 
proved inaccurate, reporters would ask what 
steps WH is taking to set the record straight? 
But media won't apply same logic in this case, 
which Spicer characterized as duplicitous. 
"What sane person would not want to set the 
record straight?'
Dan Freedman
Hearst Newspapers



Friday, February 24, 2017
12:53 PM -0500

Date: February 24, 2017 at 11:37:13 AM EST
Subject: In town pool report #5
POTUS wheels up at 11:22a. Motorcade with 
pool moving now. Cheering packed ballroom 
at CPAC meeting at Gaylord as POTUS  
entered to strains of what appeared to be the 
song 'God Bless the USA.'
He entered at 10:20, speech lasted 40 minutes 
or so. Not sure if there'll be a transcript. Was 
on TV, but here's a summary plus quotes:
'I love you people. I wouldn't miss a chance to 
talk to my friends.'
He got a standing ovation & asked people to 
sit down, even though the 'dishonest media' 
will report he didn't get a standing ovation. 
The crowd stood up and cheered again, 
chanting USA, USA, USA.
POTUS said he wanted to come last year but 
was warned he'd be too 'controversial.' 
Of his win in November, 'its patriots like you 
that made it happen, believe me. ...never 
underestimate the people, never.'
Reiterated his attack on 'fake news' & those 
who in his estimation purvey it as 'enemies of 
the people.' Said media makes up sources.
'I don't mind bad stories if I deserve them,' her 
said.
He says not all journalists report 'fake news.' 
But journalists should not be allowed to cite 
unnamed sources, which he again insisted 
were oftentimes fabrications. 'Let them say it 
to my face,' he said.
'Fake news doesn't tell the truth, doesn't 
represent the people; it will never represent 
the people.'
More TK
Dan Freedman
Hearst Newspapers 



Friday, February 24, 2017
10:16 AM -0500

Date: February 24, 2017 at 9:17:39 AM EST
Subject: In town pool report #2
Background briefing by senior administration 
officials:
Major pushback on FBI-White House story. 
The 'tick-tock' starts with 7:30a meeting at WH 
2/15 on unrelated intel issue conducted by 
Reince Priebus. FBI assistant director Andrew 
McCabe for 5 mins after meeting. At the one 
on one, McCabe said 'I want you to know story 
in NYT (in FBI investigating contacts between 
Trump campaign people and Russian intel) is 
BS.' (Some question whether he said bullshit 
or simply BS although officials best 
recollection is 'bullshit.') Preibus asked 'what 
can we do about this?' McCabe demurs and 
says he'll get back to Preibus. Preibus' can 
concern is he's 'getting crushed' on the story. 
'What an I supposed to do?'
Later on, McCabe calls back and tells Preibus 
theFBI can't say anything. 'We'd love to help 
but we can't get into the position of making 
statements on every story.'
Preibus asked if he could cite 'senior 
intelligence officials' as saying there's nothing 
to the NYT story. McCabe says yes. Later on, 
FBI Director James Comey himself calls 
Preibus and reiterated much the same thing -- 
story BS but can't put out statement.
In Q&A, official was asked whether there was 
an investigation going on of any sort 
regarding Trump campaign and Russia. 
Official said his impression was 'no,' but 
couldn't say for sure.
On the record, spokesman Sean Spicer 
vociferously condemned CNN for inaccurate 
reporting.
More TK
Dan Freedman 
Hearst Newspapers 



Tuesday, February 21, 2017
11:45 AM -0500

Subject: WH pool report #5
POTUS remarks at the National Museum of 
African American History and Culture:

"Thank you very much everybody. It's a great 
honour to be here. This was some beautiful 
morning and what a job they've done, like few 
others have been able to do. I am very, very 
proud of Lonnie Bunch. The work and the love 
that he has in his heart for what he's done is – 
I was talking about you need enthusiasm, you 
need really love for anything you do to do it 
successfully and Lonnie you are, where, come 
on. Where's Lonnie? You should be up here, 
Lonnie, come on.

"And David, we have to get David up here too. 
David Skorton is tremendous and he was 
singing Lonnie's praises all morning long, so 
you two should at least be here, so we 
appreciate it very much. And David 
Rubenstein, who's here some place, he is – 
come on David, you have to get up here David, 
you certainly deserve it. He's a very, very 
successful guy who spends money doing 
great things and he's been a great help to so 
many different groups, and this one in 
particular.

"Thank you, it's a privilege to be here today. 
This museum is a beautiful tribute to so many 
American heroes. Heroes like Sojourner Truth, 
Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Booker T 
Washington, Rosa Parks, the Greensboro 
students and the African American medal of 
honour recipients among so many other really 
incredible heroes.

"It's amazing to see. I went – We did a pretty 
comprehensive tour but not comprehensive 
enough, so Lonnie I'll be back, I told you that, 
because I could stay here for a lot longer, 
believe me, it's really incredible. I'm deeply 
proud that we now have a museum that 
honours the millions of African American men 
and women who built our national heritage, 
especially when it comes to faith, culture and 
the unbreakable American spirit.

"My wife was here last week and took a tour 
and it was something that she's still talking 
about. Ivanka is here right now. Hi, Ivanka. 
And it really is very, very special. It's 
something that frankly, if you want to know the 
truth, it's doing so well that everybody's 
talking about it.

"I know President Obama was here for the 
museum's opening last fall and I'm honoured 
to be the second sitting president to visit this 
great museum. Etched in the hall that we 
passed today is a quote from Spottswood 
Rice, a runaway slave who joined the Union 
army. He believed that his fellow African 
Americans always looked to the United States 
as the promised land of universal freedom.

"Today and every day of my presidency, I 
pledge to do everything I can to continue that 
promise of freedom for African Americans and 
for every American. So important. Nothing 
more important.

"This tour was a meaningful reminder of why 
we have to fight bigotry, intolerance and 
hatred in all of its very ugly forms. The 
antisemitic threats targeting our Jewish 
community and community centres are 
horrible and are a painful and a very sad 
reminder of the work that still must be done to 
root out hate and prejudice and evil.

"I want to thank a great friend of mine, Dr Ben 
Carson, and his beautiful family, Candy, and 
the whole family, for joining us today. It was 
very special to accompany him and his family 
for the first time seeing the Carson exhibit. 
The first time. I love this guy. He's a great guy, 
really a great guy.

"And he can tell you better than me but I tell 
you what, we really started something with 
Ben. We're very, very proud of him. Hopefully 
next week he'll get his approval, about three or 
four weeks late, and you're doing better than 
most, right? But the Democrats: they'll come 
along, I have no doubt they'll come along.

"But Ben is going to do a fantastic job at HUD. 
I have absolutely no doubt he will be one of 
the great – ever in that position. He grew up in 
Detroit and had very little. He defied every 
statistic. He graduated from Yale and he went 
on to the University of Michigan's medical 
school. He became a brilliant, totally brilliant, 
neurosurgeon, saved many lives and helped 
many, many people.

"We're going to do great things in our African 
American communities together. Ben's going 
to work with me very, very closely, and HUD 
has a meaning far beyond housing. If properly 
done, it's a meaning that's as big as anything 
there is, and Ben will be able to find that true 
meaning, and the true meaning of HUD as its 
secretary. I look forward to watching that. He'll 
do things that nobody ever thought of.

"I also want to thank Senator Tim Scott for 
joining us today. A friend of mine, a great, 
great senator from South Carolina. I like the 
state of South Carolina. I like all those states 
where I won by double, double, double digits, 
you know, those states, but South Carolina 
was one. And Tim has been fantastic how he 
represents the people, and they love him.

"I also want to profoundly thank Alveda King 
for being here and, as we saw her uncle's 
wonderful exhibit, and he certainly deserves 
that. Mrs King and, by the way, Miss King, I 
can tell you this personally because I watch 
her all the time, and she is a tremendous 
fighter for justice. So Alveda, thank you very 
much. I have been watching you for so long 
and you are so incredible and I want to thank 
you for all the nice things you say about me. 
Not everybody says nice things, but she's 
special.

[KING: "I love you and your family. You're the 
best. You're great." They embrace.]

"So with that we're going to just end this 
incredible beginning of a morning, but 
engraved in the wall very nearby, a quote by 
the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. In 1955 he 
told the world we are determined to work and 
fight until justice runs down like water and 
righteousness like a mighty stream. And that's 
what it's going to be. We're going to bring this 
country together, maybe bring some of the 
world together, but we're going to bring this 
country together. We have a divided country. 
It's been divided for many, many years, but 
we're going to bring it together.

"I hope every day of my presidency we will be 
honouring the determination and work 
towards a very worthy goal and for Lonnie and 
David and David and Ben and Alveda and 
everybody, I just have to say that what they've 
done here is something that can probably not 
be duplicated. It was done with love and lots 
of money, right Lonnie? Lots of money. We 
can't avoid that. But it was done with 
tremendous love and passion and that's why 
it's so great.

"So, thank you all very much for being here, I 
appreciate it, and congratulations, this is a 
truly great museum. Thank you."


-- 
 David Smith
Washington correspondent
The Guardian



Tuesday, February 21, 2017
09:50 AM -0500

Date: February 21, 2017 at 9:19:55 AM EST
Subject: WH pool report #2
POTUS walked through an underground 
gallery that recounts the history
of slavery and includes objects recovered 
from a slave ship that went
down off Southern Africa. He was not visible 
at that point.

At 8.53am POTUS, wearing red tie, entered a 
high ceilinged gallery in
a group of 10 that included daughter Ivanka, 
Ben Carson and Omarosa
Manigault. Museum director Lonnie Bunch 
talked about a statue of
Thomas Jefferson that stands above the title 
'The paradox of liberty'.

"If you look behind Jefferson..." Bunch said, in 
remarks only
partially audible to pool that explained what 
the curators wanted to
do. Behind Jefferson is a high wall with each 
brick bearing the name
of a slave whom Jefferson owned, as well as 
statues including African
American author, astronomer and 
mathematician Benjamin Banneker, who
wrote to Jefferson challenging the injustice of 
slavery. Carson nodded
and smiled when Bunch mentioned Banneker 
and Washington, DC.

POTUS did not speak but listened intently 
then heard from another man
as Bunch showed Ivanka glass cases 
containing objects from Jefferson's
estate. She stooped for a closer look and 
Omarosa listened as Bunch
said: "Actual shackles."

On the vast back concrete wall is 'All men are 
created equal...' in
gold capital letters and the title 'The Founding 
of America'.

The group moved on and spent a couple of 
minutes at a glass case
containing a bible belonging to Nat Turner, 
who led a slave revolt.
They were too far away to hear. Pool was then 
escorted upstairs.

David Smith
Washington correspondent
The Guardian



Monday, February 20, 2017
04:41 PM -0500

Date: February 20, 2017 at 4:16:31 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool 5a: AF1 rolling
At 4:11 pm Air Force One has begun its taxi 
for departure to Washington.

POTUS boarded quickly as pool was still 
exiting vans. We did spot Ivanka, holding one 
child and accompanied by another, walking to 
board the plane from the front stairs while her 
husband and another child boarded with the 
pool in the rear of the plane.

Pool has asked if McMaster is joining POTUS 
on return.

Wheels up 4:16 to DC.

Mike Memoli



Monday, February 20, 2017
04:20 PM -0500

Date: February 20, 2017 at 3:36:04 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool 3c: Clarification on a 
POTUS answer to shouted question
Pooler double checked tape, and confirmed 
with the White House stenographer that 
POTUS did appear to answer one of the 
shouted Qs at the end of his National Security 
Advisor announcement. 

CNN's Athena Jones asked if VP Pence played 
a role in helping make the pick. 

POTUS answered: "He did."



Monday, February 20, 2017
04:14 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 3a: McMaster 
announcement
(with thanks from co-pooler Jenna Johnson of 
Washington Post.)

Pool entered the living room of Mar-a-lago at 
2:52pm to find POTUS, in a dark suit and red 
tie, sitting on a dotted cream colored love seat 
with Gen. McMaster, in uniform, to his right. 
Kellogg, in a suit, was to his left. Behind him 
was a large bouquet of red roses. 

POTUS waited for pool to assemble and then 
delivered a statement as soft Muzak played 
overhead. Please check quotes against a 
transcript, if such a thing is distributed.


"I just wanted to announce, we’ve been 
working all weekend very diligently … that 
Gen. H.R. McMaster will become the national 
security advisor. He’s a man of tremendous 
talent and tremendous experience. I watched 
and read a lot over the last two days. He is 
highly respected by everyone in the military 
and we’re very honored to have him. 

"He also has known for a long time, Keith 
Kellogg, who I also have gotten to know this 
terrific man. They will be working together. 
And Keith is going to be chief of staff. And I 
think that combination is something very, very 
special. 

"I met with many other people. I have 
tremendous respect for the people I met with. I 
know John Bolton, we’ll be asking him to work 
with us in a somewhat different capacity. … 
We had some really good meetings with him. 
Knows a lot. He had a good number of ideas 
that I must tell you I agree very much with. So 
we’ll be talking with John Bolton in a different 
capacity. And we’ll be talking to some of the 
other generals that I’ve met. But I really, really 
gained a lot of respect for."

He then asked both men to speak. 

McMaster: "President, thank you very much. I 
would just like to say what a privilege it is to 
be able to continue serving our nation. I'm 
grateful to you for that opportunity, and I look 
forward to joining the national security team 
and doing everything that I can to advance 
and protect the interests of the American 
people. Thank you very much."

[McMaster and the president then shook 
hands]

POTUS: "You're going to do a great job.  
General?"

Kellogg: "Mr. President, thank you for the 
opportunity to continue to serve. I'm very 
honored by it, very privileged by it. And I'm 
very honored and privileged to serve 
alongside with H.R. McMaster, I've known for 
years as well. He's a great statesman, a great 
Sargent. Thank you, sir."

POTUS: "What a team. This is a great team. 
We're very, very honored. Our country is lucky 
to have two people like this and frankly, after 
having met so many of the people in the 
military, we're lucky to have all of them. So 
thank you all very much. I'll see you back in 
Washington. We're leaving now. Thank you."

As the three men stood to leave, reporters 
shouted out several questions, with several 
asking the president if McMaster would have 
the power to hire his own staff. None of the 
men answered any of the questions. They then 
walked out of the Mar-a-Lago club's living 
room, exiting onto a terrace, where they were 
joined by members of the president's staff.



Pool returned to vans and are holding.



Monday, February 20, 2017
04:11 PM -0500

Date: February 20, 2017 at 2:56:42 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool 3: News: McMaster is 
NSA
Pool entered the living room at 2:52 pm Mar-a-
lago where POTUS announced that H.R. 
McMaster would be his new National Security 
Adviser. Keith Kellogg will be NSC chief of 
staff.

POTUS called McMaster "a man of 
tremendous talent and tremendous 
experience."

More tk 

Mike Memoli



Monday, February 20, 2017
12:39 PM -0500

Date: February 20, 2017 at 12:01:19 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool 1: Sit Rep at Noon
Happy Monday on this holiday designated by 
U.S. code as Washington's Birthday, but also 
often referred to as Presidents Day, as the 
45th did in a tweet this morning.

After a later start than in previous days on this 
third weekend Palm Beach trip, pool has been 
staged at the Secret Service screening area 
across from the entrance from Mar-a-lago 
from for well more than an hour now (our call 
time was 9:45 am). 

After one false alarm when it appeared we 
were about to roll out, we are still patiently 
awaiting any POTUS movements. Will update 
when one happens.





Mike Memoli



Saturday, February 18, 2017
09:33 PM -0500

Date: February 18, 2017 at 5:53:06 PM EST
Subject: Travel Pool 9: POTUS gaggle
POTUS gaggled briefly with reporters in the 
press cabin of Air Force One before taking the 
stage.

 

On the rally: “My message is going to be unity. 
With a small exception. You’ll see, I think 
you’ll like it. We have a great crowd of people, 
a fantastic crowd of people.”

 

On whether it’s too early to be holding a 
campaign event:

 

“Life is a campaign. Making our country great 
again is a campaign. For me, it’s a campaign. 
To make America great again is absolutely a 
campaign. It’s not easy, especially when we’re 
also fighting the press.”

 

On his next national security adviser:

 

“I have many, many that want the job that want 
to be a part of it, I’ll make a decision in the 
couple of days, but we’re meeting with 
actually four of them tomorrow, all of whom 
want it.”

 

He says he has a favorite for the job:

 

“I’ve been thinking about someone for the last 
three or four days, we’ll see what happens. I’m 
meeting with that person. They’re all good, 
they’re all great people.”



-- 
Jonathan Easley
National political reporter
The Hill



Friday, February 17, 2017
12:45 PM -0500

Date: February 17, 2017 at 12:23:25 PM EST
Subject: 2/17 Travel pool #4
Wheels down at Charleston International 
Airport at 12:02 pm where it is 65 degrees. 
People at the airport and on top of a parking 
garage could be seen taking photos of AF1 
during the long taxi to the Boeing assembly 
plant which is on airport property. 

Here to meet POTUS are South Carolina 
Governor Henry McMaster, Boeing CEO 
Dennis Muilenburg,
Col. Robert Lyman, Commander, 628th Air 
Base Wing and Col. Jim Canlas, Commander, 
437 Airlift Wing ahead of the president's tour 
of the Boeing Company facility and remarks at 
the unveiling of the new Boeing 787 
Dreamliner aircraft. 

POTUS came out and waved to the assembled 
group from the top of the stairs of AF1, before 
descending the stairs and shaking the hands 
of the four men. POTUS had a short 
conversation with Muilenburg and McMaster 
before posing for photos. 

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner followed as 
they walked to the plant.



Friday, February 17, 2017
11:17 AM -0500

Date: February 17, 2017 at 10:57:10 AM EST
Subject: 2/17 Travel Note #3
Marine One carrying POTUS landed at Joint 
Base Andrews at 10:47 am. General Keith 
Kellogg, who the president tweeted is "very 
much in play" to be next national security 
advisor, waited for POTUS at the top of the 
steps of Air Force One where he took a photo 
of the plane. 

POTUS wearing his trademark red tie and long 
dark coat ascended the steps and Kellogg was 
inside by the time the president entered Air 
Force One. 

Ivanka Trump, wearing a long white coat, and 
Jared Kushner got off Marine One and walked 
in lockstep, smiling and holding the hands of 
their two children.

Reince Priebus came afterwards as well as 
Steve Bannon. 

Keith Schiller, director of Oval Office 
operations, walked to AF1 holding two boxes 
with unknown contents.

AF1 is ready to roll for takeoff. 


Sent from my iPhone



Thursday, February 16, 2017
04:46 PM -0500

Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 4:13 PM
Subject: In-town pool report #6
 
President Trump signed H.J. Res. 38, at 3:53 
pm, a joint resolution that nullifies the 
Department of Interior's Stream Protection 
Rule.
 
Again in the Roosevelt room and flanked by 
House Republicans on his left and miners 
from West Virginia in hard hats on his right, 
POTUS signed the resolution that he said 
would "eliminate another terrible job-killing 
rule saving many thousands of American jobs 
especially in the mines, which I've been 
promising you. The miners are a big deal, I've 
had support from some of these folks right 
from the very beginning and I won't forget it. 
We went to West Virginia and we had 17, 
18,000 people and they couldn't get into that 
big arena."
 
Trump thanked House Republican leadership 
including Senate Majority Leader Mitch 
McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, House 
Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House 
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob 
Bishop and Rep. Bill Johnson. 
 
McConnell, McCarthy, and Democratic Sen. 
Joe Manchin were behind the president as he 
spoke. White House Chief of Staff Reince 
Priebus stood off to the side watching the 
president's remarks. Pool has asked for a full 
list of who was in attendance.

The Department of Interior's Stream Protection 
Rule, which was signed during the final month 
of the Obama administration, "addresses the 
impacts of surface coal mining operations on 
surface water, groundwater, and the 
productivity of mining operation sites," 
according to the Congress.gov summary of 
the resolution.
 
More to come on this signing.
 
--
Adrian Carrasquillo



Thursday, February 16, 2017
12:34 PM -0500

Date: February 16, 2017 at 11:57:32 AM EST
Subject: In-town pool report #4
President Trump walked into the Roosevelt 
room in his trademark red tie flanked by Vice 
President Mike Pence in a bright blue tie. 
Representatives yelled "Good morning!" and 
applauded the president. One correction, Rep. 
Marsha Blackburn was not on the list of 
expected attendees provided by the 
administration but POTUS pulled out her chair 
before sitting down next to her across the 
table from Pence.

POTUS opening:

"Hello everybody, what a nice group. Thank 
you all for being here. I had a lot of good 
discussions this morning I'm negotiating a lot 
of contracts that are saving billions and 
billions of dollars for the American people and 
for all of us and I'm very proud of that. You 
know the F-35 fighter jet, the Air Force One 
program which was totally out of control and 
now it's back (inaudible from photographers 
snapping.) 

In addition I had a very good phone call this 
morning about a major plant that is moving 
back to the United States, we'll be talking 
about it very soon. What I do have is a little 
free time at about 12 o'clock, so, I don't think 
the press will want to show up but I think I'll 
have a press conference probably at 12 
o'clock in the East Room. We have a little time 
in between then so if the press would like to 
show up, I don't, will anyone show up for that 
press conference? (Laughter from members of 
congress) Historically they didn't care about 
these things. 

POTUS on his rally: 

On Saturday, I think it's going to be around 4 
o'clock and I hear the tickets, you can't get 
'em. That's OK. That's better than if you have 
too many, right? So it's gonna be great, I look 
forward to that. 

POTUS on support of those in the room:

I really appreciate you folks, you folks have 
been so great, right from the beginning. Tom, 
right? Right at the beginning, just about every 
one of you, right at the beginning. Some were 
a little after the beginning. (Laughter)

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) called the group of 
early supporters the "Trump caucus."

- Rep Bill Shuster (R-PA) noted that he is on 
the transportation and infrastructure 
committee and POTUS said "That's right, I'm 
going to give you some money for 
transportation."

- Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) asked for 30 
seconds and took a couple minutes giving 
POTUS a gift from a constituent in their 60s 
who had never registered or voted before but 
voted for Trump. The gift was either a painting 
or a photo but pool never had an angle to see 
what it was. "Beautiful, thank you," Trump 
said. He also gave Trump a jersey and Pence a 
hat from a local baseball team. Someone said 
"beware members of congress bearing gifts."

More to come after presser.
-- 
Adrian Carrasquillo



Thursday, February 16, 2017
11:36 AM -0500

Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:08 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #2
 
POTUS held a congressional listening session 
in the Roosevelt Room. Chief of staff Reince 
Priebus sat at one end of the table under a 
painting of Theodore Roosevelt in a cowboy 
hat on a rearing horse. Senior advisor Jared 
Kushner sat at the other end of the table. 
 
The event was mostly a show of gratitude 
from President Trump for members of 
congress for their early campaign support and 
aid during the transition, an aide said. 
 
Here is the list of participants: 
 
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY)
Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA)
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA)
Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
Rep. Billy Long (R-MO)
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
 



Thursday, February 16, 2017
11:34 AM -0500

Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:06 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #1

In a congressional listening session POTUS 
announced a 12 pm press conference in the 
East Room to announce his new nominee for 
secretary of labor. Full transcript from meeting 
coming. 

As we walked out POTUS was asked "Are you 
going to find the leakers?"

"We're going to find the leakers and they're 
going to pay a big price."



Tuesday, February 14, 2017
09:04 PM -0500

Date: February 14, 2017 at 8:04:04 PM EST
Subject: In town pool report #4 // briefing on 
Netanyahu visit
The pool took part in a roughly 15-minute 
background briefing with senior White House 
officials to discus Prime Minister Benjamin 
Netanyahu's visit to the White House 
tomorrow. Contents of the briefing were 
embargoed until 8 p.m. 

There is some intel on schedule and logistics 
at the end, but first would like to draw 
attention to some of the back-and-forth on the 
two-state solution. 

Does peace equal a two state solution? 

"Maybe, maybe not. It's something the two 
sides have to agree to. It's not for us to 
impose that vision. But I think we'll find out 
more about that tomorrow."

The official said the term "two-state solution" 
has not been particularly well defined. 

"If I ask five people what a two-state solution 
is, I get eight different answers."

Will they not use that term tomorrow, then? 

"We're looking at the two sides to come 
together to make peace together and we'll be 
there to help them," the official said. 

So is peace now the goal, and not necessarily 
a two-state solution?

"A two-state solution that doesn't bring peace 
is not our goal that anybody wants to 
achieve," the official said. "Peace is the goal, 
whether it comes in the form of a two-state 
solution if that's what the parties want or 
something else, if that's what the parties want, 
we're going to help them."

"We're not going to dictate what the terms of 
peace will be," the official said. 

"President Trump has very much indicated 
that he wants to achieve peace," the official 
said. 

The official said a possible meeting between 
the Israelis and Palestinians would be part of 
the discussions tomorrow. "He's hopeful to 
bring the two sides together to discuss 
peace," the official said of the president. How 
quickly would he like to get a Middle East 
peace process going? "I do think it's a very 
high priority for the administration," the 
official said, who would not be pinned down 
on timeline. 

Asked about deliverables for tomorrow, the 
senior White House official said to look for 
"common visions." The official said 
settlements, an embassy move, Iran would 
also be up for discussion but when asked 
about the possibility of announcements on 
those issues, the official said, "I don't want to 
get ahead of the meeting, but certainly those 
topics will be discussed." 

Iran, the official said, wil be a critical piece of 
the discussion.    

Also to be discussed, the recent UN resolution 
on settlements: "The posture that the U.S. 
takes at the U.N. under this administration 
would be to veto anything that is biased 
against Israel. So we view the vote that took 
place as biased against Israel...We'll have to 
see what the potential impact is to Israel and 
so I'm not sure what can be done yet."  

On logistics/schedule: 

The senior official said the administration is 
"super excited" about the visit, which the 
official said would "usher in a new 
relationship between Israel and the United 
States -- something that Israel has not seen in 
well over eight years, a relationship that will 
show there is no daylight, that we are fully 
cognizant of the situation that Israel finds 
itself in." 

The meeting will start with the president and 
first lady greeting the PM and Mrs. Netanyahu. 
They will sign the guest book. After that, they 
will head to the East Room for a brief press 
conference (scheduled for noon). After the 
press conference, the president and the PM 
will meet together in the Oval Office. After that 
meeting, there will be a working lunch. 

###


John Fritze
Washington correspondent
The Baltimore Sun



Monday, February 13, 2017
11:41 AM -0500

Sent: Monday, February 13, 2017 11:21 AM
Subject: In-town pool report #2
 
Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime 
Minister Justin Trudeau.
 
Pool ushered into Oval Office at 11:15 a.m. 
and escorted out less than 2 minutes later. 
 
The two leaders sat in armchairs in front of the 
fireplace in almost complete silence, save for 
the camera clicks.
 
One reporter shouted whether POTUS had 
ever been to Canada, but if there was an 
answer pooler did not hear as wrangler said 
"thank you" and escorted pool out.
 
The size of the pool prevented this pooler 
from seeing much, including who else was in 
the room.
 
According to the WH daily schedule, POTUS 
was scheduled to greet Trudeau at 11:00 a.m. 
and begin a bilateral meeting at 11:25 a.m.
 

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA



Monday, February 13, 2017
11:40 AM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #1
 
Arrival--courtesy supplemental pooler 
Francesca Chambers.
 
At 10:52 a black SUV pulled up the drive and 
halted midway down for several minutes while 
we waited in the wind. So windy was it that a 
service member's hat repeatedly blew off as 
we waited.

At 10:57 the SUV was again on the move. 
Trudeau exited on the right in front of the West 
Wings entrance. He and POTUS shook hands, 
giving each other a pat on the shoulder with 
the other, then they entered the building. Next 
stop: the Oval Office.

Cheryl Bolen
White House Correspondent 
Bloomberg BNA



Saturday, February 11, 2017
10:32 AM -0500

Date: February 11, 2017 at 9:59:55 AM EST
Subject: Print travel pool report #3
As of 9:26 a.m., the motorcade had arrived at 
the luxurious Trump National Jupiter Golf Club 
& Spa. (Note the somewhat different name 
than referenced in the daily guidance and 
previous pool reports.)

Shortly before arrival, the motorcade passed 
through an intersection with a couple of dozen 
protesters carrying signs including "Stop 
Hate," "Resist" and "The Power of the People 
is Stronger Than the People in Power."

A huge American flag is flying over the club 
entrance.

The pool was escorted into the clubhouse 
after Trump and Abe were out of view and then 
led downstairs to a filing room, where we're 
told we'll be staying for awhile. The door and 
windows are covered with black plastic so we 
can't see out.

Photographers were instructed not to take 
pictures on the grounds of a "private club." 

The entryway into the club included several 
leather couches, wood paneling, an iron 
chandelier and an oversized vase of several 
dozens roses.

John Wagner
The Washington Post



Friday, February 10, 2017
02:59 PM -0500

Subject: Foreign Pool Report #1a--some 
added translation/transcript
 
Some added color (and translation) of the Oval 
Office pool spray, upon listening back to the 
tape:
 
Following a question by Japanese press in 
Japanese of “Can you please shake hands?”, 
Prime Minister Abe suggested to President 
Trump, “Shall we shake hands?”
About 10 seconds into their 19-second 
handshake, as Japanese press shouted in 
Japanese “Please look this way!” POTUS 
asked PM Abe, “What are they saying?” To 
which PM Abe responded, “Please look at 
me.” POTUS smiled, looked at the Prime 
Minister, and patted the back of his hand, and 
PM Abe smiled back at Trump and pointed in 
the direction of the cameras.
 
After a “Thank you everybody,” and a double 
thumbs up, the President said “Strong hands” 
and motioned a golf swing as pool was 
escorted out of the room.
 
 
---------------------------------------------
Sara Cook
Associate Producer
NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation
Washington Bureau



Friday, February 10, 2017
02:58 PM -0500

Subject: Foreign Pool Report #1a--some 
added translation/transcript
 
Some added color (and translation) of the Oval 
Office pool spray, upon listening back to the 
tape:
 
Following a question by Japanese press in 
Japanese of “Can you please shake hands?”, 
Prime Minister Abe suggested to President 
Trump, “Shall we shake hands?”
About 10 seconds into their 19-second 
handshake, as Japanese press shouted in 
Japanese “Please look this way!” POTUS 
asked PM Abe, “What are they saying?” To 
which PM Abe responded, “Please look at 
me.” POTUS smiled, looked at the Prime 
Minister, and patted the back of his hand, and 
PM Abe smiled back at Trump and pointed in 
the direction of the cameras.
 
After a “Thank you everybody,” and a double 
thumbs up, the President said “Strong hands” 
and motioned a golf swing as pool was 
escorted out of the room.
 
 
---------------------------------------------
Sara Cook
Associate Producer
NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation
Washington Bureau



Friday, February 10, 2017
02:56 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool 2/Colonnade walk
 
At 12:50 pm Pool was led into Rose Garden to 
watch Potus and PM walk the Colonnade from 
the Oval to the residence for the news 
conference in the East Room. Groups of aides 
preceded the leaders:  Mike  Flynn, Kellyanne 
Conway and Stephen Miller in the first group; 
Stephen Bannon, Reince Priebus and Sean 
Spicer in next; a Japanese delegation incl 
Ambassador Sasae; then VP Pence and finally 
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. 

At 1:03 pm, Potus and PM emerged from Oval 
and headed toward the Colonnade. They 
paused briefly as Potus appeared to be 
explaining something, then they continued. 
They waved to cameras and Trump gave  
another thumbs up. Trump let Abe go first and 
put a hand on his back as they entered the 
residence. 
News conference is open press.
-30-

Sent from my iPhone



Friday, February 10, 2017
02:54 PM -0500

Sent: Friday, February 10, 2017 12:28 PM
Subject: In town pool #1: Oval spray

Pool was escorted into the Oval Office for a 
brief photo spray moments after the prime 
minister arrived at the West Wing. Pooler did 
not see the arrival but photos show Potus 
greeting him at the front door to the West 
Wing.  Potus  was in a red tie and the Prime 
Minister in a yellow one. The sat in the 
traditional arm chairs in front of the fire place 
and smiled for the cameras without saying 
anything. Then they shook hands and Potus 
complimented the PM's strong handshake. 
Potus gave a double thumbs up and another 
big smile as pool was ushered out. Entire 
spray lasted only a couple minutes. Pooler 
and other reporters spotted several WH aides 
in the room: Stephen Bannon, Sean Spicer 
and Mike Flynn and Hope Hicks. 
-30-

Sent from my iPhone



Thursday, February 09, 2017
11:49 AM -0500

Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2017 11:16 AM
Subject: Pool report #2 AG swearing-in
 
Pool ushered into Oval Office for swearing in 
of Jeff Sessions as attorney general. 
 
POTUS spoke about Sessions' career and 
announced that he would sign three EOs.
 
"He's devoted his life to the cause of justice 
and believes deeply that all people are equals 
in the eyes of the law" POTUS said of 
Sessions.
 
"We face the menace if rising crime and the 
threat of deadly terror," POTUS said.
"He's trained better for it than anybody else."
 
"He will be a great protector of the people."
 
POTUS then announced the orders.
 
"I'm signing three executive actions today 
designed to restore safety in America."
 
One would "Break the back of the criminal 
cartels that have spread across our nation and 
are destroying the blood of our youth"
 
One would create a "task force on reducing 
violent crime"
 
And the third would instruct DOJ to implement 
a plan to stop crime against law enforcement 
officers
 
"A new era of justice begins and it begins 
right now." POTUS said.
 
VPOTUS administered the oath to Sessions at 
11:06 am. 
 
AG Sessions then spoke briefly at the podium 
near the desk.
 
"There are a lot of things that we need to do" 
at the DOJ such as support law enforcement 
officers, Sessions said. 
"We have a crime problem. I wish the rose that 
we're seeing in crime in America today was 
some sort of aberration or blip" but said he 
judged it as a "dangerous permanent trend"
 
"We need a lawful system of immigration." 
Sessions added. 
"That's not wrong that's not immoral that's not 
indecent." 
"We need to end that lawlessness that 
threatens the American people."
 
POTUS then sat at the resolute desk and 
signed the executive orders, reading the title 
of each. 
"Very important, all very important," he said as 
he signed the final order. 
 
Sarah Westwood
Washington Examiner



Thursday, February 09, 2017
10:39 AM -0500

Subject: Pool report #1 airline meeting
 
Good morning. Pool gathered in the State 
Dining Room for the meeting with airline 
executives. 


Meeting attendees include Oscar Munoz, CEO 
of United Airlines;
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Airlines;
Gary C. Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines. Pool 
has asked the WH for a full list. 
 
POTUS entered the room at 9:46 am and 
shook hands with executives.
 
Jared Kushner and Gary Cohn, economic 
advisor, had seats at the table as well. 
 
"Good place for meetings. Good place for a lot 
of things." Trump said of holding meetings at 
the White House.
 
"I'm thrilled to welcome the leaders of the 
airline industry to the White House."
 
POTUS congratulated airlines at succeeding 
"despite the bad equipment that the airport 
gives you, in many cases"
 
"I have a pilot who's a real expert," POTUS 
said, noting that his pilot has said airlines are 
often provided with "the wrong stuff."
 
"Let's order the right equipment. Probably the 
wrong equipment cost more." POTUS said.
 
"We want the traveling public to have the 
greatest customer service and with an 
absolute minimum of delays."
 
"We spent six trillion dollars in the Middle 
East, we got nothing." POTUS continued.
"And we have an obsolete plane system, we 
have obsolete airports."
 
POTUS said his polices would soon start 
helping companies like airlines hire more 
people, including "rolling back burdensome 
regulations"
and "lowering the overall tax burden of 
American businesses"
 
"Over the next two or three weeks" POTUS 
says there would be an announcement that 
would be "phenomenal in terms of tax"
 
POTUS said before the airline meeting began 
that automakers had praised their meeting 
with the president afterwards : "They left, they 
said it was the best meeting they ever had" 
 
Staff then attempted to remove the pool before 
POTUS instructed them to stop.
 
"Stay for a while." He called out to the pool. 
He asked the executives to go a around the 
table and introduce themselves. 
"Delta's doing well." POTUS quipped to 
Bastian when he introduced himself. 
 
"We'll make it number one," POTUS joked to 
the head of LAX, who said her airport was the 
seventh largest airport in the world.
 
Upon being informed that the Atlanta airport is 
the largest, POTUS remarked that he loves the 
state of Georgia.
 
Southwest spoke first and said the top priority 
for helping airlines would be to "modernize 
the air traffic control system" noting that 
money spent on the system has not helped 
improve it in the past.
 
"I hear we're spending billions and billions of 
dollars, it's a system that's totally out of 
whack." POTUS said of the air traffic control 
system.
 
POTUS inquired as to why airline corporations 
had allowed the government to invest in a 
faulty system. Southwest informed POTUS 
that the airlines are not "in control" of those 
decisions.
 
POTUS said that the system could potentially 
work better if FAA was run by a pilot because 
it is not currently, as a meeting attendee 
confirmed for him. 
 
Pool ushered out at 10:07 am. More TK
 
 
Sarah Westwood
Washington Examiner



Tuesday, February 07, 2017
12:08 PM -0500

Date: February 7, 2017 at 11:15:57 AM EST
Subject: Pool report #1 - 2/7/17
First the news:
 
NBC's Kristen Welker asked POTUS how far 
he's willing to take his fight on the refugee 
ban.
 
"We're going to take it through the system," 
he said "It's very important for the country."
 
He said we need security in the country, 
mentioned Syria specifically.
 
He said "we'll see what happens" with the 
court battle.
 
He said it could go to the Supreme Court but 
hopefully it doesn't have to. He said the 
executive order is "common sense."
 
Bob Constantini asked about underreported 
terrorist attacks, and POTUS criticized the 
media as dishonest.
 
POTUS then invited pool to the Oval Office 
where he was taking the sheriffs. We entered 
there at 10:24am, and POTUS was at the 
Resolute Desk surrounded by sheriffs.
 
Second: the pool spray of the veterans affairs 
listening session has been canceled. Next one 
is of POTUS’s meeting with Rep. Jason 
Chaffetz.
 
Earlier...
 
Pool entered the Roosevelt Room at 9:26am 
for a spray of POTUS's listening session with 
county sheriffs.
 
The sheriffs, some in uniform, were standing 
around the room, some at their assigned seats 
at the table. There's about a dozen of them. 
Just one is a woman, Sheriff Carolyn Welsh of 
Chester County, Pa. (Your pooler's college 
town).
 
Kellyanne Conway entered the room at 
9:31am. She spoke with Sheriff Welsh. She 
thanked her and Sheriff Harold Eavenson of 
Rockwell County, Tex., for coming to the 
session.
 
She walked to the other side of the table to 
greet sheriffs. She first shook hands of 
Sherriff Richard Stanek of Henepin County, 
MN). She said something about their 
campaign efforts in the state that your pooler 
can't be sure of.
 
She shook hands with a couple others next to 
him, Sheriff Daniel Glick of Laramie County, 
WY.
 
As she turned to walk away Sheriff Stanek 
said, "What's your first name?"
"Kellyanne," she replied.
 
Sheriff Stanek chatted for a minute. 
Bloomberg's Margaret Talev asked him what 
he wanted to talk to POTUS about. He said 
"we've got a number of things to discuss, but 
he's in control." He said he expects POTUS's 
refugees executive order to come up and that 
overall every issue affects sheriffs.
 
At 9:49am POTUS entered the room. "Hello 
everybody," he said. "Thank you for coming," 
he said as he greeted a few of the sheriffs.
 
POTUS was followed by VPOTUS, Jared 
Kushner, Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus. 
Stephen Miller was also in the room but 
arrived earlier. Messrs. Kushner and Bannon 
sat at the table. Ms. Conway sat in the row of 
chairs behind the table. Mr. Miller stood. Pool 
didn't see Mr. Priebus, believes he left at the 
start as Mr. Kushner sat at the seat with his 
name tag on it.
 
"The sheriffs are good people," POTUS said 
as he sat down. You don't get the coverage 
you deserve from the press, he told them.
 
POTUS said his administration will stop 
terrorism. "They want to take a lot of our 
powers away. Some people with the wrong 
intentions," he said.

Looking at Dana Boente, acting attorney 
general, across the table, he said he's leading 
a strong effort in the courts.
 
Earlier he promised to expand access to 
abuse-deterring drugs to stop the opiod 
epidemic. He said drug abusers contributes to 
a very big portion of crime.
 
He said we're not going to have the drugs 
pour over the border like they have been. 
"We're committed to securing our borders," 
especially in border states, he said. "We're 
going to be building a wall."
 
He said there's been a record delay in cabinet 
confirmations.
 
"It's all politics," he said.
 
He said he spoke to a Democratic senator who 
told him Jeff Sessions, his attorney general 
nominee, is a fantastic man. So he said he 
said to the senator, then you're voting for him. 
But the senator told him he won't be voting for 
Mr. Sessions, Mr. Trump said. He said the 
press might want him to tell us who that 
Democratic senator is. We told him we do 
want him to do that. He didn't but said he 
actually probably will.
 
POTUS went around the table, and each 
person spoke.
 
At one point POTUS said the country’s murder 
rate is highest it's been in 45-47 years.
 
He singled out Chicago. He said Chicago is 
worse than some places in Middle East where 
there are wars going on.
 
Talking about immigration, he said "you're not 
allowed to use the phrase silent majority 
anymore." But there is a group that wants 
immigration reform and if they spoke up "you 
would see a real protest."
 
He said "I think Congress is going to get beat 
up really badly by the voters" because of 
something your pooler couldn't hear.
 
"It's like the Iran deal. Nobody understands 
how that could happen," he said. 
 
He asked Acting Attorney General Boente if 
there needs to be legislation or executive 
orders to empower law enforcement on asset 
forfeiture issues.
 
Mr. Boente said no executive orders, just 
some encouragement.
 
"You're encouraged," POTUS told the sheriffs.
 
"Great group of people," he added, referring to 
the sheriffs.
 
Sheriff Eavenson from Texas complained 
about a state senator he said was getting in 
the way of some things that would be helpful.
 
"Want to give his name? We'll destroy his 
career," POTUS quipped. The sheriff declined.
 
In the Oval Office, POTUS was given a statue 
about 12 inches tall that looked like it was of a 
sheriff. Your pooler couldn’t see closely and 
has asked.


-- 
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Saturday, February 04, 2017
10:13 AM -0500

Date: February 4, 2017 at 9:33:18 AM EST
Subject: WH Travel Pool Report #1
Palm Beach, Fla.
February 4, 2017

Good morning from Mar-a-Lago, where 
President Trump began his day with
a tweet on a federal judge's stay of his 
immigration order, along with
some media criticism.

At 9:25, under sparkling blue skies, POTUS 
left the estate and is
rolling to a destination still unknown.

Shortly after we rolled out of the gates, there 
was a tweet from the
President: "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

Mark Landler
NY Times



Friday, February 03, 2017
02:22 PM -0500

Subject: WH intown pool 7/3 report 4--list of 
CEOs at forum
 
From the White House, here's a list of the 
CEOs in attendance at the forum earlier today:
 
Mr. Paul Atkins, CEO of Patomak Global 
Partners, LLC
Ms. Mary Barra, Chairman and CEO of General 
Motors
Mr. Toby Cosgrove, CEO and President of 
Cleveland Clinic
Mr. Jamie Dimon, Chairman, CEO and 
President of JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Mr. Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of 
BlackRock, Inc.
Mr. Rich Lesser, President and CEO of The 
Boston Consulting Group
Mr. Doug McMillion, President and CEO of 
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Mr. Jim McNerney, Former Chairman, 
President and CEO of Boeing
Mr. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
Ms. Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi
Mr. Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman & Managing 
Partner at Global Infrastructure Partners
Ms. Ginni Rometty, Chairwoman, President 
and CEO of IBM Corporation
Mr. Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman CEO 
and Co-Founder of Blackstone
Mr. Kevin Warsh, Shepard Family 
Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Economics at 
Stanford University, Hoover Institution
Mr. Mark Weinberger, Global Chairman and 
CEO of Ernst & Young Global Limited
Mr. Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO at 
General Electric
Mr. Dan Yergin, Co-Founder and Chairman at 
Cambridge Energy Research Associates
 
Additionally, your pooler observed the 
following White House staff and 
administration figures at the main table:
 
POTUS
Ivanka Trump
Jared Kushner
Steve Bannon
Stephen Miller
DHS Sec. John Kelly
Commerce Sec. Nom. Wilbur Ross
Chief of Staff Reince Priebus
 
 
 
--
Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Friday, February 03, 2017
02:14 PM -0500

Subject: WH intown pool 7/3 report # 3

Pool was escorted to Oval Office at 1:18 for 
signing ceremony for executive orders on 
financial regulations. One of the orders was 
on the fiduciary rule and the other was on the 
"core principles" to guide Treasury 
Department on financial regulations.
 
POTUS was joined by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-
MO),  VPOTUS, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, 
WH economic advisor Gary Cohn, among 
others.
 
"Today we are signing core principles for 
regulating the United States financial system," 
POTUS said.
 
"What we're doing is we are returning to the 
American people, low- and middle- income 
investors, and retirees, their control of their 
own retirement savings, this is about main 
street and its been a labor of love for me for 
over 4 years as chairman..this has been a big, 
a big moment for Americans," Wagner said, 
and POTUS thanked her.
 
A member of pool attempted to ask a question 
about Iran.
 
"They're not behaving," POTUS said, and the 
pool was escorted out of the Oval at 1:20.
 
 
 
 
--
Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Friday, February 03, 2017
12:28 PM -0500

Subject: WH intown pool 7/3 report# 2
 
A correction to my previous report, due to a 
typo I referred to Elon Musk as a "she," when I 
meant "he." My apologies.
 
The White House is sending me a list of the 
attendees, so I will send that over when I 
receive it. Some quotes from the opening 
remarks before the pool was ushered out:
 
POTUS:
 
"A couple of things happened this morning," 
POTUS said, noting the jobs report. "So we 
are very happy about that. I think that it's 
really big league. We're bringing back jobs. 
We're bringing down your taxes. We are going 
to [get rid of] your regulations."
 
Trump said there would be a "tax bill very 
soon, a healthcare bill even sooner"
 
"One of the things that I heard this morning 
watching the news, is that amazing things are 
going to happen," POTUS said. "That politics 
are to some, a much bigger subject than the 
Super Bowl." [guests laughed] "We're in Super 
Bowl territory"
 
POTUS noted the presence of Larry Fink, CEO 
of the investment firm Blackrock. 
 
"Larry did a great job for me," POTUS said. 
"Larry's got a lot of my money and I have to 
tell you, he got me great returns."  [more 
laughter from the guests]
 
"When I campaigned for office I promised the 
American people that I'd ask for our country's 
best and brightest, and we have that. Wilbur is 
representing us," POTUS said, referring to his 
nominee for Commerce Secretary, Wilbur 
Ross. "Carl Icahn called up and he goes, 'I 
heard you got Wilbur. Everybody calls him 
Wilbur. I've never heard him called--we just 
know him as Wilbur, right?'"
 
"We've got Jack Welch, the legendary Jack 
Welch, I appreciate him," POTUS said, 
referring to the former GE CEO.
 
POTUS said he was looking for to discussing 
"all of the things that we can do to bring back 
our jobs, get taxes even lower. ...we have a 
great plan, but I want to have your input on the 
plan, in particular, and hear what we have to 
do in terms of regulations. We have some of 
the bankers here. There’s nobody better to tell 
me about Dodd Frank than Jamie, so you’re 
going to tell me about it,” POTUS said, 
referring to Jamie Dimon, the JPMorgan 
Chase CEO.
 
"We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd 
Frank, because frankly I have so many people, 
friends of mine, that have nice businesses and 
they can’t borrow money...they just can’t get 
any money because the banks just won’t let 
them borrow because of the rules and 
regulations in Dodd Frank. So we'll be talking 
about that in terms of the banking industry.”
 
"These are the biggest and the best minds, in 
the country and I appreciate you being here." 
 
Steven Schwarzman, Blackstone CEO and 
leader of the forum:
 
The forum's purpose is to "advise the 
government on the areas where we could do 
things a lot better in our country, for all 
Americans." 
 
"We are going to cover the immigration thing, 
we are going to cover regulatory relief, we are 
going to cover tax and trade, women in the 
work place, infrastructure," and in each of 
those areas, get  "suggestions of ways to 
make things happen, happen faster and 
anybody can say anything else they want."
 
"it's really important that we mobilize the non-
governmental sector and also, I am hoping 
that that we could do it on a bipartisan basis."
 
POTUS spoke again: 
 
"We are going to go around the room, but 
before we do that, I just want to say, so many 
people, who are friends of mine, who are in 
business, and they wanted to be on the 
committee, but I called Steve and I said, 'Steve 
can we get so-and-so?' 'Nope" and I said, 
'What do you meant, no?' ... big business, 
massive thing, you know, public companies. 
And everyone once and I while, 'I'd call and 
see, how about this one?' .. 'No, he's a 
corporate raider, these people don't want to be 
sitting with a corporate raider." 
 
"He's been very very selective"."
 
POTUS also noted that he had met GE's Mary 
Barra, before, at a meeting with the auto 
industry.
 
"We had Ford there, we had a lot of 
companies, great companies.  Fiat Chrysler 
[CEO] Sergio [Marchionne]. I will tell you I 
learned a lot about the automobile business. I 
thought I knew a lot but they are being so 
stymied, so constricted with regulation."
 
"They're pouring back into the country 
already. If you look at Mark [Fields], he was 
telling us what they're doing with Ford, and 
Bill Ford too. A lot of jobs are going to be 
coming back to Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania 
and all of the places that really have been hurt 
so badly." 
 
 
 
--
Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Friday, February 03, 2017
11:23 AM -0500

Sent: Friday, February 3, 2017 10:30 AM
Subject: WH in-town print pool 7/3 report 1

POTUS is meeting with various CEOs and 
economic experts for a strategy and policy 
forum in White House's State Dining Room. 

Pool was escorted in at 10:11 and spotted 
Elon Musk as she passed through the Palm 
Room doors. 

When pool entered dining room, POTUS, 
White House advisors, administration figures 
and the invited CEOs were mingling around 
the rectangle- shaped table set up. 

Once all sat down, POTUS made a few 
minutes of remarks, mentioning that Dodd 
Frank regulations would be among the topics  
discussed. Blackstone's Stephen 
Schwarzman, the chair of the forum, then 
made some remarks, adding that regulations, 
immigration and women in the workplace were 
among the topics being discussed. 

Trump spoke briefly again, and then those 
invited guests at the table took turns 
introducing themselves. 

Pool was escorted out at 10:24. 

In her next report, your pooler will send over 
quotes and the attendees. 

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Tuesday, January 31, 2017
10:27 AM -0500

Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 10:04 AM
Subject: Pool report 1
 
Pool escorted into Roosevelt room around 
9:11, where exectuves from Merck, Johnson & 
Johnson, Celgene, Amgen, Eli Lilly, PhRMA 
trade group & House Energy & Commerce 
chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore.
POTUS entered at 9:20, sat between Robert 
Hughin of Celgene and Kenneth Frazier of 
Merck, opposite VPOTUS.
Remarks focused on need to bring down drug 
costs, but promised to reduce regulations. He 
encouraged companies to bring 
manufacturing jobs back to the United States.
Will transcribe quotes more fully in later 
reporter, but here’s some fragments
 
“You folks have done a tremendous job but we 
have to get prices down.”
 
Another briefing about to begin, will expand 
on this report ASAP
 
 
Herb Jackson
Washington correspondent



Monday, January 30, 2017
12:59 PM -0500

Subject: POOL Report #3 -- WH background 
briefing on deregulatory EO, conducted for the 
POOL
 
Jan. 30, 2017
 
POOL Report #3 – Background Briefing 
conducted for the POOL by two senior 
administration officials, about the president’s 
regulatory relief/review E.O.
 
EO text has been released by the WH.
 
 
Two senior administration officials briefed 
POOLers on background in Lower Press to 
describe the president’s regulatory 
review/relief E.O., signed this morning. Steno 
recorded the Q&A, and a transcript may be 
available later, and the text of the order was 
released.  (Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay 
Walters listened to the briefing and may be 
able to answer more Q., if Sean Spicer does 
not….  Lindsay.E.Walters@who.eop.gov.)
 
Briefing highlights:
 
The Trump administration believes this EO is 
the “most significant administrative action in 
the world of regulatory reform since President 
Reagan created OIRA in 1981.”  (OIRA is 
OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, the office that reviews federal 
regulations.)
 
“It creates an actual cap of zero dollars for the 
remainder of FY 2017 of added regulatory 
costs, so any new regulatory burdens will 
have to be offset by other deregulatory 
policies. For FY ’17, it’s going to be zero, and 
it puts in place a process most importantly 
going forward into ’18 about how OMB will 
work with all the agencies to manage their 
own regulatory review process, that’s part of 
the existing process, and including a 
budgetary component that will look at the 
anticipated regulatory costs of any new 
regulations to ensure those are offset and 
reduced by other deregulatory policies, and 
for every new regulatory action there are two 
deregulatory actions taken out,” one official 
said.
 
He called the Obama administration’s 
regulatory record an “extreme regulatory 
burden” on the economy and the private 
sector.
 
The administration is layering a new E.O. on 
top of existing executive orders from previous 
administrations, which cover the regulatory 
review process within the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB. 
The existing process – left in place by the 
Trump team -- identifies economically 
significant and major rulemakings of $100 
million or more. (No new Trump OIRA 
administrator has been nominated or 
confirmed; there is an acting OIRA 
administration; OMB director-designate 
Mulvaney has not been confirmed.)
 
The president’s E.O. does NOT revoke any 
Obama or pre-existing regulatory order. It 
creates a new management regime – “a strong 
structural process” – to account for the 
economic costs of federal regulations and to 
try to offset those costs in FY 2017, and move 
beyond the zero-out concept into FY 2018. The 
officials described this concept as a budget 
for regulations.
 
They did not repeat Trump’s stated boast of 
reducing/eliminating 75 percent of federal 
regulations/burdens, nor did they specify how 
long it would take to achieve significant relief 
through the one-in-two-out process (which is 
to occur through the regular regulatory review 
process, which includes notice and comment 
requirements). They did not dispute that it 
might take years, but suggested it could move 
briskly into FY 2018.
 
President Trump’s action Monday is in 
addition to the administration’s current 
regulatory freeze, which officials said is 
beginning to thaw as new proposed regulatory 
actions come through the pipeline.
 
The White House is tasking agencies and 
departments to reduce to a net of zero in FY 
2017 the regulatory costs the administration 
proposes. Agencies and departments are 
tasked to identify to OMB and the WH two 
existing regulations under their authority that 
they would eliminate for every one that is new.  
This is to follow through on President Trump’s 
campaign promise that for every new federal 
regulation issued, his administration will 
eliminate two.
 
Federal agencies and departments will identify 
the regulatory targets for proposed 
elimination under their jurisdiction, and the 
WH and OMB have final say, the officials said. 
 
Asked if agencies and departments must 
bundle the proposed new regulations with the 
candidates for elimination and wait for the OK 
in order to sequence a “net zero” package 
together, one official said,  “the timing has to 
be worked out.”
 
Asked if the public would be able to view or 
see the bundling of the two regulations being 
erased by agencies and departments through 
the rulemaking process, together with a new 
one proposed and bundled with the other two, 
one official said, “that’s the intention.”
 
There is no aggregate federal estimate 
quantifying the national regulatory burden on 
the private sector, but one of the officials 
referred to $2 trillion annually. The officials 
said the economic burden of federal 
regulations “is very akin to taxes.”
 
[Neither official raised regulatory benefits -- 
measures of costs saved in the economy as a 
result of federal regulations.]
 
The EO includes exemptions for emergency 
regulations, for military and national security, 
the officials said.
 
The background briefing, which was 
embargoed until its conclusion, began at 
about 9:35 a.m. and ended at 9:53 a.m.
 
[NOTE: Presidents Clinton (Gore’s 
Reinventing Government); Bush; and Obama 
all publicly championed their own regulatory 
reduction/relief efforts at the outset of their 
administrations.]
 
Alexis Simendinger
White House Correspondent
RealClearPolitics



Sunday, January 29, 2017
10:44 PM -0500

Subject: pool report (highlights/quotes from of 
SAO briefing)
 
 
The SAO background briefing this evening 
lasted more than 45 minutes and there was a 
lot of discussion deep into details of the 
immigration executive order and its 
implementation. There were also complaints 
about the media.
 
There was extensive discussion about the 
impact of the EO for those with green cards 
and legal permanent residents (in particular in 
the first Q&A audio sent earlier). I would 
recommend listening to the full audio for 
people covering those issues.
 
In addition to that audio, here is only small a 
selection of notable quotes, all from a senior 
administration official:
 
“All three of President Trump’s executive 
orders were approved by OLC. All three of 
President Trump’s executive orders remain in 
full effect. And all three of President Trump’s 
executive orders are being enforced by the 
Departments of State, Homeland Security, 
Justice and all other relevant departments and 
agencies across the federal government.”
 
The SAO described the previously existing 
vetting procedures as “woefully inadequate.”
 
“It would make sense to have a ban on non-
essential travel from foreign nationals from 
seven countries previously deemed worthy of 
travel restrictions by the Obama 
administration”
 
The SAO said there was no “advance notice” 
of the order going out for clear reasons that 
he did not explicitly outline. “I think everybody 
here can use their imagination to imagine 25 
reasons why that wouldn’t make sense from a 
security standpoint,” SAO said.
 
The SAO said that “the guidance from the 
beginning” has been that legal permanent 
residents (LPRs) were exempt from the 
immigration EO, although there was some 
discussion about that in the room.
 
“The proof of that is, as of, like, 12 o’clock this 
afternoon, 170 people applied for the waiver 
for LPRs and 170 people received the waiver 
for LPRs,” SAO said.
 
SAO said “some of the confusion stemming 
from the green card issue is just semantic in 
nature,” adding later “some of the confusion 
stems from the semantic debate about the 
meaning of the word exemption.”
 
More from SAO: “Unless you are a citizen or a 
national of one of the seven counties, the 
executive order does not obtain to you is the 
bottom policy.”
 
SAO praised the implementation of the order 
as having been done “seamlessly” and with 
“extraordinary professionalism.”
 
The SAO said that over a typical 24-hour 
period 325,000 people enter the United States 
by air. “Of that, 109 people were set aside for 
further questioning for additional security 
screenings.”
 
The SAO said that was in “24-hour period from 
the date of the EO signing.”
 
The SAO called that a “fractional, marginal, 
miniscule, percentage of travelers to our 
airports on any given day.”
 
The SAO said of the executive order, “It really 
is a massive success story in terms of 
implementation on every single level.”
 
Asked about whether the administration had 
consulted Republicans in Congress, SAO 
said, “Republicans on Capitol Hill wrote it.”
 
SAO added, “The top drafters of this were the 
top immigration experts from Capitol Hill”
 
SAO later spoke broadly about why the Trump 
administration is pursuing changes to 
immigration rules:
 
“The reality, though, is that the situation that 
exists today in parts of France, in parts of 
Germany, in Belgium, etcetera, is not a 
situation we want replicated inside the United 
States. The kind of large and permanent 
domestic terror threat that becomes multi-
dimensional and multi-generational and 
becomes sort of a permanent feature, in case 
this, becomes a permanent feature of 
American life. We don’t want a situation 
where, 20 to 30 years from now, it’s just like a 
given thing that on a fairly regular basis there 
is domestic terror strikes, stores are shut up 
or that airports have explosive devices 
planted, or people are mowed down in the 
street by cars and automobiles and things of 
that nature.”
 
Later from same SAO: “The United States is 
sovereign country. It is under no obligation to 
admit any particular person and we have a 
right to develop a system in which we’re 
selecting immigrants that we think will be able 
to make positive contributions to U.S. 
society.”
 
SAO added they are “extremely proud of what 
we have accomplished so far”
 
Toward the end, another SAO noted that “the 
number one job” of the government is “to 
keep its people safe.”

“This isn’t willy-nilly,” SAO said of the 
executive order.
 
 
— 
Shane Goldmacher
POLITICO



Sunday, January 29, 2017
02:13 PM -0500

Subject: pool report #1
 
 
At roughly 1:35 p.m., pool was taken along the 
colonnade to see briefly into the Oval Office 
where POTUS was on the telephone. POTUS 
was scheduled to speak with the King of Saudi 
Arabia, Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, at that 
time.
 
POTUS was wearing a red tie and held the 
phone with his left hand, resting his elbow on 
the desk. Michael Flynn and Jared Kushner 
sat in the two seats directly in front of POTUS. 
Sean Spicer was seen briefly leaning into and 
speaking to Kushner.
 
Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon stood 
together off to the side. Two other unidentified 
men were also in the Oval Office, along with a 
White House photographer.
 
We could not hear any of the conversation. 
Trump did briefly wave to cameras and flash a 
thumbs-up. 
 
Pool was ushered out after a few minutes, at 
1:38 p.m.
 
— 
Shane Goldmacher
POLITICO



Friday, January 27, 2017
02:27 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #2
Pool was brought outside to the Rose Garden 
to watch Potus and PM May walk down the 
colonnade and into the Palm Room. 

Potus and May exited door near the lower 
press office at 108.

They were holding hands down the ramp very 
briefly.

Potus ignored questions and was conversing 
with PM May.

At 1:09 they entered into the Plam Room.

Gary Cohn, Michael Flynn, Jared Kushner, 
Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Reince Priebus, 
Hope Hicks, Kellyanne Conway and Sean 
Spicer preceded the two leaders.

Spicer said the meeting was "Really good."

Pool consensus is that it's a "crisp" January 
day.

At 12:59, Steve Mnuchin was spotted walking 
down the colonnade. He didn't respond to 
questions about how his confirmation is 
going. He was accompanied by an aide.

Pool could hear the March for Life from Rose 
Garden. And though loud cheers were audible, 
the speakers were too muffled to understand.



Friday, January 27, 2017
12:47 PM -0500

Pool was ushered into Oval Office at 12:16.

Potus and PM Theresa May were standing 
near chairs next to the fire place. In between 
them stood the newly returned Winston 
Churchill bust.

Potus was wearing his signature dark suit and 
Red tie. He also had an American flag pin on.

Potus moved a lamp so reporters had a better 
view of the bust. "Why don't we move this?" 
he said.

He also said something like, this is the only 
shot you'll see tomorrow.

"This is the original," he said a couple times.

"It's a great honor to have Winston Churchill 
back," Potus said.

"It's a great honor to be here," PM May said in 
response.

They shook hands.

Bannon, Flynn, Kushner, Spicer were in Oval 
Office.

After a minute pool was ushered out.



Thursday, January 26, 2017
03:50 PM -0500

Subject: VPOTUS pool report #4

Pool was brought into the end of the POTUS 
remarks, during which VPOTUS sat on stage 
and was called out for praise. But those 
remarks were open press.
 
At about 2:20, VPOTUS was introduced in 
another room upstairs for the Congressional 
Institute, where many of the members of the 
House and Senate, spouses and staff gathered 
in long tables in front of him and to his left 
and right.
 
House Speaker Paul Ryan introduced 
VPOTUS, calling him “the epitome of a happy 
warrior.”
 
“We have a president ready—no, we have a 
president eager—to act on all our shared 
principles and ideas,” Ryan said, adding of 
VPOTUS, “He is just so committed to get this 
right. Mike Pence is the glue that keeps us all 
together focused and fixed on our shared 
timelines and challenges.”
 
“The vice president sharpens all of us. He 
makes all of us better.”
 
VPOTUS took the podium, between two 
teleprompters. He spent about the first half of 
his 20 minute remarks calling out thanks to 
the members of Congress, their families, the 
armed services, the Congressional leadership, 
Ryan for giving him an office on the House 
side of the Capitol, and more.
 
He noted the saying (he attributed it to 
Indiana) of the box turtle on the fence post: 
“You know one thing – he had help getting 
there,” VPOTUS said, comparing himself to 
the box turtle, who had help from many in the 
room.
 
Of Trump he said:
 
“He’s a hard man to precede. But he is a 
harder man to follow. What you just saw today 
is what I’ve seen from him every day of the 
week—that energy, that enthusiasm, that 
optimism, that strength, that determination. … 
I know that President Donald Trump will make 
America great again.”
 
He noted being in Philadelphia, and the role 
that the state played in Trump’s win:
 
“We owe Pennsylvania a debt of gratitude and 
thanks. … We also have to return the favor. We 
need to repay the hard working people of PA 
and people everywhere who yearn for a better 
future … Make no mistake about it, this 
president and this Congress are in the 
promise keeping business.”
 
“We’ll show the American people and the 
Republican Party has the policies and the 
principles that will make America great again. 
… My friends, this is our moment. We got this 
far because President Donald Trump 
marshalled a movement unlike any movement 
in American history. I saw it as I traveled 
around the country. I’d attend rallies where 
tens of thousands of people would come out. 
Or I’d speak at rallies of my own where literally 
hundreds of people came out.”
 
“He’s a doer, not a talker. Though he talks 
pretty good,” adding praise for his “boundless 
energy and optimism. I like to say President 
Donald Trump is distinctively American. And 
he’s already fighting every day to put our 
people and our country first.”
 
VPOTUS noted all the executive orders that 
President Trump has signed, putting special 
emphasis on one: “Just this week, this pro-life 
president reinstated the Mexico City policy 
banning public funding of abortion .. as 
another pro-life American, I couldn’t be more 
proud.”
 
“The challenges are large they are urgent, and 
we’ll bring great urgency and executive 
action,” VPOTUS said, though noted that 
unlike the previous administration, they 
“won’t bypass” Congress.
 
“President Trump and I will forge a strong 
working relationship with the Congress and 
with all of you to enact the laws that will serve 
the American people. We’re all one party and 
we’re all striving to achieve the same 
objective.”
 
He finished by listing off their top objectives: 
confirmations of the Cabinet, the Supreme 
Court seat, more money for the military, 
infrastructure, repealing and replacing 
Obamacare, cutting regulations (including 
getting rid of Dodd-Frank) and attention to 
small business.
 
On Cabinet confirmations, he said: “We hope 
you’ll move even faster when the president 
announces our nominee” for the Supreme 
Court.
“You all know about the list and president 
Trump has been reviewing that list … But I can 
already tip you off: president trump is going to 
keep his promise and he’s going to nominate a 
strict constructionalist to the Supreme Court.”
 
On infrastructure: “if you haven’t noticed yet, 
America elected a builder to be the 45th 
president of the United States and we look 
forward to working with each of you”
 
“Buckle up. We’re ready to go to work.”
 
He then told the story of getting the bible that 
Ronald Reagan used for his inauguration to 
swear his own Oath last week, and noted that 
he often quoted the same verse Reagan had 
used on the campaign trail. He offered that as 
an “admonition.”  – now is the time for us to 
do the work.”
 
Now is the time for us to do our work and 
support this new president, and the 
confidence the American people placed in him 
and the agenda that they want. … If you’re 
inclined to bend the knee and bow the head, 
it’s a good time to do that too. … Ancient 
words that are still true today ‘If his people, 
who are called by his name, humble their 
names and pray, they will appear from heaven 
and they will heal this land.’”
 
Pool was ushered out as VPOTUS shook 
hands ahead of a Q&A with members that was 
closed. Motorcade is moving at 3:10 back to 
the airport. 
 



Thursday, January 26, 2017
03:31 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report # 9 - News on 
border tax

Border

 

In a brief gaggle on the way back from 
Philadelphia, Sean Spicer appeared to make 
some news by saying that POTUS has decided 
how to pay for the border wall:  by imposing a 
20 percent tax on all imports from Mexico. 


He did not give any details about that tax, how 
it would work, and he described it as a 
beginning of a process that would be part of 
overall tax reform. But he did describe this as 
a decision that POTUS has made.

Here are the relevant quotes:

 

“When you look at the plan that’s taking shape 
now, using comprehensive tax reform as a 
means to tax imports from countries that we 
have a trade deficit from, like mexico. If you 
tax that $50 billion at 20 percent of imports – 
which is by the way a practice that 160 other 
countries do – right now our country’s policy 
is to tax exports and let imports flow freely in, 
which is ridiculous. By doing it that we can do 
$10 billion a year and easily pay for the wall 
just through that mechanism alone. That’s 
really going to provide the funding.”

 

“This is something that we’ve been in close 
contact with both houses in moving forward 
and creating a plan.”

 

“It clearly provides the funding and does so in 
a way that the American taxpayer is wholly 
respected.”

 

“We are probably the only major country that 
doesn’t treat imports this way.”

 

“This gets us in line frankly with the policies 
that the other countries around the world treat 
our products.”


-- 
Michael D. Shear
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Thursday, January 26, 2017
03:25 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 8/return JBA/news 
coming
After another bumpy ride AF1 landed at 2:55 
pm. Spicer gaggle a second time and 
appeared to make news on immigration and 
trade. More to come as we review the tape. 
After landing pool was brought up to front of 
plane for brief spray with Potus. He was sitting 
in shirtsleeves at a desk in his on board office 
with a navy blue Air Force One jacket slung 
over the back of his chair. He smiled for the 
cameras. When asked for his impressions he 
said "Beautiful. Great plane." He said he met 
the pilot and asked how it compared to his 
personal jet he replied: "That's a good one too 
but this is a very special plane for a lot of 
reasons." A television could be heard on. After 
leaving plane Potus did not go directly 
toMarine One but instead walked the depth of 
tarmac to small viewing crowd and shook 
hands before turning and walking back to his 
helicopter, which took off for WH at 3:12 pm. 
More to come on second gaggle soon.
-30- 



Thursday, January 26, 2017
01:53 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 3/gaggle highlights
 Spicer gaggled on the flight. Please check 
quotes against transcript. Thanks to co-pooler 
Mike Shear of NYT for an assist.

 
News: On the cancelation of the Mexican 
president's visit: "We will look for a date to 
schedule something in the future. We will keep 
the lines of communication open." 
 
Started with an overview of what POTUS did 
on Wednesday
 
"This administration has already done a great 
deal of outreach to Congress in just the last 
few days. The president is determined to enact 
policies that benefit all Americans and he will 
work with congressional leaders on both sides 
of the aisle."
 
Announced that POTUS will sign an executive 
order around 4:30, and said it is likely to be 
further detail on the investigation into voter 
fraud.
 
Said POTUS had declared this school choice 
week.
 
Also said that POTUS will hold a news 
conference on Friday with Prime Minister 
Theresa May. Details to come. He said 
America will "continue to talk about growing 
the relationship between America and the 
United Kingdom."
 
 
On Mexico and the wall: (before we landed and 
saw the cancellation)
 
"The president's been very clear on his 
intention to build the wall and how it would be 
paid for. I think he's been consistent with that 
throughout. i think he wants to make sure 
that's understood that it would be part of the 
topics to be discussed."
 
said there's a "great importance" to the 
relationship with Mexico and that's why 
POTUS extended the invitation
 
On the payment from mexico for the wall, he 
declined to give any futher details about how 
that might happened, but said it would come 
from "a variety of potential sources" to pay for 
it.
 
On the draft EOs on black sites, and whether 
they came from the White House, he said "we 
are going to continue to look into that," but 
said he was clear that "they were not derived 
from White House sources."
 
He added: "Where they originated from were 
not White House originated documents" and 
that "there was a lot of input that we sought 
during the transition and several things were 
provided to us."
 
He said it was still his understanding that 
POTUS has not seen those documents. But he 
said that "theres a question of what he wants 
and whether or not those documents reflect 
his current thinking."
 
 

 

(on torture technique review) “He can review it 
through executive action…. He is going to 
look to the recommendations of people like 
Gen. Mattits and CIA director Mike Pompeo…. 
He’s willing to listen to their opinions on the 
effectiveness of some of those techniques on 
the results that they get. … The legality is that 
once you realize the effectiveness, then you 
can work within the law to ensure, whether it’s 
the manuals or the laws or the orders, reflect 
what the intent is.”
Confirmed the afternoon meeting with Hatch 
and Brady, a follow up to a meeting reportedly 
yesterday, will be resked for next week. He 
said it was a scheduling issue that postponed 
today’s meeting. Meetings are about trade.
He said he was not aware of reports that 
senior State Dept. management resigned en 
masse yesterday.
(on extreme vetting EO) He said more 
executive actions are likely Friday and maybe 
next week. Potus will review if various orders 
meet his goals and then move forward if they 
do.
(On DACA) Spicer says the administration is 
still reviewing the program. “Where does the 
program go from now. What do you do with 
renewals. When you look at the big picture of 
that, there are several steps in terms of how 
the current program continues to exist, how 
you deal with renewal, and then how we deal 
with processing the issue itself in the future. 
That is all under review wholistically as well as 
the specific steps.”
(on Potus first AF1 ride) “I saw him up forward 
in the cabin. He continues to react the same 
way he has throughout his time in his 
presidency, in awe of the splendor of this 
plane and what the White House represents.
-30-



Wednesday, January 25, 2017
02:31 PM -0500

Subject: WH intown print pool report #1, 
1/25/17
Motorcade leaves White House

POTUS motorcade left for Department of 
Homeland Security on a sunny and 
unseasonably warm day at 1:14 p.m.

He walked out of the Oval Office with Steven 
Bannon, Jared Kushner, Reints Priebus and 
Hope Hicks walking behind. VP Mike Pence 
greeted Trump at the car and entered  it after 
the president. 



Tom Brune
Washington Bureau
Newsday



Monday, January 23, 2017
03:52 PM -0500

Sent: Monday, January 23, 2017 3:40 PM

Pool was back in the Roosevelt Room at 3:09 
p.m. for POTUS meeting with workers.

Daily guidance issued Sunday night described 
the meeting as a “listening session with Union 
Leaders and American Workers.” A revised 
schedule sent around 10 a.m. on Monday 
dropped the union part and called it a 
“listening session with the American 
Workers.”

Asked about the name change, a White House 
aide described it as a “typo” and “nothing 
nefarious.”

Most of the attendees hailed from a spectrum 
of unions. Among them: Mark Coles of the 
Ironworkers, Local 5; Joseph Sellers of the 
Sheet Metal Workers’ Union and; Doug 
McCarron and Thomas Flynn of the United 
Brotherhood of Carpenters. Will send a full list 
when provided one by WH.

POTUS entered at 3:14 p.m.

“This is a group I know well,” said POTUS, 
noting that he had hired “1,000s and 1,000s” 
of you.

Referring to executive order taken this 
morning, POTUS announced that “We have 
officially terminated TPP” -- to claps around 
the room. POTUS reiterated much of the same 
message from earlier today on jobs and trade. 
“We are going to put a lot of people back to 
work.”

Pool was first told to leave at 3:18 p.m. But 
while the pool was exiting, McCarron, of the 
United Brotherhood of Carpenters, started 
talking about the inauguration and POTUS 
yelled “hey press, get back in here.” After pool 
reassembled, McCarron repeated his praise of 
inaugural speech. “It hit home for the people 
who have been hurting,” McCarron said.

Pool left for a second time at 3:20 p.m.   

On hand from the WH side: POTUS, VPOTUS, 
Priebus, Bannon, Conway, Spicer.

 

Mark K. Matthews

Reporter, Washington Bureau 

The Denver Post 



Sunday, January 22, 2017
04:23 PM -0500

More from the reception from first responders. 
 
POTUS started talking and after a minute it 
was clear that VPOTUS was supposed to talk 
first. POTUS paused so VPOTUS could 
introduce him. Everyone laughed.
 
POTUS said how they were all going to have a 
"great eight years together."
 
He thanked them for doing such a good job at 
the inauguration, saying it had been a "such a 
success, a safety success."
 
He mentioned that General Kelly had been 
sworn in. Pool could not see him if he was in 
the room. "General Kelly is going to an 
incredible job."
 
POTUS said that he "campaigned very much" 
on security issues.
 
Then he spotted Joe Clancy, head of the 
Secret Service, and said "There's the man." 
Clancy approached him and the two men 
shook hands.
"What a job," POTUS said. "From Day One, I 
have felt safe."
 
Then he spotted FBI Director Comey as 
indicated in previous pool report.
 
Again your pool could not hear all their 
remarks from our location, inside the Green 
Room, perched in the doorway of the Blue 
Room.
. 
Pool was ushered away from doorway after 
two minutes.
 
 
--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Sunday, January 22, 2017
04:21 PM -0500

Pool stood inside the Green Room, perched in 
the doorway of the Blue Room.
 
At 3:44 pm, your pooler saw POTUS and 
VPOTUS at one end of the room where there 
was a reception to thank first-responders
 
You pool could not hear all their remarks from 
our location. 
 
POTUS spotted FBI Director James Comey in 
the audience and called out to him. Comey 
came up to Trump and shook his hands and 
gave him a hug and then shook VPOTUS' 
hand. 
 
"He's become more famous than me," POTUS 
quipped.
 
More to come.
 
 
--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Sunday, January 22, 2017
03:47 PM -0500

POTUS spoke for about 7 minutes before 
turning the room back over to VPOTUS To 
administer the oath.

POTUS said he just spoke to Georgia Gov. 
Nathan Deal and will soon speak to Florida 
Gov. RIck Scott about the deadly tornadoes.

He said he expressed "our sincere 
condolences." "The tornadoes are vicious and 
powerful and strong."

POTUS said the government would be helping 
out the state of Georgia.

He said it's been "a very interesting few days" 
before mentioning his upcoming meetings 
with the leaders of the U.K., Canada and 
Mexico.

"'Mexico has been terrific."

Then regarding the new staff:
"We're going to do some great things over the 
next eight years."

"Each and everyone of you should be 
extremely proud. Give yourself a round of 
applause." 

"This is not about party. This is not about 
ideology. This is about country. It's about 
serving the American people." 

"We're not here to help ourselves....so many 
people are dependent on us." He then 
mentioned the veterans, the unemployed and 
members of the military, crime victims and 
young people.

"We will face challenges. But with faith in each 
other and faith in God we will get the job done. 
We will prove worthy of this moment in 
history. It may very well be a great moment in 
history." 

Pool was ushered out at 2:40. Pool has now 
gathered for next pool spray. 

Please check quotes against transcript.

Anita Kumar 
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Sunday, January 22, 2017
03:42 PM -0500

POTUS and VPOTUS entered the East Room at 
2:25 pm to swear in senior staff.

POTUS spoke for a few minutes.

First the news, POTUS said he would be 
meeting soon with the Canadian prime 
minister and Mexican president in separate 
meetings. He said he and the Mexican 
president would start to renegotiate NAFTA 
and talk about immigration, including the 
border.

POTUS also held up an envelope that he said 
was a letter left for him in the Oval Office by 
President Obama. He said it was "really nice" 
for him to leave the letter and that he would 
"cherish" it.

Asked about the call with Israeli Prime 
Minister Netanyahu, he said it was "very nice." 
But he did not answer a question about 
moving the embassy.

More to come.

Seated to his left were the 30 assistants to the 
president who were being sworn in, including 
first row of Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon, 
Kellyanne Conway and Jared Kushnrr. Second 
row was Omarosa, Sean Spicer, Hope Hicks, 
Stephen Miller, Katie Walsh and Michael 
Flynn.btwo additional rows.

More than 100 people seated in the room. 
Spotted in the audience:
Ivanka Trump and her son, Tiffany Trump, Eric 
Trump and his wife, Lara, Don Jr and his wife, 
Vanessa, and Jared Kushner's parents Charles 
and Seryl, and his younger brother, Josh, 
Kellyanne Conway's husband and children. 
Also in the room: Steve Mnuchin, Eli Miller 
and John McEntee.

Communications stood to the side including 
Stephanie Grisham, Sarah Huckabee Sanders 
and Lindsay Walters.

Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Saturday, January 21, 2017
07:24 PM -0500


Below is the full transcript (not proofread - 
please check against official transcript) of 
President Trump at CIA today.
 
I want to thank everybody, very, very special 
people. And it is true, this is my first stop, 
officially. We're not talking about the balls, 
we're not talking about even the speeches, 
although they did treat me nicely on that 
speech yesterday. I always call them the 
dishonest media, but they treated me nicely.
But, I want to say that there is nobody that 
feels stronger about the intelligence 
community and the CIA than Donald Trump. 
There is nobody.  
The wall behind me is very, very special. 
We've been touring for quite a well, and I'll tell 
you what, 29? I can't believe it. Oh, 28, we 
better reduce it. That's amazing. And we really 
appreciate what you've done, in terms of 
showing us something very special. And your 
whole group. These are really special, 
amazing people. Very, very few people could 
do the job you people do. I want to just let you 
know, I am so behind you. And I know maybe 
sometimes you haven't gotten the backing 
that you wanted, and you're going to get so 
much backing. Maybe you're going to say 
please don't give us so much backing. Mr. 
President, please, we don't need that much 
backing. But you're going to have that. And I 
think everybody in this room knows it. 
You know, the military and the law 
enforcement generally speaking, but all of it. 
But the military gave us tremendous 
percentages of votes. We were unbelievably 
successful in the election with getting the vote 
of the military. Probably almost everybody in 
this room voted for me, but I will not ask you 
to raise your hand. But I would guarantee a 
big portion, because we're all on the same 
wavelength, folks, we're all on the same 
wavelength. Right? We are. It took Brian about 
30 seconds to figure that one out, right, 
because we know. We're on the same 
wavelength.
But, we're going to great things. We're going 
to do great things. We've been fighting these 
wars for longer than any wars we've ever 
faught. We have not used the real abilities that 
we have. We've been restrained.
We have to get rid of ISIS. We have to get rid 
of ISIS. We have no choice. Radical Islamic 
terrorism, and I said it yesterday, it has to be 
eradicated just off the face of the earth. This is 
evil. This is evil. And you know, I can 
understand the other side, we can all 
understand the other side. There can be wars 
between countries, there can be wars, you can 
understand what happened. This is something 
nobody can even understand. This is a level of 
evil that we haven't seen. 
And, you're going to go to it, and you're going 
to do a phenomenal job, but we're going to 
end it.  It's time, it's time right now to end it. 
You have somebody coming on who is 
extraordinary. 
You know, for the different positions, of 
secretary of this, secretary of that, and all of 
these great position,  I'd see five, six, seven, 
eight people. And we had a great transition, 
we had an amazing team of talent. And by the 
way, General Flynn is right over here, put up 
your hand.
And Reince, and my whole group, Reince, you 
know Reince, they don't care about Reince. 
He's a,  he's like this political guy that turned 
out to be a superstar, right? We don't' have to 
talk about Reince. 
But we did, we had just such a tremendous, 
tremendous success. So, when I'm 
interviewing all of these candidates that 
Reince and his whole group is putting in front. 
It went very, very quickly. And in this case 
went so quickly, because I would see six or 
seven or eight for Secretary of Agriculture, 
who we just named the other day, Sonny 
Perdue, governor, former governor of Georgia, 
fantastic guy. 
But I'd see six, seven, eight people, for a 
certain position, everybody wanted it. But I 
met Mike Pompeo, and he was the only guy I 
met, and I didn't want to meet anybody else. I 
said cancel everybody else. Cancel. Now, he 
was approved essentially, but they're doing 
little political games with me. You know, he 
was one of the three. Now last night, as you 
know, General Mattis, fantastic guy, and 
General Kelly, got approved. And Mike 
Pompeo was supposed to be in that group. It 
was going to be the three of them. Can you 
imagine, all of these guys. People respect, you 
know, they respect that military sense. All my 
political people, they're not doing so well. But 
ppolitical people aren't do so well, and we're 
going to get them all through. But some will 
take a little bit longer than others. 
But Mike was literally, I had a group of, what I 
we had nine different people? Now, I must say, 
I didn't mind canceling eight appointments. 
That wasn't the worst thing in the world. But, I 
met him, and I said, he is so good. Number 
one in his class at West Point. Now, I know a 
lot about West Point. It took me (untintell.) I'm 
a person that very strongly believes in 
academics. In fact, every time I say I had an 
uncle who was a great professor at MIT for 35 
years who did a fantastic job in so many 
different ways, academically. He was an 
academic genius. And then they say: Is 
Donald Trump an intellectual? Trust me, I'm 
like a smart person. I recognized it 
immediately. He was number one at West 
Point, and he was also essentially number one 
at Harvard Law School, and then he decided to 
go into the military. And he ran for Congress. 
And everything he's done has been a home 
run. People like him, but much more 
importantly to me, everybody respects him. 
And when I told Paul Ryan that I want to do 
this, I would say he may be the only person 
that was not totally thrilled, right Mike? 
Because he said: I don't want to lose this guy. 
But you will be getting a total star. You will be 
getting a total gem. This is a gem. And I just . 
but, you're going to see. And, again, we have 
some great people going in, but this one is 
something that's going to be very special. 
Because this is one if I had to name the most 
important, this would certainly be, perhaps, 
you know, in certain ways you could say my 
most important. You do the job like everybody 
in this room is capable of doing, there can be - 
the generals are wonderful, and the fighting is 
wonderful. But if you give them the right 
direction? Boy does the fighting become 
easier and boy do we lose so fewer lives. And 
win so quickly.
And that's what we have to do, we have to 
start winning again. You know, when I was 
young, and I was - of course, I feel young. I 
feel like I'm 30, 35, 39. Somebody said, are you 
young? I said: I think I'm young. You know, I 
was stopped being, when we were in the final 
month of that campaign, four stops, five 
stops, seven stops, speeches, speeches, in 
front of  25, 30,000 people, 15,000, 19,000 from 
stop to stop. I feel young.
When I was young, I think we're all so young, 
when I was, we were always winning things in 
this country. We'd win with trade. We'd win 
with wars. At a certain age, I remember 
hearing from one of my instructors the United 
States has never lost a war. And then, after 
that, it's like we haven't won anything. We 
don't win anymore. 
The old expression, to the victor belong the 
spoils, you remember they always used to 
say: Keep the oil. I wasn't a fan of Iraq. I didn't 
want to go into Iraq. But I will tell you: When 
we're in? We got out wrong. I always said, in 
addition to that: Keep the oil. Now I said it for 
economic reasons. But if you think about it, 
Mike, if we kept the oil you probably wouldn't 
have ISIS, because that's where they made 
their money in the first place. So we should 
have kept the oil. But, okay. Maybe you'll have 
another chance. But the fact is, we should 
have kept the oil. 
I believe that this group is going to be one of 
the most important groups in this country 
toward making us safe, toward making us 
winners again, toward ending all of the 
probems, we have so any problems that are 
interrelated that we don't even think of, but 
interrelated to the kind of havoc and fear that 
this sick group of people has caused.
So I can only say that I am with you a 
thousand percent and the reason you're my 
first stop is that, as you know, I have a running 
war with the media. They are among the most 
dishonest human beings on earth. 
And they made it sound like I had a feud with 
the intelligence community, alright, just want 
to let you know, there's a reason you're 
number one stop, is exactly the opposite. 
Exactly. And they understand that, too. 
And I was explaining about the numbers. We 
did a, we did a thing yesterday, the speech, 
and everybody liked the speech, yeah?
We had a massive field of people, you saw 
that. Packed. I get up this morning, I turn on 
one of the networks and they show an empty 
field. I said wait a minute, I made a speech. I 
looked out, the field was -- it looked like a 
million, a million and a half people. They 
showed a field where there were practically 
nobody standing there. And they said 'Donald 
Trump did not draw well.' I said it was almost 
raining, the rain should have scared them 
away, but God looked down and said we're not 
gonna let it rain on your speech. In fact, when 
I first started I said: Oh no. First line I got hit 
by a couple of drops, and I said: Oh, this is too 
bad but we'll go right through it. But the truth 
is, that it stopped immediately. It was amazing. 
And then it became really sunny. And then I 
walked off, and it poured right after I left.
It poured, but you know,  we have something 
that's amazing. Because we had, it looked, 
honestly, it looked liked a million and a half 
people. Whatever it was, it was, but it went all 
the way back to The Washington monument, 
and I turn around, any by mistake I get this 
network and it showed an empty field, and it 
said, we drew 250,000 people. Now that's not 
bad, but it's a lie. We had 250,000 people 
literally around in our little bowl that we 
constructed, that was 250,000 people. The rest 
of the 20-block area, all the way back to the 
Washington Monument was packed. So, we 
caught them. And we caught them in a beauty. 
And I think they're gonna pay a big price.
We had another one yesterday which was 
interesting. In the Oval Office, there's a 
beautiful statue of Dr. Martin Luther King. And 
I also happen to like Churchill, Winston 
Churchill. I think most of like Churchill. 
(untell.) I had a lot to do with it. Helped us. A 
real ally. And, as you know, the Churchill 
statue was taken out - the bust. And as you 
also have probably have read, the prime 
minister is coming over to our country very 
shortly. And they wanted to know whether or 
not I'd like it back, I said absolutely, but in the 
meantime we have a bust of Churchill.
So a reporter, for Time magazine, and I have 
been on their cover like 14 or 15 times. I think 
we have the all time record in the history of 
Time magazine. Like if Tom Brady is on the 
cover, it's one time, because he won the Super 
Bowl or something, right? I've been on for 15 
times this year. I don't think that's a record, 
Mike, that can ever be broken. Do you agree 
with that? What do you think? But I will say 
that, um, they said it was very interesting that 
Donald Trump took down the bust, the statue, 
of Dr. Martin Luther King. And it was right 
there. But there was a cameraman that was in 
front of it. 
So Zeke, Zeke, from Time magazine writes the 
story about I took down, I would never do that, 
because I have great respect for Dr. Martin 
Luther Kind. But this how dishonest the media 
is. Now, big story. The retraction was, like, 
where? Was it in a line? Or do they even 
bother putting it in?
So I only like to say that because I love 
honesty. I like honest reporting. I will tell you, 
final time, although I will say it when you let in 
your thousands of other people that have 
been trying to come in. Because I am coming 
back. We're going to have to get you a larger 
room. We're going to have to get you a larger 
room. Right? And maybe, maybe, it'll be built 
by somebody that knows how to build, and we 
won't have columns. You understand that? 
We'll get rid of the columns!
No, I just wanted to really say that I love you, I 
respect you, there's nobody I respect more, 
you're going to do a fantastic job and we're 
going to start winning again, and you're going 
to be leading the charge. So thank you all very 
much. (drowned by applause) I'll be back. I'll 
be back.
-30-
 
_______________________
 
S.V. Dáte
Senior Political Correspondent
The Huffington Post
202-624-9338 o
202-615-5845 c
@svdate
-----

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The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW · Washington DC 20500 · 202-456-1111



Saturday, January 21, 2017
07:21 PM -0500

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 
came to the podium at 1739.
 
He delivered angry remarks regarding what he 
considered inaccurate and unfair press 
coverage over the past 48 hours, including 
tweets about an MLK bust in the Oval Office, 
the crowd size coverage, and the tone of the 
POTUS's CIA visit earlier.
 
He then discussed forthcoming meetings with 
the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United 
Kingdom.
 
His remarks were open press.
 
-30-
 
_______________________
 
S.V. Dáte
Senior Political Correspondent
The Huffington Post



Friday, January 20, 2017
11:06 PM -0500

Trump at Freedom Ball. This crowd was also 
in the thousands and impossible to gauge 
from pool's vantage.

It was far more raucous than the Liberty Ball 
crowd. Unclear why but they were feisty. Lots 
of hooting and cheering.

"We will not be taken advantage of anymore. 
We're going to have those great companies 
come pouring back in," Trump promised.

"Let me ask you, should I keep the Twitter 
going or not?" The crowd shouted 
encouragement. "It's a way of bypassing 
dishonest media." Representatives of the 
media were just below the stage.

He reminisced about the successful 
campaign.

"We weren't given a great chance but we knew 
we were going to win." He spoke of "phony 
polls" at the outset of his campaign and the 
mere two weeks it took for him to shoot to the 
top. 

"We did a good job together ,and many of the 
people in this room went to those rallies with 
us." 

He mentioned one woman he saw on TV today 
-- apparently he found time to watch TV -- 
who'd gone to 42 of his rallies. He marveled. 
"42!"

"There has never been a movement like this 
anywhere in the world.... I just left, actually, 
the Oval Office" -- the crowd cheered -- 
"because our great General Maddog Mattis 
was approved tonight. The Senate approved," 
He mentioned signing the paperwork, and 
Pence doing the swearing in of him and Kelly 
at homeland security. "General Kelly -- the 
border, we're going to have a border again."

"We are not going to let you down. Remember 
the theme: Make America Great Again... 
Greater than every before -- it will happen."

"Now the fun begins."

And with that, the Trumps began their next 
dance. The pool was just below in the buffer. 
They chatted and smiled at each other and he 
broke hands to point to the crowd. Again, to 
"My Way." Then the Pences and the otehr 
couples joined. Trump clapped at the end and 
waved as the crowd cheered and chanted 
USA! USA! He did some thumbs up.

Pool took a long quick hike to the back of the 
motorcade. Rolling now to the National 
Building Museum. Big slowdown at Texas de 
Brazil steakhouse . More onlookers, no 
vulgarity.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
11:05 PM -0500

Motorcade drove to the other side of the huge 
convention center. Departed 9:55. Arrived 
three minutes later in the lower level of the 
complex. Hustled into the ballroom.

Again, thousands of well attired party goers. 
Sign indicated drunk tickets at $20 for 
champagne, $15 for cocktails, $10 for beer and 
wine and $5 for soft drinks.

Pool has no information on the designer of 
Melania Trump's lovely ivory gown. But thank 
you all for asking.

In first ball, a dessert table held cupcakes with 
red icing. Hard to tell what folks were grazing 
on in this ball as we were whisked into place 
to a cover version of "Who could ask for 
anything more."

Trump's announced at 10:05 to ruffles and 
flourishes.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
11:04 PM -0500

Arrived at 9:23.

Long motorcade passed hundreds on 
onlookers. Many waving middle fingers. 
Dozens shouted "Fuck you!" as the press van 
passed. The president was far ahead. Chants 
of "fuck Trump" filtered in along U Street and 
again as well got closer..

Earlier in the trip a man scurried across 18th 
as the press van raced to catch up. A stumble 
and there would have been a problem. 
Foolish.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
09:57 PM -0500

WHITE HOUSE PRESS POOL 

Motorcade rolled at 9:08pm. Press van is at 
least two minutes behind the lead vehicles in a 
convoy of at least 30 vehicles.

Pool had no sighting of President Trump or 
others before we left.

Destination is the Walter E. Washington 
Convention Center for the Liberty Ball, and the 
Freedom Ball.

After that we will move to the National 
Building Museum. Some background below on 
that third ball:
The Joint Task Force – National Capital 
Region in conjunction with the Presidential 
Inaugural Committee will host a live talk back 
with the Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump 
and the Vice President Michael R. Pence and 
deployed military service members serving in 
Afghanistan and Iraq during the Salute to Our 
Armed Services Ball held on Inauguration Day.

Media will have access to:
Live talk backs between service members and 
the Commander in Chief and Vice President.

Imagery of the first dance between service 
members and the Commander in Chief Donald 
J. Trump, First Lady Melanie Trump, Vice 
President Michael R. Pence and Second Lady 
Karen Pence.

Interviews with the service members who 
participated in the First Dance

FIRST DANCE:
United States Navy
Petty Officer Second Class Catherine Cartmell 
to dance with President Trump
Petty Officer Cartmell was born in Newport, 
Rhode Island. She entered the U.S. Navy in 
2012. She is a Religious Program Specialist. 
Petty Officer Cartmell is currently assigned to 
the OPNAV staff as Planning and Operations 
in Executive Support to the Chief of Chaplains 
of the Navy.

United States Army

Staff Sergeant Jose A. Medina to dance with 
First Lady Melanie Trump

Staff Sergeant Medina was born in Ponce, 
Puerto Rico. He entered the U.S. Army in 2007. 
SSG Medina is currently assigned to 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th 
Battalion 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old 
Guard) where he serves as a Human 
Resources Sergeant. His deployments include 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq and Operation 
Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

United States Air Force

Master Sergeant Tiffany Bradbury to dance 
with Vice-President Pence

Master Sergeant Bradbury was born in Pusan, 
Korea. She entered the U.S. Air Force 1995.  
MSGT Bradbury is currently assigned to the 
Headquarters United States Air Force where 
she serves as the Air Force Recruiter 
Superintendent of Enlisted Accessions Policy.  
Her deployment includes Operation Southern 
Watch in Saudi Arabia

United States Marine Corps

Sergeant Angel Rodriguez to dance with 
Second Lady Karen Pence

Sergeant Rodriguez was born in Camden, New 
Jersey. He entered the Marine Corps in 2009. 
SGT. Rodriguez is currently assigned to the 
Marine Barrack in Washington, D.C. as a Post 
Supply Warehouse Chief.  His deployment 
includes Operation Enduring Freedom in 
Afghanistan. 

CAKE CUTTING:

The United States Military celebrates with a 
traditional cake cutting to honor the 
achievement and sacrifice of our service 
members. Cake cutting ceremonies take place 
during the anniversary of the founding of each 
of the services.  The cake cutting ceremony 
also serves as a learning experience for non-
commissioned officers and junior officers to 
understand the history of their respected 
services. The cake is cut by a military saber

Coast Guard
Petty Officer Second Class Matthew Babot - 
cake cutter
Petty Officer Babot is the Company 
Commander at the Training Center, Cape May, 
New Jersey. He is responsible for the training 
of enlisted service member at the Coast 
Guard’s only enlisted Recruit Training 
installation. He entered the United States 
Coast Guard in 2009. 

Point of contact is CDR Jonathan Blyth at 202-
270-8136.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
09:53 PM -0500

Pool is in vans awaiting departure for 
inaugural balls. Agents and journalists in 
formal attire. Very big motorcade. Two 
columns of SUVs and other vehicles. 
Choppers are overhead.

Also correcting earlier report in case you 
hadn't received this yet:

The MLK bust remains in the Oval Office, in 
addition to the Churchill bust, per a WH aide. It 
was apparently obscured by a door and an 
agent during the spray. Your pool offers 
sincerest apologies. 

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
08:29 PM -0500

Pool report 13

President Trump was seated behind his desk 
when the pool entered the Oval Office. Still in 
suit and tie -- not yet dressed for the inaugural 
balls. Vice President Pence stood to his right. 
Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was at his left, 
handing him documents to sign: the 
commissions for Mattis and Kelly 
confirmations, and then the order freezing 
regulations.

Trump bantered briefly with the pool as we 
retreated.

"You have three balls to go to?" he said.

How was your day, asked WHCA president Jeff 
Mason.

"It was busy, but good. A beautiful day," 
Trump said.

Pooler Zeke Miller caught a few tidbits:

The Churchill bust is back.

Attendees: Jared Kushner, Kellyanne Conway, 
Hope Hicks, Mike Flynn, Stephen Miller, Marc 
Short.

xxxxxxxxxx

Pool report 12 (7:10pm)

Spicer, from the briefing room lectern, says 
the president is signing an  executive order on 
Obamacare, and the paperwork 
(commissions)for the Mattis and Kelly 
confirmations.

Chief of Staff Priebus will issue a memo 
ordering. Immediate regulatory freeze.

Pool is hastily gathering for an Oval spray.

The executive order President Trump signed 
pertains to the Affordable Care Act, Spicer 
indicated that it would ease the burden of 
Obamacare. 
The Priebus memo on regulations was not 
signed in front of the pool.

More decorating details: 
Apart from the return of the Churchill bust, the 
MLK bust was no longer on display.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News



Friday, January 20, 2017
01:44 PM -0500

Subject: POTUS print pool 9

Moments after Bush 43 exited a side entrance 
with former First Lady Laura Bush, President 
Trump and former president Obama appeared 
at the top of the East Capitol steps at 12:35

Steps were lined  with military guards in 
appropriate rain gear (unlike your poolster).
Accompanying the 44th and 45th presidents 
were VP Pence and former VP Biden, along 
with wives. All four walked down halfway to 
the first landing, from where the Pences 
accompanied the Bidens to their limo.

Trump and the new First Lady walked the 
Obamas to the helicopter formerly known as 
Marine One for takeoff.
Revving engines precluded any sound, words, 
from 44 and 45.
Trump and Obama shook hands. Trump also 
kissed Michelle on both cheeks. The women 
also exchanged hugs.
Michelle got on the chopper first, followed by 
Obama, who waved from the door, and then 
also through a window from inside the aircraft.
The Trumps then turned back to the Capitol 
steps and rejoined the Pences in facing the 
chopper and waving to the Obamas.
Wheels left the ground at 11:45 for Andrews.
Trump and Melania then made their way back 
up the steps and inside the Capitol for lunch.
Also on the steps for Obama departure was 
House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic 
Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Sent from my iPhone
Kevin Diaz
Houston Chronicle/HEARST



Thursday, January 12, 2017
06:00 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #4

From White House:


BACKGROUND



Presidential Medal of Freedom With 
Distinction



Originally established as the Medal of 
Freedom by President Truman by Executive 
Order 9586 of July 6, 1945, the Medal was 
reestablished as the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom by President John F. Kennedy by 
Executive Order 11085 of February 22, 1963. It 
is the highest civil award of our Government. 
The Medal is awarded by the President of the 
United States to those persons whom he 
deems to have made especially meritorious 
contributions to the security or national 
interests of the United States, to world peace, 
or to cultural or other significant public or 
private endeavors. The Medal may be awarded 
to citizens of other nations and may be 
awarded posthumously.  Executive Order 
11085 also allows for a rarely-used, higher 
grade of the Medal, known as the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom with Distinction.  President 
George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, and 
President George H.W. Bush each awarded 
this grade of the Medal once during their time 
in office.



President Kennedy announced the first 
Presidential Medal of Freedom awards on July 
4, 1963. President Lyndon Johnson then made 
the first presentations of the Presidential 
Medal of Freedom in a ceremony at the White 
House on December 6, 1963.



CITATION



"In a career of public service spanning nearly 
half a century, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, 
Jr., has left his mark on almost every part of 
our Nation - fighting for a stronger middle 
class, a fairer judicial system, and a smarter 
foreign policy; providing unyielding support 
for our troops; combating crime and violence 
against women; leading our quest to cure 
cancer; and safeguarding the landmark 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
from corruption.  With his charm, candor, 
unabashed optimism, and deep and abiding 
patriotism, Joe Biden has garnered the 
respect and esteem of colleagues of both 
parties and the friendship of people across the 
Nation and around the world.  While 
summoning the strength, faith, and grace to 
overcome great personal tragedy, this son of 
Scranton, Claymont, and Wilmington has 
become one of the most consequential Vice 
Presidents in American history - an accolade 
that nonetheless rests firmly behind his 
legacy as husband, father, and grandfather.  A 
grateful Nation thanks Vice President Joseph 
R. Biden, Jr., for his lifetime of service on 
behalf of the United States of America."


Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
-----



Thursday, January 12, 2017
05:47 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #3


It started out like another in a week of final 
tributes, this one with POTUS honoring VP 
Biden with a hundred or so friends, family and 
staffers seated in the State room. After warmly 
reminiscing at some length about their 
"bromance,"? POTUS surprised everyone 
when he asked the military aide to join them at 
the podium and said he was awarding Biden 
the presidential medal of freedom "with 
Distinction," an added layer of honor only 
awarded to 3 other people: Pope John Paul, 
President Reagan, and General Colin Powell. 
The female military aide read the citation

There were audible oohs and aahs when 
POTUs revealed the purpose of the gathering. 
Nobody saw it coming. "Richetti, you're fired!" 
Biden exclaimed as he took the podium after 
POTUS draped the medal around his neck. 
Steve Richetti is Bidens chief of staff and kept 
the secret. "I had no inkling," Biden said. He 
then went on to give an emotional ?tribute to 
POTUS and Michelle and Jill and his family 
and even Michelles mother. "Your mom15 
years older could have been my mom, the way 
we were raised, there isn't any difference, 
same value set...not one ounce of 
entitlement...all that grounding you had made 
this guy totally whole."

It was vintage Biden, warm, passionately 
delivered and a final quote? from an Irish poet 
about his award: "what comes from the heart 
enters the heart.".

"I can say I was part of the journey of a 
remarkable man, who did remarkable things," 
Biden concluded to standing ovation.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
-----



Friday, January 06, 2017
01:10 PM -0500

First Q from the audience, from a Kentucky 
Obamacare enrollment who voted for POTUS 
in 08 adn 12 but for Trump in 16. (She was 
profiled in Vox recently).

She says Kentuckians are finding "fewer 
choices in our area" in terms of plans and "an 
increase in premiums and deductibles." She 
said Kentuckians are finding the ACA 
"unaffordable and unusable" and asked how 
to fix things.

POTUS says "Kentucky is a place where this 
has really worked," blames politics for some 
governors not expanding Medicaid.

But POTUS offers what he describes as "my 
main criticism of Obamacare," which is that 
"the subsidies aren't as high as they probably 
should be for a lot of working people."

POTUS says subsidies should be higher to 
help more working people pay premiums, says 
there should be a public option as well.

Says McConnell is not proposing this.

To people who are unhappy about Obamacare, 
POTUS says, you should "at the very least you 
should be putting pressure" on repeal-ers to 
lay out the details of their plans to replace it.
-----



Friday, January 06, 2017
11:51 AM -0500

Via the White House:

The audience includes people from across the 
country who have worked on and are affected 
by the Affordable Care Act, including letter 
writers to the President and members of Vox's 
ACA Facebook group.

Olivier Knox
Chief Washington Correspondent
Yahoo News



Friday, January 06, 2017
11:48 AM -0500

And we're off. Your pooler has asked who is 
sitting in this audience - apart from the 
marvelous Liz Allen, who is directly in front of 
your pooler - and will report back with any 
details. It's a *very* friendly crowd, laughing 
along with POTUS at the thinnest prompting. 
News-ish: POTUS attacks "repeal now and 
replace later," says GOP promises to do health 
care better will prove hard to do.

Check quotes against your recording and 
transcript (I know that's...sub-optimal, but I'm 
not a verbatim machine).

Question 1 (paraphrase): You and your aides 
said Obamacare would get more popular over 
time. What did you get wrong?

POTUS says it is popular among many people, 
while those disapproving include "a whole 
bunch of Bernie Sanders supporters who want 
a single-payer plan."

"I get letters every single day from people who 
say 'this has saved my life' or 'this has saved 
my bank account'..." says POTUS.

Question 2 (paraphrase): If Republicans enact 
their own reforms, do they "own" the 
repercussions?

"If it works I'm for it," POTUS replies. "If 
something can cover all Americans, make 
sure that if they have a pre-existing condition 
they can still get coverage, make sure that 
prescription drugs are affordable," encourage 
preventive care, help rural communications, 
"if you can do all that cheaper than we talked 
abou,t cheaper than Obamacare achieves, and 
with better quality and it's just terrific, I'm for 
it."

POTUS complains that the GOP attitude back 
in 2009 was "a big 'no.'" Says he'll support 
"McConnellCare or Ryancare" if it achieves all 
of those goals.

"I suspect it will not happen," POTUS says. 
"All the promises they made about how they 
can do it better, cheaper" will be hard to fulfill.

"Repeal first and replace later is just a huge 
disservice to the American people." "These 
are real lives at stake."

Obama dismisses the "legacy" argument. "I 
don't have pride of authorship on this thing," 
he says. "I'm not the one who named it 
Obamacare."

Olivier Knox
Chief Washington Correspondent
Yahoo News



Friday, January 06, 2017
11:47 AM -0500


At 11:03 am, President Obama emerged
through the vehicle gate to West Executive 
Drive, flashing a
smile and clutching a white paper cup with a 
lid. He walked
to Blair House, past a cluster of vehicles 
seemingly arrayed
across Penn Ave to shield his walk from folks 
gaping from
17th St. Several white minivans, a couple of 
white SUVs, an
ambulance. He reached the stairs to Blair 
House moments
later. He was met there by Randy 
Bumgardener, the assistant
chief of protocol and Blair House General 
Manager. "Happy
New Year!" the president said as they shook 
hands. "This
is where we started!"

Pool is now in a large room in Blair House, 
where a few
dozen people on folding chairs await POTUS. 
Watch the
live-stream!


Olivier Knox
Chief Washington Correspondent
Yahoo News



Friday, January 06, 2017
11:44 AM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #1

Hello from the pool gather spot (Aka Ice 
Station Zebra). We're gearing up for the 
movement to Blair House and the interview.

Your pooler would strongly suggest that any 
outlets interested in the content of the 
interview be sure to watch the live-stream 
(there is also apparently a network camera 
with the ability to go live, though intent to go 
live cannot be discerned at this time).



Wednesday, January 04, 2017
04:03 PM -0500

Subject: In-town travel pool report  #7


POTUS attended an event honoring him billed 
as the Armed Forces Full Honor Review 
Farewell Ceremony at Joint Base Myer-
Henderson Hall in Fort Myer, Va.(Note the 
corrected spelling of Myer from earlier 
reports.)


At the event, POTUS was joined on a 
reviewing stand by Gen. Joseph Dunford, 
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; 
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; and Vice 
President Joe Biden. POTUS arrived on the 
stand at 2:44 p.m.


He made a tour of the hall and returned to the 
stand, where he was regaled by a marching 
band in colonial dress.


Following the presentation of colors and the 
national anthem, POTUS was presented with 
the Department of Defense Medal of 
Distinguished Service. A lengthy list of 
accolades was read as he accepted.


A presentation was made by Gen. Dunford, 
who praised a range of POTUS actions, 
including visits to Walter Reed "without 
fanfare or ceremony." Dunford then read 
several accolades from military personnel and 
offered praise for First Lady Michelle Obama.


Ash Carter was next to offer his praise. He 
recounted military achievements of the past 
eight years under Obama that were 
"consistent with our values." Carter also 
praised Obama's leadership and decision-
making.


In his remarks, which stretched more than 20 
minutes, POTUS said he wanted to "turn the 
tables" and offer praise for those he's served 
as commander in chief. He said there was "no 
greater privilege and no greater honor" than 
serving as commander in chief of the greatest 
military in the world.


"You have earned your place among the 
greatest generations," POTUS said.


Toward the end of his remarks, he touted the 
importance of the rule of law, openness and 
tolerance. "We cannot sacrifice the great 
freedoms that we're fighting for," he said.


"I am a better man having worked with you," 
POTUS said.

POTUS left the hall at 3:52 pm following more 
ceremonial marching.


---
John Wagner
The Washington Post



Wednesday, January 04, 2017
02:34 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #5

At 2:24 p.m, POTUS departed the White House 
en route to Joint Base Meyer-Henderson Hall 
in Fort Meyer, Va., where he is scheduled to 
appear with the Vice President for the Armed 
Forces Full Honor Review Farewell Ceremony.


John Wagner
The Washington Post



Wednesday, January 04, 2017
01:20 PM -0500

Subject: in town pool report #4

The pool was ushered into the Cabinet Room 
around 11:30 a.m. the president was meeting 
with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his regional 
combatant commanders and his civilian 
secretaries. The president began by thanking 
Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Gen. Joe 
Dunford and Gen. Paul Silva.

He said the primary purpose of his meeting 
was to say thank you. The meeting was part of 
a regular gathering that Obama has with his 
military commanders. In these meetings, "we 
have been able to set broad strategy, identify 
areas where we have to improve and address 
the health of the force," Obama said.

"This will be my last meeting with them, so 
part of my goal here is just to say thank you," 
Obama said.

Obama alluded to the fact that "we still have a 
lot of active threats around the world and we 
still many American men and women in harm's 
way." He mentioned the battle for Mosul, the 
ongoing conflict in Syria and the fighting in 
Afghanistan. 

He said a big part of his goal in the meeting 
will be to make sure that the next president 
will benefit from their "advise and service."

He also praised the military not only for their 
ability to fight, but their respect for "the rule of 
law, professionalism and integrity." He praised 
the military for its respect and recognition of 
"our constitutional structures"
-----



Wednesday, January 04, 2017
01:18 PM -0500

Subject: In town pool report #3


The president emerged from his meeting with 
Senate Democrats around 11:10. He wasn't 
eager to take questions from the press. 
Among the shouted queries: "Mr. President, 
do you wish you had worked more closely 
with Republicans on Obamacare?"
The president didn't answer any of the 
shouted queries.
"I want to take a picture with the Senate 
Pages," he said. "They are the next 
generation.
He turned to the assembled young people. "All 
right let's get a good one," he said.
His motorcade began rolling at 11:17 am past  
bleachers for his successor's inaugural. 
Bunches of people lined the route taking 
pictures. One older African American man was 
saluting.
The motorcade pulled back into the White 
House at 11:22 am.



Greg Jaffe
The Washington Post



Sunday, December 04, 2016
08:11 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #4


Presidential motorcade departed for the 
Kennedy Center at 7:03 EST. Arrived at 7:08.

Traveling press was brought into the Kennedy 
Center hall at 7:10.

At that time, the assembled crowd was 
enjoying a medley of tunes played by an 
orchestra. The orchestra's music seemed to 
represent each of the night's honorees.

As of 7:14 EST, POTUS and FLOTUS had not 
yet entered the hall.



Sunday, December 04, 2016
07:12 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #3


POTUS and FLOTUS arrived in the East Room 
at about 5:19. They entered to cheers and a 
standing ovation.

Behind POTUS, the Kennedy Center honorees 
sat, donning their iconic Kennedy Center 
medals. Per a White House staffer, the order of 
the honorees were as follows, (listed from 
right to left behind POTUS): Joe Walsh, ?
Timothy Schmit, Don Henley, James Taylor, 
Mavis Staples, Al Pacino, and Marth Argerich.

The president began speaking immediately 
after he entered, highlighting he and FLOTUS' 
appreciation of the arts. One by one, POTUS 
spoke about each honoree and expressed 
excitement about the coming ceremony.

The speech was carried live by the White 
House, and can be found on the official WH 
Twitter account, but here are a few quotes. He 
began his speech by recognizing the members 
of Congress in attendance and several 
descendants of John F. Kennedy.

"For the past 8 years, Michelle and I have 
invited some of the best writers, musicians, 
actors, writers, dancers to share their gifts of 
the American people and to help tell the story 
of who we are," Obama said.

And another: "These awards are not just about 
this reception or even the show we will have 
this evening...the Kennedy Center honors are 
about folks who spent their lives calling on us 
to think a little to harder and feel a little deeper 
and express ourselves bravely and maybe 
take it easy every once in a while."

POTUS said the Kennedy Center Honors 
ceremony, is "one of the parts of the job that I 
will miss."

POTUS spoke for about about 16 minutes. The 
line that drew the most applause was a 
tongue-in-cheek comment to notoriously 
rowdy Eagles guitarist, Joe Walsh. POTUS 
asked him not to trash the White House 
because he's leaving the home soon and 
wants his "security deposit" back.

Speaking of back, the press corps returned 
from the East Room shortly before 6 p.m. The 
pool, and POTUS and FLOTUS, are scheduled 
to soon travel towards the Kennedy Center for 
tonight's ceremony. Per the previously 
released schedule, the motorcade will gather 
at about 6:30 p.m.

Your pooler will update you upon departure 
and arrival.



Sunday, December 04, 2016
07:10 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #2‎


The lunch lid was lifted at 2 p.m. Following, 
there was not activity until 430, when pool was 
ushered into the East Room for the Kennedy 
Center Honorees reception. The room is 
festively decorated with ornate wreaths. It also 
smells of Christmas trees.

More wonderfully, the East Room is currently 
littered with celebrities and artists, including 
television politician and actor Kevin Spacey, 
Laurence Fishburne, and the especially 
splendid Andra Day, whose rendition of Burn 
on the Hamilton Mixtape is a particular favorite 
of your pooler. Also seen in the East Room: 
Jeff Goldblum, Don Cheadle, Garth Brooks 
and Trisha Yearwood, and Stephen Colbert.

On the political front, House minority leader 
Nancy Pelosi is in attendance. She was seated 
in front of Spacey. US Senator Barbara Boxer 
is also in attendance.

All the aforementioned people were identified 
by members of the press pool and not 
confirmed with the White House.

According to the President's weekend 
schedule, POTUS was to deliver remarks at 
the reception at approximately 5 p.m, though 
the ceremony appears to be running late.

Another pool report will be sent after the 
arrival of POTUS, which will include excerpts 
of his remarks.

If you need another reminder: this year's 
Kennedy Center honorees are as follows (in 
no particular order except Mavis Staples is 
first because her voice is the stuff of angels): 
Mavis Staples, The Eagles, Martha Argerich, 
James Taylor, and Al Pacino.



Thursday, December 01, 2016
08:19 PM -0500

Subject: VP pool report #2


Air Force Two touched down in Cartagena, 
Colombia, at around 18:37 local time.

Vice President Biden was greeted by Maria 
Angela Holguin, the Colombian Foreign 
Minister; Captain Carlos Escobar from the 
Navy; Colombian chief of protocol Juan 
Carlos Morales Paredes and Ambassador 
Kevin Whitaker. He greeted Holguin with a kiss 
on each cheek.

The VP is meeting tonight with Colombian 
President Santos for a bilat, as part of a two 
day trip. They will also share a dinner with 
about 70 members of a new bilateral advisory 
council, many of them businessmen and 
women.

We are headed for the Colombian President's 
residence in Cartagena, where the bilat will 
take place.

--
Lucía Leal
Correspondent
Efe News



Wednesday, November 30, 2016
05:38 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool #3 -- names of Nobel 
laureates

On background from a White House official:

Today President Obama welcomed Laureates 
of the 2016 Nobel Prizes and their guests to 
the Oval Office.  This visit is part of the 
Administration's continuing commitment to 
science and the strength of the U.S. scientific 
community. President Obama has previously 
met with Nobel Laureates at the White House 
every year since 2010.  He was awarded a 
Nobel Prize in 2009.

The Nobel Laureates attending today include:
*         Dr. F. Duncan Haldane, Laureate of the 
2016 Nobel Prize in Physics
*         Dr. Oliver Hart, Laureate of the 2016 
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
*         Dr. J. Michael Kosterlitz, Laureate of the 
2016 Nobel Prize in Physics
*         Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, Laureate of the 
2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

--
Dave Boyer
White House correspondent
The Washington Times



Tuesday, November 29, 2016
05:27 PM -0500

Subject: In town pool report #4


The president finished his visit with troops at 
Walter Reed around 5 pm. He walked at a 
leisurely pace with his physician, stopping to 
chat for about 30 seconds with him on the 
landing pad before clapping him on the back, 
shaking hands and saying goodbye. Obama 
then boarded Marine One for the White House. 
His helicopter lifted off at 5:03 pm bound for 
the White House.

Per the White House:
During the President's visit to Walter Reed 
National Military Medical Center, the President 
met with 13 Army servicemembers. The 
President awarded 12 Purple Hearts.

Your pool is going to muddle through DC 
beltway traffic.


Greg Jaffe
The Washington Post



Thursday, November 24, 2016
02:06 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 1: menu and calls to 
troops


Happy Thanksgiving.


From a White House official:


The President made 9 phone calls to deployed 
service members this morning: two from the 
Army, one from the Marine Corps, two from 
the Navy, two from the Air Force and two from 
the Coast Guard. He thanked them for their 
service, and he wished them and their families 
a Happy Thanksgiving.


First Family Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Thursday, November 24, 2016

Hors d'oeuvres:
Mini BLT's
Chicken Satay with Peanut Chili Dip
Mini Crab Cakes
Pizza Bites
Fresh Veggies and Hummus
Pigs in the Blanket

Dinner Buffet:
Thyme Roasted Turkey (Carving Station)
Garlic Jus and Cranberry-Orange Relish

Honey-Baked Ham
Apricot-Mustard Glaze

Prime Rib and Creamed Horseradish
Shallot Marmalade

Fried Chicken Wings

Sides:
Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo and Roasted 
Peppers
Oyster Stuffing
Braised Winter Greens (Collards, Kale, and 
Turnip Greens)
Macaroni and Cheese
Sweet Potato Gratin
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Fresh Greens and Kale Caesar Salad
Dinner Rolls

Dessert
Banana Cream Pie, Coconut Cream Pie, 
Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie



Wednesday, November 23, 2016
05:24 PM -0500

Subject: In-town print pool No. 2 - service 
event

Motorcade left WH at 4:25 p.m.<x-apple-data-
detectors://0>, and arrived at AFRH at 4:36 
p.m.<x-apple-data-detectors://1>

Will provide more but until then, background 
from WH official:

Today the President and First Lady are joined 
by Sasha Obama and Craig, Kelly, Austin and 
Aaron Robinson serving Thanksgiving meals 
to residents of the Armed Forces Retirement 
Home (AFRH) in Washington, DC. The AFRH 
has cared for our Nation's veterans for more 
than 180 years and has two campuses, one in 
Gulfport MS., and one in Washington DC. The 
Washington campus is home to 405 previously 
enlisted service members who have served in 
every campaign since World War II.

Alex Leary
Washington Bureau Chief
Tampa Bay Times



Sunday, November 20, 2016
12:45 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #3 - readout

On background to a White House official:

President Obama had a brief and informal 
discussion with President Putin of Russia on 
the margins of the first APEC Summit meeting. 
The conversation lasted approximately four 
minutes. Beyond pleasantries, the President 
urged President Putin to uphold Russia's 
commitments under the Minsk agreements, 
underscoring the U.S. and our partners' 
commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty. On 
Syria, the President noted the need for 
Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov 
to continue pursuing initiatives, together with 
the broader international community, to 
diminish the violence and alleviate the 
suffering of the Syrian people.

--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Sunday, November 20, 2016
12:43 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #2a

POTUS then exchanged pleasantries with 
Sultan of Brunei, PM Trudeau of Canada and 
Chinese President Xi Jinping. He then took his 
seat.

Pool was ushered out within minutes of 
entering. He spray was about an hour later 
than scheduled. The host said the leaders had 
been talking to IMF chief Lagarde.

Pool is moving to hold.


--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Sunday, November 20, 2016
12:39 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #2 - Putin

When pool was brought into pool spray of first 
APEC session, President Obama was 
speaking with Russian President Vladimir 
Putin. They were standing next to Mr. Putin's 
seat at he round table. They spoke for a few 
moments then Mr. Obama said ok, and they 
shook hands before Mr. Obama walked to his 
seat and Mr. Putin sat down at his.

Pool could not hear anything they said.

More from the spray TK


--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Saturday, November 19, 2016
06:04 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 9b: Full Xi Bilat report


Pool entered a conference room on the 4th 
floor of the JW Marriott at 5:16 pm. The 
Chinese and U.S. delegations were seated 
opposite one another at a long table divided 
by a decorative floral arrangement. A blue 
curtain with sets of U.S. and China flags were 
at the back of the room.

The two presidents were seated in the middle 
of their delegations. USTR Mike Froman was 
to POTUS' right, Susan Rice to his left.

POTUS spoke first, noting that this was his 
ninth meeting with Xi, and praising their 
effective partnership on global challenges 
from growth, preventing Iran from obtaining 
nuclear weapon, the Ebola epidemic. "We've 
demonstrated what's possible when our two 
countries work together," he said.

"In particular, the United States and China 
have played a pivotal role in pressing the 
world to act on climate change," Obama 
added. After formally joining the Paris 
agreement in Hangzhou, "Now we face the 
work of making sure our economies transition 
to become more sustainable."

He said he and Xi "are united on our strong 
opposition to North Korea's provocations, and 
we will intensify our efforts to de-nuclearize 
the Korean peninsula." In the South China 
Sea, the U.S. continues to urge claimants to 
lower tensions and peacefully resolve 
disputes.

He said he expected a "candid conversation 
on areas where we continue to differ, 
including the creation of a more level playing 
field for our businesses to compete, 
innovation policies, excess capacity, and 
human rights."

As this is his last meeting as president, 
POTUS said he wanted to "take this 
opportunity to note our work together to build 
a more durable and productive set of bilateral 
ties." The relationship between the two 
countries "is the most consequential in the 
world. I continue to believe that a constructive 
U.S.-China relationship benefits our two 
peoples and benefits the entire globe."

Xi then spoke beginning at 5:19 pm. Through 
interpreter, he noted this was their third 
meeting just this year, and ninth in three 
years. "This really shows the two sides' 
shared commitment to the China-U.S. 
relationship."

Xi commended POTUS for his "active efforts" 
to grow that relationship. Since their last 
meeting in Hangzhou, the U.S.-China 
relationship has "generally speaking, 
continued to grow in a stable manner." He 
noted continued close communication and 
coordination on climate change and the 
Korean peninsula.

"We meet at a hinge moment in the China-U.S. 
relationship. I hope the two sides will work 
together to focus on cooperation, manage our 
differences, and make sure there is a smooth 
transition in the relationship and that it will 
continue to grow going forward."

He said China stands ready to have more 
coordination with the U.S. and to work with 
others to make sure the APEC summit is a 
success.

Pool was quickly ushered out at the 
conclusion of the remarks. We are again 
holding at our scenic file watching the sun set 
over the Pacific.


Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
02:33 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 6: Town hall arrival

POTUS arrived at 2:08 pm to the Pontifical 
Catholic University of Peru for his town hall 
event with the Young Leaders of the Americas 
Initiative (YLAI).

Notable sighting along the motorcade route: 
the Casino New York, which had a replica of 
the Statue of Liberty on its roof. There were 
some pockets of smartphone wielding 
onlookers along the way.

POTUS is to be introduced here by Cyntia 
Paytan, WH informs. Event is open press.

Some background from WH:

This afternoon, the President will participate in 
a Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative 
(YLAI) town hall with 1000 young people.  This 
event celebrates the inaugural class of YLAI 
Fellows and the growing YLAI Network across 
Latin America and the Caribbean.  President 
Obama announced YLAI in 2015 on the 
margins of the Summit of the Americas to 
support an emerging generation of leaders 
across the hemisphere as theywork to drive 
economic growth, entrepreneurship, and find 
innovative solutions to challenges faced 
across communities and sectors.

Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
02:09 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 5: Photo op and 
departure to town hall

At 1:49 pm POTUS arrived at the convention 
center 2nd floor Terrace along a red carpet 
before a red backdrop with the APEC 2016 
logo to be officially welcomed to the APEC 
Summit by Peru's President Kuczynski. The 
chatted briefly, POTUS' left hand on his 
counterpart's right shoulder, before turning 
toward the cameras. With a wave, it was over 
quickly.

Earlier, at 1:32 pm President Kuczynski had 
arrived early to the designated spot for his 
official welcome to POTUS. He ambled about 
briefly and chatted with some staffers before 
disappearing, perhaps aware POTUS was not 
ready. He returned again 15 minutes later for 
the scene described above. Pooler takes some 
satisfaction at the fact a foreign head of state 
could share in the hurry-up-and-wait lifestyle 
we enjoy.

At 1:55pm motorcade is rolling to town hall 
site.


Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
02:07 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 4b: Full POTUS statement 
at TPP meeting


With thanks to colleagues in pool with better 
audio, POTUS' full and brief statement at top 
of TPP leaders meeting:

"I just want to say thank you to Peru for 
hosting. It is a pleasure to see all of you again. 
And we're going to have a busy agenda at 
APEC, but this is always a useful occasion for 
us to get together and examine how we can 
make sure that we're creating more jobs, more 
opportunity and greater prosperity for all of 
our countries. So it's wonderful to see all of 
you again and I look forward to a constructive 
discussion."

Pool is now holding at the 2nd floor Terrace of 
the convention center waiting for photo op 
handshake between POTUS and President 
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski of Peru, formally 
welcoming him to the APEC summit.

Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
02:06 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 4: TPP Leaders Spray

At 12:48pm pool entered a large conference 
space where TPP leaders were seated at a 
large round table before an APEC logo 
backdrop. No news.

Mercedes Ar?oz, Peru's second Vice 
President, was making welcoming remarks as 
we entered. POTUS spoke very briefly, first 
thanking his hosts and making reference to 
the "busy agenda" ahead at the summit and 
the nations' commitment to creating jobs. Will 
effort fuller quotes, was difficult to hear from 
pooler's vantage point. Press was quickly 
hurried out.

To POTUS' right around table in order were 
delegations from Mexico (EPN and another 
official), Australia, and Brunei.  Ar?oz was to 
POTUS' left. Fellow poolers spotted PM 
Trudeau of Canada. Fuller list of participants 
from the White House below.

U.S Delegation:

1.           Ambassador Michael Froman, United 
States Trade Representative

2.           T.H. Susan Rice, National Security 
Advisor

3.           T.H. Wally Adeyemo, Deputy National 
Security Advisor for International Economics

4.           T.H. Him Das, Special Assistant to the 
President for International Economics

5.           Mrs. Barbara Weisel, Assistant United 
States Trade Representative for Southeast 
Asia



Present Delegations, each with leaders:

1.           Mexico

2.           Australia

3.           Brunei

4.           Canada

5.           Chile

6.           Japan

7.           Malaysia

8.           New Zealand

9.           Singapore

10.         Vietnam

11.         Peru




Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
02:05 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 3b: Bilat participants / 
history lesson

Per the WH, the full participant list in the U.S.-
Peru bilat:


1.           T.H. Brian Nichols, U.S. Ambassador 
to Peru

2.           T.H. Michael Froman, U.S. Trade 
Representative

3.           T.H. Susan Rice, National Security 
Advisor

4.           T.H. Ben Rhodes?, Deputy National 
Security Advisor for Strategic 
Communications and Speechwriting

5.           T.H. Wally Adeyemo, Deputy National 
Security Advisor for International Economics

6.           T.H. Mark Feierstein, Special Assistant 
to the President and Senior Director for 
Western Hemisphere Affairs

7.           Mr. Michael Reffett, Director for 
Andean Affairs


Pool is currently awaiting TPP leaders meeting 
spray, idling amid an educational display 
about the first civilization of the Americas, 
Caral.


Formed in Peru 5,000 years ago, Caral is as 
ancient as Asian civilizations Sumer 
(Mesopotamia), Harappa (India), and 
Longshan (China). But Caral developed 
completely isolated from any other 
civilizations.

?The more you know ?

Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
11:31 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 3: Peru bilat

At just after 11:00am pool entered and then 
quickly exited a small conference room to 
glimpse the American and Peruvian 
delegations seated at a circular table that 
surrounded green ferns.

Presidents Obama and Kuczynski were seated 
side by side, POTUS to our left. Susan Rice 
was to POTUS' right. A stripe of APEC graphic 
lined the grayish wall behind the leaders.

No statements to report, just some small talk 
among the delegates inaudible to pool. When 
your not tall pooler manage to lay eyes on the 
presidents, Kuczynski was waving 
energetically at the departing press pool as 
POTUS silently looked on.

Pool now holding in another conference room.

Mike Memoli



Saturday, November 19, 2016
11:28 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool 2: Summit arrival

Uneventful drive on empty roads from POTUS' 
oceanfront RON to the summit site, Lima's 
convention center. Arrived at 10:52am and 
pool now filing in ahead of the spray of the 
Peru president bilat. No statements expected.

Mike Memoli



Friday, November 18, 2016
12:19 PM -0500

Subject: Refueling; pool 5

Air Force One landed at 3:50 pm at Lajes Field 
in the Azores Islands
off the Portuguese coast.

The last time AF1 landed here was 2003 during 
a meeting with European
allies in the run-up to the Iraq War.

The weather is perfect -- sunny, clear skies 
and cool. The scenery is
breathtaking-- emerald rolling hills divided 
into small pastures by
low rock walls. The architecture seems mostly 
Spanish style, with red
tile roofs and white stucco walls. And the wind 
is impressive.
Windmills on the tops of some nearby hills are 
turning rapidly.

There is a small town near the airfield with 
mostly two-story homes, a
fat steepled hall and occasional majestic 
pines.

Gardiner Harris
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Friday, November 18, 2016
08:47 AM -0500

Subject: Airport arrival; pool 4

Motorcade arrived at Tegel International 
Airport at 12:46 pm local
time. There was an honor guard lining both 
sides of the red carpet
leading to the plane stairs. Air Force One is 
rolling. Next stop is
the Azores for refuelling. After that, Lima, 
Peru, 16 hours from now.

Greeters below:

Ambassador Jurgen Mertens, German Chief of 
Protocol
Ambassador John Emerson, US Ambassador 
to Germany
Mrs. Kimberly Emerson, spouse of 
Ambassador Emerson


Gardiner Harris
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Friday, November 18, 2016
08:45 AM -0500

Subject: Heading to airport; pool #3

Having concluded his round table with his 
European counterparts, Obama
left the German Chancellery for his last time 
as president. Motorcade
is moving.
So many lasts here.
The last time he will be in the Chancery's 
strangely asymmetrical
spaces as president. The last time as 
president he may have to go
hunting for a bathroom in a building with no 
obvious architectural
cues. And the last time as president he will 
leave the building in a
light rain under a stone grey sky in a city now 
shrouded for months in
a damp cloak.


Gardiner Harris
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Friday, November 18, 2016
08:42 AM -0500

Subject: Fwd:

Pool was led into a room where POTUS, 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British 
Prime Minister Theresa May, French President 
Francois
Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi 
and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy 
were gathered.
Obama sat between Merkel and Renzi at a 
round table with a white tablecloth that looked 
like something provided by a cut-rate caterer 
at an Italian wedding. The room was one of 
those modernist psychotic spaces decried by 
Norman Mailer, with a ceiling that undulated 
downward for no particular reason and a 
phalanx of western-facing glass that sent the 
sun's rays directly into Obama's and Merkel's 
eyes. Surrounding the leaders were modernist 
paintings that provided splashes of color in an 
otherwise dreary setting. Think Edward 
Hopper on the Spree, with a similar sense of 
desperate loneliness arising from the leaders' 
myriad woes.
Pool was allowed inside for less than a 
minute, and Merkel in particular seemed eager 
for pool to depart so work could commence.
Your pool is now holding nearby.

Gardiner Harris
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Thursday, November 17, 2016
02:12 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #4 - US side for 
expanded bilat

Per WH :

1.       T.H. Susan Rice, Assistant to the 
President for National Security Affairs

2.       T.H. John Emerson, U.S. Ambassador to 
Germany

3.       T.H. Ben Rhodes, Assistant to the 
President Deputy National Security Advisor 
for Strategic Communication and 
Speechwriting

4.       T.H. Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary 
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs

5.       T.H. Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Assistant to 
the President and Deputy National Security 
Advisor for International Economics

6.       T.H. Charles Kupchan, Special Assistant 
to the President and Senior Director for 
European Affairs

7.     Mr. Brian Johnson, Director for Central 
Northern Europe


Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Thursday, November 17, 2016
10:27 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #3 - Expanded 
Bilat


After a short drive from POTUS hotel, the 
motorcade arrived at the Chancellery, a 
modern building made of concrete and glass, 
at 3:25pm.
The pool was taken to the "Small cabinet 
room" where POTUS and Chancellor Merkel 
were seating on opposite sides of large oval 
table (seven other people on each side of the 
table).
National Security Advisor Susan Rice sat to 
the president's right.
POTUS did not say a word while the pool was 
there.
Pool holding in a nearby room.
Press conference scheduled for 5pm local 
time.


Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Thursday, November 17, 2016
10:00 AM -0500

Subject: Fwd: Pre-set pool #1 Obama arrival at 
German chancellery


At 3:25 pm local time President Obama pulled 
up to the German chancellery in his limousine. 
He stepped out and greeted Chancellor 
Merkel, who was waiting for him at the end of 
a red carpet that was rolled out before his 
arrival. The president greeted the chancellor 
with kisses on both cheeks and asked how 
she was doing. The two leaders paused briefly 
for pictures, with Merkel motioning to Obama 
to look at cameras to their left, then they 
walked inside.


Jeff Mason
White House Correspondent
Reuters



Thursday, November 17, 2016
09:20 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #2 - Brandenburg 
Gate

After an almost two-hour lunch,  POTUS 
walked out of the US Embassy towards the 
nearby Brandenburg Gate.
With the famous neoclassical monument in 
the backdrop and the Berlin sky clearing up, 
he then walked past the pool on his way back 
to his hotel.
"Hello everybody. How are you doing ? Sun 
came out. Not bad...", he said smiling.
Pool holding in the lobby of the hotel.

Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Thursday, November 17, 2016
07:22 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #1 - Lunch at US 
Embassy
 
Good morning from rainy Berlin.
 
From WH official:
The President is having lunch with 
Ambassador Emerson at the U.S. Embassy. 
The President this morning taped a joint 
interview with ARD German public television 
and Der Spiegel. The interview will air this 
evening on ARD and be featured in 
tomorrow's Der Spiegel.
 
Pool, who did not see POTUS entering the 
building, is holding in a room on the ground 
floor of the Embassy (not much in the room 
expect for a cardboard cutout of POTUS, in 
the early years of his presidency, standing 
behind a podium).
Later in the day: POTUS will hold a bilat 
meeting then a press conference with 
Chancellor Merkel.
 
Jerome Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Wednesday, November 16, 2016
03:30 PM -0500

Subject: VP pool 2 - transcript


Unfortunately your poolers struggled to hear 
the VP and VP-elect, who were standing on the 
porch of the VP's residence, while the pool 
was on the other side of the driveway, and 
after about a minute the SUVs pulled up so it 
was even more difficult to hear. Virtually none 
of Pence's remarks could be heard. Things in 
brackets are guesses at what was said, in 
other places I've elided.


Q: How did the meeting go?"

Biden: "It went very, very well."

"I hope they enjoy this home as much as Jill 
and I have."

Q: Do you think the admin is going to be ready 
on day 1?

"No administration is ready on Day 1. We 
weren't ready on Day 1. I've never met one 
that's ever been ready on Day 1. But I'm 
confident on Day 1 everything will be in good 
hands and they'll be able to handle 
everything..."

Pence: thanked for hospitality and said that 
they got a "cook's tour" of the residence

Q: Are you worried the administration will 
dismantle everything you've accomplished?

BIDEN "No, I'm not."

Paused as SUVs for Pence's motorcade pulled 
up

"No I'm not worried about it. Look: they ran on 
a platform they're gonna try to move. I think 
there's a lot of things that were done where 
[inaud] can reach some accommodation. 
[inaudible] It's a whole new world. So I told 
Mike -- the vice president elect -- that I'm 
available to him 24-7. [Biden said they talked 
about matters of foreign policy.] I also said 
although I had been a senator for 36 years, 
chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee 
for a decade, in the end I had been [on the] 
national security apparatus for a long time, 
there's a lot in town here that I'm aware of. I 
didn't realize the [system?]. So I plan on being 
available to Mike as senior staff for him as he 
moves... He'd be smart to reject most of my 
ideas, but I think he'll listen."

Jill Biden said thank you as the VP wrapped 
up that answer.

After the Pence's motorcade pulled away, 
Biden quipped to the pool that he told Pence 
the weather was always like this at the Naval 
Observatory -- it was relatively sunny, though 
fortunately for the VP and VP-elect, they 
missed the few minutes of rain. (Your pooler 
was not so lucky.)

--
Sarah Wheaton
White House Reporter
POLITICO



Wednesday, November 16, 2016
10:27 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #5 - 11/16/16

Shortly after 1pm POTUS appeared in a part of 
the museum where pool was preset. It 
featured original marble statues, busts and 
masks from the Acropolis. He's changed into a 
suit and tie. He was with a tour guide.

Per WH his tour guide is Professor Dimitrios 
Pandermalis, President of the Acropolis 
Museum. More details from WH on the 
Acropolis visit at the end of this pool report.

Your pooler couldn't hear POTUS. He said 
something about Agora when looking at a 
mask. He said "I can see, she's scary." No idea 
the context or what he was talking about. He 
said something he found funny when looking 
at a sculpture that looked like a calf under a 
cow.

Jeff Mason of Reuters asked POTUS what he 
thought. "Beautiful," he replied.

Pool moved at 1:13pm to a different section of 
the museum up a couple flights of stairs. This 
is an area that is a replica of inside the 
Parthenon.

About 10 minutes later, POTUS appeared with 
his tour guide. Your pooler couldn't hear what 
they were talking about. Just odds and ends, 
like POTUS saying he likes the architecture as 
he looked out the windows facing the real 
Parthenon. And he said "beautiful" to himself 
as he walked.

Pool was ushered out at 1:27pm.

For those wondering, bathrobe man is still at 
his window perch. Still wearing his bathrobe. 
He did move to a different window in his 
apartment though.

Pool is in motorcade ready to move to the 
speech site.

Background from WH:

Acropolis Tour
Wednesday, November 16, 2016

On Wednesday, Nov. 16th, President Obama 
will tour the Acropolis in Athens. The 
following sites will be included in his tour.


*       The Odeon of Herodes Atticus. A music 
venue built in 161 AD on the side of the 
Acropolis hill by Herodes Atticus as a 
monument to his wife. The Greek state 
restored the structure in the 1950's and today 
it is a prestigious concert venue.


*       The Propylaea. Used to control access to 
the Acropolis, both for security and religious 
reasons. Walking up the steps of the 
Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike stands 
to the right, constructed to celebrate the 
victory of Athens over Sparta in the 
Peloponnesian wars.


*       The Erechtheum. Built at the end of the 
4th century BC, the building was dedicated to 
both Athena and Poseidon and the site of a 
legendary competition between the two to be 
the patron deity of the city.


*       The Parthenon. The largest temple on the 
Acropolis represents the pinnacle of Greek 
classical art and architecture from the "golden 
age" of Athens in the 5th century BC. 
Dedicated to Athena, the building was 
dominated by a giant ivory and gold statue of 
the goddess.  The Parthenon stood largely 
intact until the 17th century, when it was used 
as an armory by the Ottomans and suffered 
severe damage during a Venetian 
bombardment.


*       Belvedere Tower. A modern platform that 
centers around a large Greek flag, visible 
throughout the city. During the Nazi 
occupation of Greece, two young Greek boys, 
Lakis Santas and Manolis Glezos, climbed up 
and replaced the swastika with the Greek flag 
in protest. Glezos, now in his 90's, 
represented Greece for the ruling SYRIZA 
party in the EU parliament up until 2015.






--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Wednesday, November 16, 2016
10:25 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #3 - 11/16/16

POTUS emerged through the propylaea, the 
ornamental entrance to the Acropolis, at 
11:39am. He was walking with a guide. He was 
wearing khakis, a blue button down shirt, a 
black jacket, brown shoes with laces and 
sunglasses.

The Acropolis was totally empty, except for 
POTUS, his entourage and a few stray cats.

Per WH POTUS's guide is Dr. Eleni Banou, 
Director, Ephorate of Antiquities for Athens, 
Ministry of Culture.

POTUS paused and listened to Dr. Banou after 
walking through the propylaea. She who 
appeared to be explaining what he was 
looking at. POTUS walked by pool en route to 
Athena Nike. "So, how is this all financed," he 
asked Dr. Banou. Pool couldn't hear anything 
else.

At Athena Nike, POTUS listened to Dr. Banou 
and asked questions, as he observed the site. 
She held up a card with images on it at one 
point but your pooler couldn't see what it was.

He then walked over to the Parthenon with Dr. 
Banou. They continued to chat about the site. 
She asked POTUS if he wanted to go see 
Belvedere Tower. He said sure and as he 
walked over to it asked his staff if he had time.

Pool was ushered out of the Acropolis as 
POTUS stood on the tower with Dr. Banou 
looking out at Athens.

A couple dozen WH staffers were getting a 
separate tour.

Motorcade was rolling at 12:15pm.



--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Wednesday, November 16, 2016
10:23 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #3 - 11/16/16

POTUS emerged through the propylaea, the 
ornamental entrance to the Acropolis, at 
11:39am. He was walking with a guide. He was 
wearing khakis, a blue button down shirt, a 
black jacket, brown shoes with laces and 
sunglasses.

The Acropolis was totally empty, except for 
POTUS, his entourage and a few stray cats.

Per WH POTUS's guide is Dr. Eleni Banou, 
Director, Ephorate of Antiquities for Athens, 
Ministry of Culture.

POTUS paused and listened to Dr. Banou after 
walking through the propylaea. She who 
appeared to be explaining what he was 
looking at. POTUS walked by pool en route to 
Athena Nike. "So, how is this all financed," he 
asked Dr. Banou. Pool couldn't hear anything 
else.

At Athena Nike, POTUS listened to Dr. Banou 
and asked questions, as he observed the site. 
She held up a card with images on it at one 
point but your pooler couldn't see what it was.

He then walked over to the Parthenon with Dr. 
Banou. They continued to chat about the site. 
She asked POTUS if he wanted to go see 
Belvedere Tower. He said sure and as he 
walked over to it asked his staff if he had time.

Pool was ushered out of the Acropolis as 
POTUS stood on the tower with Dr. Banou 
looking out at Athens.

A couple dozen WH staffers were getting a 
separate tour.

Motorcade was rolling at 12:15pm.



--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Wednesday, November 16, 2016
10:20 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #4 - 11/16/16

Motorcade arrived at the Acropolis museum at 
12:20pm. There were some people who 
stepped out onto their balconies to see the 
commotion. One elderly man stood in his 
bathrobe pressed against his second floor 
window.

Pool is holding in the museum for a spray of 
POTUS's tour. The museum is completely 
empty.


--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Friday, November 11, 2016
01:03 PM -0500

Subject: in-town pool #5
 
Motorcade was rolling again at 12:00 p.m. We 
returned to WH at 12:14. POTUS walked into 
the Oval accompanied by Susan Rice and 
Valerie Jarrett. 
 
Some highlights on POTUS remarks at the 
Veterans Day ceremony. Please check against 
transcript. 
 
 
 
"Veterans Day often follows a hard-fought 
political campaign - an exercise in free speech 
and self-government that you fought for. It 
often lays bare disagreements across our 
nation. But the American instinct has never 
been to find isolation in opposite corners. It is 
to find strength in our common creed. To forge 
unity from our great diversity, to sustain that 
strength and unity even when it is hard.
 
"When the election is over, as we search for 
ways to come together, to reconnect with one 
another and with the principles that are more 
enduring than transitory politics, some of our 
best examples are the men and women we 
salute on Veterans Day.”
 
A theme POTUS returned to was that, 
whenever the world makes you cynical, look 
to a veteran for an example of humility and 
selflessness.
 
He said veterans are the “single most diverse 
institution in our nation. Soldiers, sailors, 
Marines and coast guardsmen who represent 
every corner of our country, every shade of 
humanity, immigrant and native born, 
Christian Muslim, Jew and non-believer alike, 
all forged in common service. That’s the 
example of our veterans. Patriots who when 
they take off their fatigues put back on the 
camouflage of every life of America, and 
become our business partners and bosses, 
our teachers and our coaches, our first 
responders, city council members, community 
leaders, role models, all still serving this 
country with a sense of duty and with valor."
 
POTUS spoke of a middle school student from 
Missouri who entered an essay contest about 
why vets are special. Student wrote that when 
he think of a veteran, I think someone who will 
be the first to help an elderly lady across the 
street and who “will defend everyone 
regardless of their race, age, gender, hair 
color or other discriminations. After eight 
years in office, I particularly appreciate that he 
included hair color," POTUS said to laughs. 
“That middle schooler is right. Our veterans 
are still the first to help, still the first to serve.”
 
He mentioned a few projects spearheaded by 
veterans in Buffalo, Tennessee and Chicago. 
 
"Whenever the world makes you cynical, 
whenever you seek true humility and 
selflessness, look to a veteran. Look to 
someone like” Irving Werner. (not sure of 
name spelling)
 
Irving was born in Chicago to Russian Jewish 
immigrants, flew missions during WWII. When 
he returned home, he was walking down street 
on South Side when someone stopped him, 
thanked him for his service and handed him a 
ticket to see Cubs play in World Series. “It’s a 
good thing Irving took that ticket. Because it 
would be a while until his next chance.” On a 
June morning many years ago, one of Irving’s 
daughters, Carol, called to check in. Her 
mother told her, we can’t talk, your father’s 
being honored and we’re late. Daughter asked, 
for what? … For his heroism in the skies 
above Normandy 50 years ago. He had never 
told his children about his service.  Now when 
his children call to check in they say, thank 
you for saving the world.
 
“It’s up  to us to ask and to listen, and to tell 
those stories for them. … It’s up to us to make 
sure they always get the care they need.”
 
POTUS touted increased funding for veterans 
by almost 85 percent, and that fewer 
unemployed, more have access to healthcare.
 
“It is still a tragedy that 20 veterans a day take 
their own lives. We have to get them the help 
they need. We have to keep solving problems 
like long wait times at the  VA, we have to keep 
cutting the disability claims backlog, we have 
to resist any effort to outsource and privatize 
healthcare we owe America’s veterans.” 
(applause)
 
“On Veterans Day, we acknowledge humbly 
that we can never serve our veterans in quite 
the same way that they served us, but we can 
try. We can practice kindness, we can pay it 
forward, we can volunteer, we can serve, we 
can respect one another. We can always get 
each other’s backs. That is what Veterans Day 
asks all of us to think about.”
 
 

On Nov 11, 2016, at 11:53 AM, Burke, Melissa 
<mburke@detroitnews.com> wrote:

POTUS began speaking at 11:37. (recorder 
13:45)
SEC McDonald - … LAST TIME I STOOD ON 
THESE HALLOWED grounds on memorial day, 
our country had come together to honor those 
who had fought and died for XX. …
 
Today on veterans day we honor those who 
honred our country with its highest form of 
service.you who once wore the uniform of our 
rmy, navy, air force, marines, or coast guard. 
We owe you oru thanks. We owe y ou our 
respect. We owe you our freedom.
We come together to express our profound 
gratitude  (for sacrifices you ahnd your family 
made on the battlefield, at h ome and on 
outposts around the world. …
(grounded in something greater than what you 
did on duty) … example you set after your 
service has ended.
Veterans day often follows a hard-fought 
political campaign. An exercise n free speech 
and XX that you fught for. …
Disagreements across our
American instinct has never been to find XX in 
four courners … ut to forge unity from our 
great diversity and to find XX in that unity, 
even when it is hard.
When the elec is over … and cme together … 
principles that are more enduring than 
transitory politics. … some of our best 
examples are the men and women we solute 
on veterans day.
(16:30)
9/11 example. Example of military who meets 
eveyr mission/team. All looking after one 
another
Most diverse XX of our nation. … Sailers, … 
immigrant and native born. Christian muslim 
jew and nXX – all forged in common service.
Patriots who when they take off their fatigues 
put back on (camo of every life of America. … 
become mour teachers, … first responders, 
city council members, all still serving this 
country we love with a sense of duty and of 
valor.
Middle school student – Missouri – entered 
conteset essay about why vets are special. … 
when I think of veteran, I think someone (who 
will help
And will defend anyone based on race, xX, 
hair color.
After eight years in office, I particularly 
appreciate that he included hair color.
Our veterans are still XX (19 min)
Mentioned veteran projects (Tennessee, etc)
Whenever the world makes you cynicacl, 
whenever you seek true humility and 
selflessness, look to a veteran. …
Look to (irving XX) – born in Chicago. .. flew 
missions during WWII. When returned home, 
put medals away, kept humble re service, … 
(20 min) was walking down street in Chicago 
and was handed a ticket to see cubs play in 
world series. … (20:30) got married, raised 4 
children. …
On a june morning many years ago, anotoher 
one of irving’s daughters, carol, called to 
check in. … we can’t talk, your father’s being 
honored and we’re late.
For what? … for his heroism in the skies 
above Normandy 50 years ago. … (he had 
never told his children). Now ehn his children 
call to check in says, thank you for saving the 
world. (now 100?)
Whenever the world makes you cynical … 
whenever youdoubt - … stop to look to a 
veteran. (22 min)
It’s up  to us to ask and to listen, and to tell 
those stories for them.
It’s up to us to make sure they always get the 
care they need. When I announced my 
candidacy for this office almost a decade ago. 
…
We’ve increased funding for veterans almost 
85%. … fewer unemployed, more have access 
to healthcare. …
We know that not all wonnds of war are 
visible.
Together we began this XX.
It is still a tragedy that 20 veterans a day take 
their lives. We have to get them the help they 
need. … need to (keep working on delay in 
claims, wait time for care, resist efforts to 
privatize veterans healthcare.)
(24 min) – we can’t (honor our vets the way 
they’ve honored us but we can try)
We can always get each other’s backs. That is 
what VD asks all of us to think about. The 
person you pass walking down the street 
might not be making our nation’s uniform 
today, but consider that ( a year ago, a decade 
ago or generation ago) might have been one 
of those citizens (who was willing
 
May good bless all who served and still do. 
And may god bless the USA. (25 min)
 
 
 
Melissa Nann Burke
 
Detroit News Washington Bureau 



Friday, November 11, 2016
12:04 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool #4

Here's some color from ceremony at Arlington 
cemetery. Next report will cover POTUS 
remarks.

Honor guards from various wars, veterans 
groups, Gold Star Mothers/Families 
participated in parade of colors as the Navy 
Band played.

Inscription on the amphitheater arch says, 
"We here highly resolve that these dead shall 
not have died in vain."

Prayer for all veterans by Chaplain Michael 
McCoy of the Veterans Affairs National 
Chaplain Center. Pledge of Allegiance by 
Robert Swan, national commander of Polish 
Legion of American Veterans.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. 
McDonald was wrongly introduced as 
"Ronald." McDonald introduced POTUS.

POTUS began speaking at 11:37 a.m.



Friday, November 11, 2016
12:01 PM -0500


Subject: In-town pool #3

Marines in dress uniform were standing at 
attention lining the road leading to the Tomb 
of the Unknown Soldier.

US Army band played the Star Spangled 
Banner, as POTUS stood facing the tomb with 
hand over heart.

POTUS then placed a large wreath on a stand 
and stood by for several moments 
respectfully. Wreath has red and white 
carnations and blue-purple irises. Taps 
played.

Pool has moved to the amphitheater, which is 
decorated with U.S. flags. Amphitheater 
appears to be full of people.

US Navy Band performing/singing "America 
the Beautiful" as we entered.

Waiting for program to start. It's 11:11 a.m.



Melissa Nann Burke
Detroit News Washington Bureau



Thursday, November 10, 2016
04:01 PM -0500

Subject: Intown pool report #8 // Cavs event

POTUS arrived at the South Lawn event at 
2:27pm to welcome 2016 NBA champs 
Cleveland Cavaliers to the White House. VP 
Biden is with him, Ohio Gov. John Kasich 
attending as well. He spoke for about 12 
minutes.

Event is open press.

Vera Bergengruen

Washington Correspondent
McClatchy DC Bureau



Thursday, November 10, 2016
01:36 PM -0500

Subject: Intown pool report #7


Remaining transcript from Oval Office:

PEOTUS: This was a meeting that was going 
to last for maybe 10 or 15 minutes. We were 
just going to get to know each other. We had 
never met each other. I have great respect. 
The meeting lasted for almost an hour and 
half. As far as I'm concerned it could have 
lasted a lot longer. We discussed a lot of 
different situations, some wonderful and some 
difficulties. i very much look forward to 
dealing with the President in the future, 
including counsel. He explained some of the 
difficulties.....
Mr President it was a great honor being with 
you and I look forward to being with many 
more time in the future.

Your pooler and many others tried to ask 
questions. POTUS said to PEOTUS something 
like "these guys always ask questions, you 
don't have to answer" but not those exact 
words.

Almost under his breath, PEOTUS called 
POTUS "a very good man."

Please check against the transcript.

PEOTUS departed the White House at 12:52 
pm, according to a White House official. Your 
pooler  did not see the departure.


--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Thursday, November 10, 2016
01:34 PM -0500

Subject: Intown pool report #8

A few observations from the Oval Office spray:


The two men spoke for just over two and a 
half minutes.


POTUS wore a black suit and blue/silver tie. 
PEOTUS wore a dark suit and red tie. PEOTUS 
was slightly hunched down in his chair 
(meaning his back was not straight against 
back of the chair).


They were turned slightly toward each other 
as they spoke. PEOTUS looked around the 
room nodded while POTUS was speaking. 
POTUS looked straight at PEOTUS during his 
statement, his hands clasped. He nodded at 
the end.


White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest 
was in the room as well as PEOTUS aides 
Hope Hicks and Jared Kushner. Kushner took 
iPhone photos as they spoke.









-- 

Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Thursday, November 10, 2016
01:08 PM -0500

Subject: Intown pool report #5
 
Both men spoke briefly, only a few minutes. 
 
POTUS sat in the right chair and spoke first. 
PEOTUS sat on the left and spoke second.
 
They did not take questions (though many 
people tried).
 
Remarks to come.
 
--
Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Thursday, November 10, 2016
01:08 PM -0500

Subject: Intown pool report #4

Pool was ushered into the Oval Office at 12:35 
pm.

POTUS and PEOTUS were seated in the high 
backed armchairs at the end
of the room, as is typical for when the 
President speaks to world
leaders.

Both men spoke briefly. Will send remarks.

The White House says PEOTUS arrived at 11 
am.

Earlier, your pooler saw Denis McDonough 
and Jared Kushner a second
time, walking back from the lawn and across 
the Rose Garden while we
waited. McDonough led him up the colonnade, 
followed by the same group
of aides who'd left them on their own for the 
walk. They entered the
White House.


Anita Kumar
White House Correspondent
McClatchy Newspapers



Tuesday, October 25, 2016
03:49 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #4, 10/25/16 -- LAX 
departure

Marine One arrived LAX at 12:48 p.m. and 
POTUS, wearing shades,
emerged and strode to Air Force One, saluting 
crisply and jogging up
the steps.

We are outta here, bound for Andrews, at 
12:54.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Tuesday, October 25, 2016
03:47 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report # , 10/25/16 -- 
Gaggle and fundraiser departure

At 12:15 p.m., the motorcade rolled from the 
DSCC fundraiser in Beverly Hills.

During the fundraiser, Press Secretary Josh 
Earnest gaggled for about 40 minutes, and 
here are some highlights. Please check 
against the transcript:

On the new health care premium numbers, he 
said the "vast majority" of Americans are 
better off under the ACA, and President 
Obama has already acknowledged more needs 
to be done to help those who are facing rising 
costs, but Republicans have refused to 
engage in discussions on those or any other 
strategies for fixing the law.

"The vast majority of people who are 
purchasing health insurance through the 
marketplace will not see a significant increase 
in the amount that they pay for their health 
care, and that's because  the vast majority of 
people who are purchasing health insurance 
through the marketplace get tax credits that 
ensure that health care is affordable."

He said 7 in 10 people will pay $75/month or 
less. "That's a good deal, that's about the cost 
of a cell phone bill. That's a particularly good 
deal when you consider what options were 
available to individuals on the individual 
market before" ACA went into effect.

As POTUS described in his speech in Florida 
last week, "there are some things to address 
the individuals who are facing the situation 
that you've just described, and it will require 
Republicans doing something that they 
haven't done in seven years, which is to 
demonstrate a genuine commitment to talking 
about health care reform in a way that actually 
makes it easier for people to get health care 
and holds down the growth in the cost of 
health care."

He said Republicans have tried for seven 
years "to find an effective political argument in 
health care, and they've struggled to do that...I 
feel confident in saying it's not going to work" 
in this election.

On the latest Podesta email disclosures that 
Clinton campaign officials talked about having 
to clean up POTUS' statements on his 
knowledge of Clinton's email practices, 
Earnest said the president had given an 
"entirely factual" response:

"I can't verify the integrity of these emails," he 
said, noting that the Podesta emails were 
"stolen" and had been released as part of an 
effort "to undermine our democracy."

"The president did trade e-mails with 
Secretary Clinton, not a large number of them. 
...Of course the president had possession of 
Secretary Clinton's email address, but he did 
not have any knowledge of where her server 
was located or what sort of arrangements had 
been made to store her email."

Earnest compared it to when he trades emails 
with reporters but is not aware of where their 
server is located or what steps, if any, their 
news organizations are taking to preserve 
them.

"What the president said was an entirely 
factual response to Mr. Plante's question," he 
said referring to Bill Plante, the CBS 
correspondent who conducted the interview. 
"I recognize that some of the president's 
critics have attempted to construct some type 
of conspiracy about the communication 
between the president and the secretary of 
state, but they've failed to put forward a 
conspiracy that withstands any scrutiny, so I 
guess they're back to recycling thoroughly 
debunked conspiracies."

On the National Guard enlistment bonuses 
scandal, Earnest said the president had told 
the Defense Department that they should 
expedite their review of the matter, and make 
sure that service members were being treated 
fairly:

"His first priority is making sure that our men 
and women in uniform who signed up to fight 
for our safety overseas are treated fairly when 
they come home. When we make a promise to 
our men and women in the military, we need to 
keep it."

On proposals by some lawmakers that the 
service members' debts be waived, Earnest 
said, I don't think he's prepared to go that far 
at this point," adding that it might not be 
necessary to ensure fairness.

In some cases, Earnest said, "the process has 
dragged on for too long....and that certainly 
would raise questions about fairness, but 
each of these cases is unique."

"We're not going to nickel and dime them 
when they get back we're not going to hold 
service members responsible unfairly for 
unethical conduct or fraud perpetrated by 
someone else."

On POTUS remark to Jimmy Kimmel that we 
have no idea who caused the Netflix outage 
last Friday, Earnest said he was merely "using 
shorthand," and not commenting on the status 
of the investigation.

"I don't have an update in terms of the 
ongoing investigation," he said.

On the HFC amendment to the Montreal 
Protocol, Earnest said he couldn't speak to 
whether Congress will have a role in 
approving it, but noted that if that were to 
happen, if would be after POTUS leaves office. 
"There will be a very strong case to make to 
the Senate about why they should approve 
this agreement if their approval is necessary."

On the attack in Quetta, Pakistan, he said the 
US will support Pakistan in their response.:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those who 
were affected by this terribly bloody terrorist 
attack...The United States will stand with the 
government of Pakistan and the people of 
Pakistan as they confront this threat...We 
stand ready to offer our support to the 
Pakistani government and the Pakistani 
security services as they investigate the 
situation."

On whether Obama is having fun on this, his 
last campaign swing as president, in short: 
Yes.

"Many of you observed over the summer the 
president's obvious appetite for getting on the 
campaign trail and making an argument to the 
American people about the future direction of 
the country and about the election of the 
person who will succeed him in the Oval 
Office, and for months he observed a primary 
campaign that he was reluctant to engage in, 
but once the general election started, there 
was some pent-up interest, you might say, in 
engaging in the debate. And having the 
opportunity to travel across the country and 
address large, enthusiastic crowds who are 
clearly excited to see him out on the stump is 
fun. He gets a lot of energy from that."

We arrived at the Santa Monica Municipal 
Airport at 12:32 p.m. and are lifting to LAX for 
departure.


Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Monday, October 24, 2016
04:50 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #6a, 10/24/16 -- El 
Capitan Entertainment Center arrival

The motorcade arrived at 2:18 p.m. at El 
Capitan Entertainment Center in Los Angeles 
for POTUS' taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live! We 
passed the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood 
Boulevard, where crowds were assembled on 
either side for blocks in both directions to 
catch a glimpse of the motorcade. Your pool is 
holding in a room near the studio, hearing the 
occasional cheers of what sounds like an 
audience. We have not seen President Obama. 
The taping will be embargoed until air time, 
but your pool will endeavor to send excerpts 
as permitted by ABC.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Monday, October 24, 2016
04:46 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #6, 10/23/16 -- 
Burbank arrival and gaggle highlights

Marine One touched down at 1:51 p.m. at Bob 
Hope Airport in Burbank, not far from where 
the grey Guns 'n' Roses airplane (with band 
logo emblazoned on either side of the nose) 
sat on the tarmac. POTUS emerged a few 
minutes later and the motorcade was rolling at 
1:58.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest gaggled on Air 
Force One, and here are some highlights. He 
said POTUS would be spending a lot more 
time on the campaign trail in the days to 
come, although he wouldn't go into specifics.

"I would anticipate that the president will 
spend a significant amount of time traveling 
next week in support of not just Secretary 
Clinton's presidential campaign, but 
Democrats further down the ballot...The 
president's view is that the stakes in the 
election are high, not just in terms of 
determining who will occupy the Oval Office 
for the next four years, but how much success 
President Obama's successor will have in 
advancing their agenda through the Congress, 
so that would account for the president's 
passion."

"I would expect the president to be quite 
active on the campaign trail."

On POTUS' message to donors earlier today 
that Clinton must win big to repudiate Trump 
and all that he stands for, Earnest declined to 
put a number on it.

"I genuinely don't think the president has a 
specific number in mind, but I think what the 
president has in mind is the idea that the 
American people, that voters across the 
country would send a clear message to 
Republicans who have not been engaged in 
trying to govern the country, they've been 
engaged in waging small-minded political 
fights that are focused on obstruction, and 
that's led the party to nominate somebody that 
doesn't seem particularly committed to a 
conservative governing philosophy and really 
is famous for his ability to colorfully articulate 
his opposition to President Obama. ...So the 
president is hopeful that people will make 
clear that Republicans can't just pursue a 
political strategy that's focused on 
obstruction, but that they have a 
responsibility, particularly if they hold onto the 
majority in Congress, to actually pursue an 
agenda that they believe is in the best 
interests of the country and is not just 
focused on their own political self-interest."

Asked about the difference of the threat 
Obama sees Trump posing to the republic:
"He had confidence that despite those 
vigorous disagreements, that Sen. McCain and 
Gov. Romney would at least pursue the 
country's best interests as they saw it. He 
doesn't have that same kind of confidence 
about the current Republican nominee"

"the kind of rhetoric that we've seen from the 
Republican nominee, the kind of values that 
he claims to champion, I think raises 
questions in the minds of many Americans 
about whether or not he's committed to the 
kind of inclusive society that are consistent 
with long held American values and are 
consistent with the kind of country that the 
vast majority of Americans want to live in."

Asked if Obama would move abroad if Trump 
is elected, Earnest said:

"He's working very hard to make sure that 
nobody has to leave the country as a result of 
an electoral outcome that the president 
doesn't support."

On Donald Trump's comments about the 
Mosul operation being a failure:
Earnest said the least US troops can expect 
from Americans and those seeking to be 
commander-in-chief is "unconditional and 
unwavering support"
"It's far to early to reach that kind of 
conclusion," he said re Trump saying it's a 
failure. He said Obama has confidence the 
battle will be successful.

On Washington Post report that Obama has 
decided to let next POTUS make decisions on 
Syria re Plan B:
Earnest said POTUS has a "range of options" 
available to him and "has not ruled out using 
any of them at this point."

On the AT&T-Time Warner merger, Earnest 
said that "the White House doesn't take a 
position on the deal," and isn't looking at it, 
because it's a "regulatory decision." He said 
the Federal Communications Commission 
may decide to review it, and he would not be 
surprised if it did given the size of the 
proposed merger, but President Obama was 
not likely to weigh in particularly because it 
would occur after he has left office.

Next stop: the Jimmy Kimmel Live! taping. 
Special thanks to co-poolers Edward-Isaac 
Dovere of Politico and Carol Lee of the Wall 
Street Journal for help with gaggle notes.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Monday, October 24, 2016
04:33 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #5, 10/24/16 -- LA 
arrival

Air Force One arrived at LAX at 1:21 p.m.
Earnest gaggled in flight, and your pool will 
send highlights in a
subsequent report.

POTUS emerged at 1:29 p.m. and jogged down 
the steps to shake hands
with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and 
Mark Ridley-Thomas, the L.A.
County supervisor, who were waiting for him. 
They chatted for a few
minutes at the foot of the plane before the 
president gave them a
thumbs up and headed to Marine One, waving 
to some cheering onlookers
on the way. At 1:36 p.m., pool is lifting in 
Ospreys behind.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Sunday, October 23, 2016
06:01 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #2, 10/23/16 -- Las 
Vegas arrival

Air Force One arrived at Las Vegas McCarran 
International Airport at
3:27 p.m. local time. Under overcast skies, 
POTUS bounded down the
stairs a little over 10 minutes later, having 
changed into slate gray
trousers and a navy blazer, a light blue shirt 
and no tie. He strode
over to a small crowd of people assembled 
behind metal fencing on the
edge of the tarmac. He smiled and shook 
hands making his way down the
rope line for a minute before your pool was led 
away.

At 3:42 p.m., the motorcade is rolling. The 
president is scheduled to
attend a rally for Hillary Clinton and 
Democratic Senate candidate
Catherine Cortez Masto.

Julie Hirschfeld Davis
White House Correspondent
The New York Times



Thursday, October 20, 2016
01:33 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #3 - gaggle

Principal deputy press secretary Eric Schultz 
gaggled on board Air Force One.

A special thank you to the NYT’s Mark Landler 
for the assist. As always, please check quotes 
against the transcript.

Schultz began by offering a preview of POTUS’ 
healthcare speech at Miami Dade College 
(MDC), said he will “discuss what more can be 
done to advance quality, affordable, 
accessible healthcare in this country” and 
“the robust enrollment period” beginning Nov. 
1.

WH picked MDC because of the college’s 
enthusiasm about the open enrollment period; 
in the past it has held dozens of “enrollment 
days” with in-person assisters helping people 
sign up.

Schultz also announced the WH has launched 
a new online feature that highlights letters 
POTUS has received during his time in office. 
The first set posted today are about the 
healthcare law, they can be found at 
whitehouse.gov<http://whitehouse.gov>. He 
said future batches will be on different topics.

Question topics:

* On the debate

Schultz noted the president’s tweet this 
morning that HRC is “3 for 3” in the debates. 
Said the debates have been a chance for 
Americans “to see what the president knows 
first hand, which is that Secretary Clinton is 
the most qualified nominee ever to be running 
for president in our nation’s history.”

* On Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to 
accepting election results

Schultz referred to POTUS’ remarks during 
Tuesday’s Renzi presser, in which he called on 
Trump to “stop whining” about the possibility 
of a rigged election.

“First, he said the peaceful transition of power 
in our nation is a hallmark of our country,” 
Schultz said. “This is what makes America 
great. I’m not sure there’s anyone more 
diametrically opposed to what the Republican 
nominee stands for than this president, but 
even he said that, if this country chooses to 
elect Mr. Trump, he will pursue a peaceful 
transfer of power. He will escort him to the 
Capitol.

“That will be some car ride,” Schultz quipped. 
“But that’s in the best interests of our nation. 
And that’s consistent with hundreds of years 
of tradition.”

Said that the administration has been 
transition planning for months. Noted that 
CoS Denis McDonough called both campaigns 
after the conventions to accelerate the 
process. “Our approach has been evenhanded 
… that work is going to continue unabated.”

*  On possible administration actions to 
ensure the country accepts election results.

Schultz said there are no new actions to 
announce. He repeated that a candidate 
complaining about the toughness of the race 
“doesn’t portend well for the presidency.”

Also said that “right-wing allegations of voter 
fraud” have never “withstood scrutiny.”

* On comparisons of Trump’s position to Al 
Gore’s handling of the 2000 election.

Schultz basically dismissed the comparison.

“I guess my response is, in 2000, there was an 
automatic recount triggered in the state of 
Florida based the margins of the result,” he 
said. “After that was litigated, the vice 
president conceded the election gracefully 
and with dignity. And he did so because it was 
indeed in the best interest of the country. So 
I’m not sure this is Republicans’ best 
argument. In fact, it seems to argue to the 
contrary.”

Asked why it’s a point to the contrary, Schultz 
repeated that once the Florida recount “was 
decided” Gore, “much to the dismay of some 
on the left who were urging him to continue 
the fight, went ahead and placed his own 
political self-interest behind the interests of 
the country and conceded the race to then-
Gov. Bush.”

*  On Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks about 
aligning the Philippines with China

Schultz said,  “the U.S.-Philippine alliance is 
built on a 70-year history, rich people to 
people ties and a long list of shared security 
concerns.”

“We have not received any request from 
Philippine officials to alter any of our many 
issues, where we bilaterally cooperate,” he 
said.

Schultz noted that “we continue to be the 
Philippines’ strongest economic partner,” with 
foreign direct investment of $4.7 billion, more 
than any other country.

“We have always believed, the president has 
said repeatedly, that it’s in our interest for 
countries in the Asia-Pacific to have strong 
relationships with a responsible China,” he 
said. “We don’t consider this a zero-sum 
game.”

Schultz noted that President Obama cancelled 
a one-on-one meeting with Duterte during his 
trip to Asia, after a previous set of provocative 
remarks by the Philippine president.

Schultz reiterated the WH view that the U.S. 
does not take a side in the dispute between 
China and its neighbors over islands and reefs 
in the South China. “Our view is that these 
disputes need to be handled through 
multilateral adjudications and according to 
rules based on international norms,” he said.

*    On Robert Creamer’s visits to the White 
House

When pressed for further clarity on the nature 
of those visits, Schultz first expressed 
gratitude for the opportunity to reply, citing 
the administration’s release of visitor logs and 
its broader commitment to transparency.

Schultz then explained that the WAVES logs 
“don’t always reveal real-time information,” 
meaning that a person might have been 
cleared to enter the WH, but did not actually 
enter the complex.

“I don’t know if we’ve had the time to go back 
and look at every individual visit,” he said, 
adding that a lot of the visits for which 
Creamer was cleared were large events, “more 
than 1,000 people.”

“This idea that there were intimate meetings in 
the Oval Office,” Schultz said, “I don’t think is 
consistent with where the data is.”

“But if we have more information about the 
visits, we’ll let you know,” he added.

* On North Korea’s failed missile launch

Schultz said the U.S. military’s Strategic 
Command concluded it was an intermediate-
range ballistic missile. The launch did not 
pose a threat to North America, according to 
the military.

“We strongly condemn this and North Korea’s 
other missile tests, which violate U.N. Security 
Council resolutions,” Schultz said. “We 
believe this provocation only serves to 
increase the international community’s 
resolve to counter the DPRK’s prohibited 
activities, including through implementing 
existing U.N. Security Council sanctions.  It 
also underscores the need for the U.N. 
Security Council to impose additional strong 
sanctions in response to the DPRK’s nuclear 
test on September 9.”

--
Jordan Fabian | White House Correspondent | 
The Hill | 



Thursday, October 13, 2016
03:00 PM -0500

Subject: travel pool 3/arrival Univ of 
Pittsburgh
To: "Brian Gabriel" 
<Brian_A_Gabriel@who.eop.gov>
Cc: 

Motorcade pulled up to University of 
Pittsburgh at 2pm. Hundreds or locals and 
students lined the sidewalks in the final 
blocks of the drive. No visible protesters.

White House press office apparently having 
email issues.

Also: airport greeters:

Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania

Bill Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh

Rich Fitzgerald, Allegheny County Executive

Col. Gregg Perez, Wing Commander of the 
171st Air Refueling Wing

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
The Dallas Morning News



Wednesday, October 12, 2016
03:17 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #2
 
Some details about the performances this 
afternoon.


On background from a WH Official:

The Ballet Hispanico is a leading Latino dance 
organization based in New York City. Since its 
establishment 45 years ago, Ballet Hispanico 
explores, preserves and celebrates Latino 
cultures through dance. The Company's 
performances explore the diversity of Latino 
culture through a fusion of classical, Latin, 
and contemporary dance powered by 
theatricality, athleticism, and passion. 

DJ Leydis was born and raised in Cuba and 
has been involved in the Cuban hip hop 
movement since its inception. In 2005, she co-
founded Omegas Kilay, a Hip-Hop Theater 
Collective in Havana Cuba focused on 
presenting the poetry, music, experiences and 
perspectives of artists. Along with her partner 
DJ Yari, DJ Leydis created the first all-female 
DJ Mixtape in Cuba. DJ Leydis continues to be 
a keynote speaker on the subject of Cuban 
Hip-Hop Culture.

Geoffrey Royce Rojas, known by his stage 
name Prince Royce, is a singer and songwriter 
from The Bronx. In 5 years, Prince Royce has 
released four albums and won various 
songwriting awards. Prince Royce has 
performed at Música Latina: In Performance at 
the White House in 2013.
 
Olivier Knox Chief Washington Correspondent 
Yahoo News 



Tuesday, October 11, 2016
07:53 PM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool report #7 - Remarks at 
Hillary for America campaign event



Town Hall ended at 5:25.
Pool did not see POTUS exiting the University.
After a 10 minute drive, motorcade arrived at 
White Oak Amphitheatre.
Pool could see very long lines outside the 
venue.
Thousands of people were gathered in the 
wide, open air, amphitheater, with the sun 
declining behind the stage where POTUS will 
deliver remarks.
According to event staff, 7700 people 
processed through and there was an overflow 
of ‎1500.
The event is open press.

Jérôme Cartillier
AFP White House Correspondent



Sunday, October 09, 2016
06:22 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 5

Air Force 1 landed at Andrews at just before 
630. POTUS emerged from the plane and 
quickly made his way onto Marine 1.

Note, he did not leave through the normal 
entrance near the cockpit, but fold down steps 
next to the presidential shield. I've asked for 
an explanation as to why.

Wheels up at 642.

With that, I'll turn it over to the in town pooler. 
Despite some technical difficulties, it's been a 
pleasure detailing the movements of invisible 
POTUS this weekend.

Love, peace and sooooooooul!

P.S. Go Cubs!

Sent from my iPhone


Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
08:14 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 17

After a short drive we've arrived in the West 
Loop, a gentrifying meat packing district 
popular with hipster and chic foodie sets.

POTUS is supping at Swift and Sons.

From Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric 
Schultz:

"The President is having dinner with friends 
and supporters to continue his conversations 
regarding future plans for his Foundation, 
including the library and programming."

Unclear whether the restaurant will be 
showing the Cubs game for presidential
viewing pleasure.

We are holding down the street.

Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
08:04 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 9

POTUS motorcade arrived at the DNC 
fundraiser shortly before 3 pm local time.

Below are details from a Clinton aide with 
helpful attribution notices. The pool is holding 
in the vans, which are remarkably 
comfortable.

Let's go Cubs!

BACKGROUND (CLINTON AIDE)

  *   President Barack Obama is attending a 
Hillary Victory Fund (HVF) event today in IL.
  *   The HVF is a joint fundraising committee 
between HFA, the DNC and state parties 
across the country that was established to 
ensure the DNC and state parties across the 
country have the resources they need to help 
the Democrats up and down the ballot win in 
November.
  *   Funds raised through the HVF are now 
being used to fund and staff organizing 
programs in states across the country that 
register voters, recruit volunteers and 
organize Democrats to turn out and support 
candidates up and down the ballot. The 
coordinated campaigns are being run by the 
DNC and state parties and coordinate with 
local, state and federal Democratic campaigns 
to work to elect progressives across the 
country.

DEEP BACKGROUND (CLINTON AIDE/NO 
QUOTE)

Event (HVF)
Location:                            Home of J.B. and 
M.K. Pritzker
                                            Chicago, IL
Attendees:                          Approximately 30 
attendees.
Cost:                                   Attendees 
contributed $33,400 to attend.  Co-hosts 
contributed or raised $100,000.

Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
07:26 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 15

We've made a stop at Jefferson and Clinton in 
downtown. Here's a statement from Eric:

From Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric 
Schultz:

The President is meeting with Chicago friends 
and supporters to continue his conversations 
regarding future plans for the Foundation as it 
gets up and running.

Your pool is still trying to get details on exact 
location and participants. However, it appears 
to be Sepia, which apparently is a favorite of 
FLOTUS.

Also, apologies for the backlog of reports. 
We've been in some technologically 
challenged areas and cell service was spotty.



Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
07:25 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report 13

We're still in hold, but got this statement from 
Eric.

From Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric 
Schultz:

This evening, the President had the 
opportunity to speak with Colombian 
President Juan Manuel Santos to congratulate 
him on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 
for his work to end the longest conflict in the 
Western Hemisphere and to reiterate U.S. 
support for the peace process as President 
Santos pursues a national dialogue on the 
way forward for negotiations.
Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
07:24 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 12

After a ten minute leg stretcher in which the 
pool enjoyed delicious snack sized Doritos 
and trail mix, we were relocated around the 
corner. Though your pooler has still not seen 
POTUS since he voted, there were a handful of 
spectators to our relocation, several of whom 
were wearing sporting apparel from a local 
baseball team.

We have resumed our hold.

Sent from my iPhone



Friday, October 07, 2016
10:15 AM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #1

Oval Office on storms and voting.

A quick hitter before having to go out to the 
South Lawn. The president met this morning 
with Craig Fugate of FEMA, Secretary Jeh 
Johnson and Deputy Homeland Security 
Adviser Amy Pope. Met with pool at end of 
meeting. He said he had just received an 
update and urged people in the storm's path 
not to be fooled into thinking the storm was 
not dangerous as it works its way north. At 
least three times he urged everyone to "pay 
attention to what your local officials are telling 
you." He said that just as in Superstorm 
Sandy, it is the storm surge that is likely to do 
the most damage. He expressed concern 
about Jacksonville on through Georgia. "I 
emphasize this is still a really dangerous 
hurricane."

He said he has been in contact with all four 
governors of the affected states. Fugate, 
wearing a FEMA blue jacket, was seated on 
the chair next to him. Pope was on the couch 
on Fugate's side; Johnson on the couch on 
the president's side. The president leaned 
forward as he spoke and vigorously jabbed 
his fist in the air as he made his points and 
issued his warnings. "Do not be a holdout 
here," he said. "We can always replace 
property. We cannot replace lives." He urged 
people to contact the Red Cross or go on 
Whitehouse.gov<http://Whitehouse.gov> to 
find out how to help. And he expressed more 
concern for Haiti, "one of the poorest 
countries in the world."

He said he thinks FEMA has sufficient funds 
for this storm but looked ahead to the lame 
duck session when there can be discussions 
about figuring "out how to fund effectively" all 
the natural disasters, including the flooding in 
Louisiana. Back on the hurricane, he said, "We 
are still on the front end of this hurricane; 
we're not on the back end."

On his trip to Chicago, he said he will not be 
going to a precinct but will be filling out his 
ballot and voting early. He also said he looks 
forward to campaigning.

George Condon, National Journal



Thursday, October 06, 2016
03:00 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report No. 1

Obama welcomes Pittsburg Penguins

The president welcomed the NHL champion 
Pittsburgh Penguins to the White House on 
Thursday. Event was open press, but some 
fun color:

POTUS noted he has welcomed eight NHL 
champion teams during his presidency and all 
were from the United States, a point he has 
raised to America's neighbor to the north.

Obama also said he had welcomed the 
Penguins as champions in his first year in the 
White House, and a lot has changed since 
then. "Back in 2009, my hair matched the color 
of the puck more than the ice."

An infant started crying shortly thereafter and 
Obama drew big laughs when he spoke 
directly to the baby: "Don't worry; I don't have 
any more bad jokes."

POTUS was presented with his own Penguins 
jersey emblazoned with "Obama" and a mini 
Stanley Cup.

Obama left the East Room at 12:27pm.






--
Thomas Burr
The Salt Lake Tribune | Washington bureau



Wednesday, October 05, 2016
02:57 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #4 - Additional hurricane 
resource info
 
Some additional resource information from 
President Obama’s meeting at FEMA on 
Hurricane Matthew.
 
President Obama asked U.S. citizens to keep 
in mind that one of the poorest countries in 
the world, Haiti, which is already suffering 
from a range of previous disasters, has been 
hit “really hard by this storm”
 
“We anticipate that they’re going to need 
substantial help,” Obama said.
 
He encouraged U.S. citizens to consider 
helping those “who didn’t have a lot to begin 
with and our now getting hammered by this 
storm.” Those willing could get more 
information by visiting the Center for 
International Disaster Information at CIDI.org.
 
For those in the United States wondering 
about their own preparation plans, Obama 
recommended visiting Ready.gov  to receive 
clear instructions on how to make sure people 
are safe.
 
--
Franco Ordoñez
Latin American Affairs Correspondent
McClatchy Washington Bureau
The Miami Herald & El Nuevo Herald



Sunday, October 02, 2016
01:11 PM -0500

>
Subject: In-town pool report #2 - JBA golf

You guessed it, it's golf!

From a White House official:

Today the President will be golfing with Alan 
Solow, Marvin Nicholson,
and Joe Paulsen.

Motorcade arrived at Joint Base Andrews at 
11:39 AM. Press vans split
off one minute later.

Ride was relatively uneventful. Large group of 
smartphone-wielding
schoolchildren shouted "Obama!" as 
motorcade rolled down 15th St., SW
in the District.

Pool is holding at Burger King.



Sunday, October 02, 2016
01:08 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #1 - motorcade

Pool loaded into vans at 10:34 AM. Motorcade 
staged on W. Exec. Dr.
instead of the South Lawn driveway due to 
preparations for tomorrow's
South By South Lawn festival.

Pool did not see POTUS get into a vehicle. 
Motorcade left White House
grounds at 11:15 AM.

No word on our destination yet. Temperature 
in Washington is currently
68 degrees and overcast. Not quite rough 
conditions fore the
president's favorite weekend activity, but not  
ideal either. It's
certainly better this week's rainy weather, 
which had the entire city
bunkered down. After our drive, your pooler 
will take another shot at
an update.
-----



Wednesday, September 28, 2016
03:29 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool 5 -- Obama going to Peres 
funeral


From Josh Earnest:
"The president will participate in the funeral of 
former Israeli President Shimon Peres. The 
president will depart on Sept. 29 and will 
return to Washington DC following the 
ceremony on Sept. 30."


--
Dave Boyer
White House correspondent
The Washington Times



Wednesday, September 28, 2016
01:40 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool #4 -- town hall arrival, 
more gaggle


President and pool arrived at a fitness center 
on the grounds of Fort Lee shortly after 2 p.m. 
for the taping of a town-hall event with troops, 
to be aired by CNN at 9 p.m. Contents of the 
event are embargoed until airing. Pool is 
watching from a side room about 50 feet from 
where POTUS will sit.

More gaggle from Josh:
on Syria:
""I think that there have been serious doubts 
that have been raised about Russia's 
credibility and Secretary Kerry's statement 
today indicated that it's difficult to engage 
diplomatically with the Russians when they're 
not living up to the commitments that they've 
made in the context of previous diplomatic 
discussions."

"When you see the actions that they've 
undertaken or supported over that last couple 
of weeks, it raises serious doubts about 
whether Russia has a strategy that serves 
their national interests."

"Right now they appear to be pursuing a set of 
tactics that worsens the situation in Syria, that 
deepens the humanitarian tragedy that's 
taking place in Syria but also that increases 
the risk that Russia is exposed to."

"Russia's deepening their involvement in a 
sectarian conflict, this deepening involvement 
in that quagmire is not going to be in the 
interests of their national security"

"Our hope was that through diplomacy, we 
would be able to help Russia chart a path out 
of that quandary and in the direction of 
working effectively with the United States and 
our coalition partners to confront challenges 
in a way that would benefit the broader 
international community, but we haven't seen 
that kind of cooperation from the Russians 
and it's take a significant toll on their 
international credibility."


On Flint Michigan:
"In the last 36 hours or so, we've seen Leader 
McConnell and Speaker Ryan offer their own 
personal commitment to acting to provide 
those funds before the end of the year. That's 
later than we would have preferred, but we 
certainly welcome the commitment from the 
two Republican leaders. We welcome that 
change in position.
"The president was pleased to see this new 
commitment from Republicans to look out for 
those people in Flint that have had to suffer 
the consequences of the problems of the 
water supply.
"The commitment from Leader McConnell is a 
good development, hopefully they'll get that 
done this week."

Many thanks to co-poolers Greg Jaffe and 
Charlie Spiering for helping to transcribe the 
gaggle after short flight and quick movements.

--
Dave Boyer
White House correspondent
The Washington Times



Wednesday, September 28, 2016
12:03 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool #1


The president arrived at Andrews by 
motorcade due to intermittent rain at 12:48 
pm. He boarded Air Force One in a steady 
drizzle for the short flight to Richmond, Va., 
followed by Joe Paulsen, Josh Earnest, Kristie 
Canegallo.
Josh Earnest is expected to gaggle en route.

Dave Boyer
The Washington Times



Wednesday, September 28, 2016
12:03 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #2/motorcade to JBA


The motorcade rolled at 12:28 in a light rain. 
The threat of bad weather had the president 
driving to JBA for his flight to Richmond to 
tape a CNN town hall in Fort Lee, Va.

The pool did not spot the president loading 
up.

Todd J. Gillman
Washington Bureau Chief
Dallas Morning News



Monday, September 26, 2016
04:46 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #4

In brief remarks before 8th and final gathering 
of Tribal Nations during his presidency. 
POTUS noted he had visited more tribal 
nations than any other President and he ticked 
off a number of accomplishments including 
Generation Indigenous, "a network of 
opportunity" for young people. "We've got to 
keep fighting to the finish line," he said. 
"Lasting progress depends on all of us, not 
just the President." After shaking hands with 
folks in the front rows POTUS returned to WH 
where travel photo lid was called @ 430

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.



Monday, September 26, 2016
04:45 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #3

On background from the White House:

Prior to his remarks, the President will 
participate in a traditional honoring ceremony 
led by Brian Cladoosby, President of the 
National Congress of American Indians and 
Chairman of the Swinomish Indian Tribe. The 
ceremony will include an honor song and 
blanketing ceremony and the President will be 
joined onstage by:

Lynn Malerba, Chief of the Mohegan Tribe of 
Connecticut, who will introduce the President
Byron Nicholai, Youth hand drummer, Yu'pik 
Alaskan Native Village
Kelly Washington, Elder bird singer, Salt River 
Pima Maricopa Indian Community
Martha Martinez, Elder bird singer, Salt River 
Pima Maricopa Indian Community

The audience is primarily comprised of 
representatives from the 567 federally-
recognized tribes that were invited to attend, 
as well as over 100 Native youth delegates.

###


Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.



Saturday, September 24, 2016
06:34 PM -0500

Subject: WH report 8 - Obama departing 
Andrews

The press pool vans reunited with the 
president's vehicles here on base, and at 6:10 
pm the motorcade is departing Andrews. 
President Obama was on site for about four 
and a half hours. 

The pool held in its usual spot, the Burger 
King. I have little to report from the hold other 
than our noses being assaulted by salty, fried 
smells. 

Megan O'Neil 
Bloomberg News

Sent from Bloomberg Professional for iPhone



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:32 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 7 - Golfing at 
Andrews

The president is golfing at Andrews Air Force 
Base. 

His partners are:

Luke Rosa
Joe Paulsen
Marty Nesbitt (businessman helping oversee 
creation of Obama foundation/presidential 
library) 
Sent from Bloomberg 



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:31 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 6 - Obama departing 
WH

After a very brief stop at the White House 
following the museum opening on the National 
Mall, the presidential motorcade is rolling 
once more. 

Secret Seevice is wearing kahki pants and 
polos. Some might even describe it as golf 
attire. The skies are a bit gray here in D.C. but 
questionable weather hasn't kept Obama from 
hitting the golf course in the past. 

Megan O'Neil 
Bloomberg News 



Sent from Bloomberg Professional for iPhone



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:29 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 4 - more from 
museum opening

President Obama spoke from 11:56 a.m. to 
12:24 p.m. 

The event was open pool, so won't go heavy 
with the notes and quotes. But briefly, 
Obama's remarks started with James Baldwin, 
touched on how the new museum will help tell 
a richer and broader story of American 
history, and how an understanding of our 
history will help the country within the context 
of its current debates. 

Rolling back to WH at 12:42 pm. 

Megan O'Neil 
Bloomberg News

(Sorry for delay in getting reports out. WH 
staffers' say their email system is currently 
not functioning.) 

Sent from Bloomberg Professional for iPhone



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:29 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 3 - comments from 
Pres. George W. Bush, Justice Roberts

This museum opening event is heavy with 
presidents - Bill Clinton is also in the crowd.

President Bush comments follow:

"My first reaction is I hope all
our fellow citizens come to this place."

recounted that 15 years ago members from 
both political parties informed Bush they were 
about to introduce legislation to create the 
museum

"It would be fair to say the Congress and I did 
not always see eye to eye. If you know what I 
mean, Mr. President."

But in this case, Bush said he and his 
sometimes political opponents were in 100 
percent agreement about the need for the 
museum. 

"I'm pleased that it now stands where it 
always belonged -- on the National
Mall."

said the museum shows a commitment to 
truth, "A great nation does not hide its history. 
It faces it flaws and corrects them. This 
museum tells the truth that a country founded 
on the promise of liberty held millions in 
chains."

said by staying true to our principles, righting 
injustice, we will be a greater nation for 
generations to come

Justice Roberts

recounted major Supreme Court decisions on 
racial justice and civil rights issues, Brown v. 
Board of Education etc., said those cases 
document shame and hope along the road to 
equal justice under the law


"This museum provides a place for us to learn 
what life was like for those brave individuals 
who brought those cases to court." 


recounted a number of plaintiffs in famous 
cases, noted their courage

said anyone can read the court transcripts and 
decisions, but if you want to know what those 
cases were about you need to meet the people 
at their heart...

"And you can do that in this new museum."


Will Smith and Oprah just read a few lines of 
poetry, and now Patti LaBelle is singing 
"Change is Gonna to Come." 

Sent from Bloomberg Professional for iPhone



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:27 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 2 - the scene on the 
Nat'l Mall

The new NMAAHC is nestled on the National 
Mall at the corner of 14th St. and Constitution 
Ave. It sits in the shadow of the Washington 
Monument, and across the green from the 
Smithsonian castle. 

The streets in the immediate area, as well as 
the walkways and sidewalks on the mall, are 
fenced off, with the crowds behind them three 
people deep. 


President Obama and Michelle Obama, and 
George W. Bush and Laura Bush took the 
stage at about 10:35 a.m. Programming has 
begun. 

Some notable names to speak before 
President Obama:

President George W. Bush
Frmr. FL Laura Bush
Rep. John Lewis
Sec. David Skorton (head of Smithsonian)
Chief Justice Roberts
Oprah Winfrey
Will Smith



Saturday, September 24, 2016
01:25 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool report 1 - departing WH for 
museum

The motorcade, carrying President Obama, 
departed the White House at 10:22 am. The 
destination is the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture (I will refer to it 
as NMAAHC) on the National Mall. Obama will 
help officially open the museum, although the 
First Family and other VIPs have been 
provided with early looks.

Here in Washington it is 74 degrees, and 
partially cloudy. 

As the press pool loaded in the motorcade on 
the south driveway, we passed chief of staff 
Denis McDonough, his wife, and their son.

Megan O'Neil
Bloomberg News



Friday, September 23, 2016
05:31 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #5
 

From a White House Official:

The President met today in the Oval Office 
with Brendan Cox, husband of the late Jo Cox, 
the British Member of Parliament who was 
brutally murdered on June 16 after a meeting 
with her constituents in Birstall, United 
Kingdom.  Mr. Cox was accompanied by his 
two children.  The visit was the result of an 
invitation the President extended to Mr. Cox 
and his family when he called him on June 17 
to offer his sincere condolences on behalf of 
the American people.  The President reminded 
Mr. Cox and his children that the selfless 
service to others of their late mother had 
made the world a better place, and reaffirmed 
their shared commitment to carry on the 
legacy of her work.

Sent from my iPhone



Friday, September 23, 2016
05:09 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #3
 

President Obama addressed a crowd of about 
750 from the Grand Foyer of the White House 
during a reception for the opening of the 
Smithsonian’s National Museum of African 
American History.
 
[Please check remarks against transcript.]
 
“There are just so many friends here. It feels 
like one of our house parties," he said, giving 
shout outs to Lonnie Bunch, the museum 
director, who stood next to him and FLOTUS, 
as well a long list of celebrities standing 
before him.
 
A decade ago, Obama said, “Nobody had 
heard of this museum and now you cannot 
miss it. A breathtaking new building right in 
the heart of the national mall. And that’s what 
we call progress.”
 
He acknowledged the living history in the 
room, icons of the entertainment industry like 
Quincy Jones and Phylicia Rashad, the first 
black woman in space, Mae Jemison, "the 
woman who owns the universe" Oprah 
Winfrey, and, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, 
"drum majors for justice" like civil rights 
leaders John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson 
as well as the next generation of black leaders 
Deray McKesson and Brittany Packnett. And 
his "personal hero," Harry Belafonte.

"This is about people who for more than a 
century advocated and organized and raised 
funds and donated artifacts so that the story 
of the African American experience can take 
its rightful place in our memory. It's a story 
that’s full of tragedy and setbacks, but also 
great joy and great victories. And it's a story 
that is not just part of the past but it is alive 
and well today, in every corner of America. 
And that’s certainty true today in this house, a 
house that was built by slaves.”
 
The museum, he said, is more than just about 
telling stories of the famous. "It's not just 
about the icons" like Harriet Tubman, Dr. King 
and Muhammad Ali.
 
"What makes the museum so powerful, so 
visceral, is that it’s the story of all of us," 
Obama said. "It’s the maids who decided you 
know what, I'm tired of segregation and I'm 
going to walk for my freedom. . . . You see it in 
the dignity of the artifacts that are in the 
museum. . . That quiet determined dignity and 
hope.”
 
He said the museum is a testament to those 
who stood up when it was risky, when it was 
unpopular, and managed to change the world.
 
“You know, the timing of this is fascinating,” 
Obama said, as the crowd laughed and 
applauded. “Because in so many ways, it is 
the best of times, but in many ways these are 
also troubled times. History doesn't always 
move in a straight line. And without vigilance, 
we can go backwards as well as forwards.”
 
He said the timing of the museum opening 
allows Americans "to put our current 
circumstances in a historical context."
 
When Americans sees what's happening in 
Tulsa and Charlotte on television and visit the 
museum, they may say, "I understand. I 
sympathize. I empathize. I can see why folks 
might be angry and I want to be part of the 
solution as opposed to resisting change.”
 
"My hope is that black folks watching those 
same images on television and then seeing 
the history represented in this museum can 
say to themselves the struggles we’re going 
through today is connected to the past, and 
yet all that progress tells me that I cannot and 
will not sink into despair. Because if we join 
hands and we do things right, if we maintain 
our dignity and continue to appeal to the 
better angels of this nation, progress will be 
made."
 
When he reads his 10 letters a day from 
constituents and some ask him why he's 
always against the police while others ask 
why he's not doing more about police 
mistreatment of black citizens, he said, “I 
understand the nature of that argument 
because this is a dialogue we’ve been having 
for 400 years. And the fact of the matter is one 
of the challenges we have in generating a 
constructive discussion about how to solve 
these problems is what people see on 
television and what they hear on the radio is 
bereft of context and ignores history. So 
people are just responding as if none of 
what’s represented in this museum ever 
happened."
 
“When I imagine children -- white, black, 
Latino, Asian, Native American -- wandering 
through that museum and sitting at that lunch 
counter and imaging what it would be like to 
stand on that auction block and then also 
looking at Shaq’s shoes and Chuck Berry’s 
red Cadillac, my hope is that this complicated 
difficult sometimes harrowing but I believe 
ultimately triumphant story will help us talk to 
each other. And more important, listen to each 
other, and even more important, see each 
other. And recognize the common humanity 
that makes America what it is.
 
"So that’s a lot of weight to put on one 
institution."

In the hour leading up to Obama's remarks, 
civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, 
who has called for the creation of an African 
American museum in Washington since he 
joined Congress in 1988, posed for pictures in 
the foyer with the many other celebrities 
assembled.

Also spotted among the guests: actor Octavia 
Spencer, actor Lou Gossett Jr., actor Laurence 
Fishburne, actor Samuel L. Jackson, singer 
Janelle Monae, basketball player Kobe Bryant, 
Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Al 
Sharpton, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, 
Rep. G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina, 
Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and Rep. 
Jim Clyburn of South Carolina.



Friday, September 23, 2016
03:10 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #2

The press pool and about 750 White House 
guests for the reception marking the opening 
of the Smithsonian's National Museum of 
African American History and Culture were 
treated to a rousing performance by the 
Tennessee State University marching band on 
the South Lawn.

Guests sipped champagne, wiped their brows 
under the hot sun, and shook their hips to the 
band's rendition of classics from Stevie 
Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" to 
Snoop Dogg's "Gin & Juice."

POTUS and FLOTUS were not present.

Spotted from the Blue Room balcony, with a 
huge assist from Getty photographer Chip 
Somodevilla: former Attorney General Eric 
Holder and his wife Sharon Malone, Harvard 
President Drew Gilpin Faust and her husband 
Charles Rosenberg, Jesse Jackson, New 
Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, DNC Chair 
Donna Brazile, Senator David Perdue of 
Georgia, Rep. Al Green of Texas, Rep. Bobby 
Scott of Virginia, Rep. John Conyers of 
Michigan and many other members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus.


ON BACKGROUND from a White House 
Official:

The Tennessee State University Marching 
band is a noted, award-winning marching 
band.  Since its establishment 70 years ago, 
the Tennessee State University marching 
band, also known as the "Aristocrat of 
Bands", has performed around the world and 
in front of millions including the inaugural 
parades for President John F. Kennedy in 1961 
and President Bill Clinton in 1993.  Tennessee 
State University is located in Nashville, TN.


Tracy Jan
THE BOSTON GLOBE, Washington Bureau



Friday, September 23, 2016
03:08 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #2

The press pool and about 750 White House 
guests for the reception marking the opening 
of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of 
African American History and Culture were 
treated to a rousing performance by the 
Tennessee State University marching band on 
the South Lawn.

Guests sipped champagne, wiped their brows 
under the hot sun, and shook their hips to the 
band's rendition of classics from Stevie 
Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" to 
Snoop Dogg's "Gin & Juice."

POTUS and FLOTUS were not present.

Spotted from the Blue Room balcony, with a 
huge assist from Getty photographer Chip 
Somodevilla: former Attorney General Eric 
Holder and his wife Sharon Malone, Harvard 
President Drew Gilpin Faust and her husband 
Charles Rosenberg, Jesse Jackson, New 
Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, DNC Chair 
Donna Brazile, Senator David Perdue of 
Georgia, Rep. Al Green of Texas, Rep. Bobby 
Scott of Virginia, Rep. John Conyers of 
Michigan and many other members of the 
Congressional Black Caucus.


ON BACKGROUND from a White House 
Official:

The Tennessee State University Marching 
band is a noted, award-winning marching 
band.  Since its establishment 70 years ago, 
the Tennessee State University marching 
band, also known as the "Aristocrat of 
Bands", has performed around the world and 
in front of millions including the inaugural 
parades for President John F. Kennedy in 1961 
and President Bill Clinton in 1993.  Tennessee 
State University is located in Nashville, TN.


Tracy Jan
THE BOSTON GLOBE, Washington Bureau



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
03:41 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #6

Pool entered the room for the family photo 
spray at 3:27pm. POTUS was walking around 
to shake the hand of each of the leaders, who 
were lined up in three rows on risers.

POTUS shook hands with PM Renzi, President 
Erdogan and others. He stood between Ban Ki 
Moon and King Abdullah of Jordan.

Pete Selfridge said something to POTUS who 
then said aloud that they were missing two 
leaders. "We'll photoshop them in," he said, 
remarking on the capabilities of technology.

Pool was ushered out by 3:30pm and brought 
to a viewing box for the refugee summit about 
5 minutes later.

When pool entered Secretary Kerry was 
having an animated conversation with 
President Erdogan of Turkey, who is seated 4 
seats from POTUS.

Yusra Mardini, a member of the refugee 
Olympic team, spoke after a video on refugees 
played. Mr. Obama is speaking now. Will send 
notes when he's finished.






--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
03:37 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #5

Around 2:35pm, pool was brought into the 
room for the CEO council spray. POTUS was 
seated next to Commerce Secretary Penny 
Pritzker. As pool filed in, POTUS informed his 
corporate and celebrity guests: these are the 
people who follow me around everywhere I go. 
They laughed.

POTUS said all problems can't be solved 
solely by governments. Expect governments 
to take he lead on transnational challenges. 
But corporations, organizations have a role to 
play. He said summit is designed to address 
growing refugee crisis in Europe and around 
the world.

He announced the 50 companies committing 
more than $650 million to the effort (WH fact 
sheet went out this morning)

He cited Microsoft, TripAdvisor and others 
including "something called the Clooney 
Foundatjon for Justice, I don't know what that 
is." Everyone laughed. George Clooney and 
his wife Amal had near elbow seats to POTUS. 
Mr. Obama also singled out George Soros, 
who had on white headphones.

He said the money is aimed at providing 
educational and employment opportunities for 
refugees.

He said this isn't charity, this is part of heir 
overall mission and makes good business 
sense."  He said he expects some around the 
table were once displaced.

"If there's one thing that I hope comes out of 
today it is a shared understanding that the 
children we see in these refugee camps are as 
precious as our children. Somebody loves 
them just as much," he said.

As pool was ushered out POTUS told the 
group they had to make sure we were all out.

Pool is holding for family photo spray.



--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
01:30 PM -0500

Subject: Potus foreign pool report 2

Potus met with president of Nigeria Muhamma 
du Buhari in a room inside the UNGA. Pool 
entered the room at 12.07 and stayed there for 
less than 10 minutes.

Potus spoke first about the "very strong" 
bilateral relationship and praised "very bold 
reforms" that have led to "real progress" in 
Nigeria and against Boko Haram, thanks to the 
coordination with Nigerian military.
Potus emphasize the importance of  
"communities being able to recover from 
devastation" caused by these extremists. He 
mentioned "real danger" persists in some 
areas with regard to deliver humanitarian aid.

Both leaders discuss broader issues, as "very 
bold economic reforms" in Nigeria, the fight 
against corruption and climate change 
cooperation, Potus said.
As he prepares to leave the White House, 
Potus noted a "sense of urgency to put in 
place a framework for cooperation" with 
Nigeria.

Nigerian president spoke briefly, without a 
microphone, and it was really hard for your 
pooler to hear and understand what he was 
saying.
He spoke in general about "major problems" 
in security and economy that he found after 
taking the Presidency and noted, with regard 
to Boko Haram, that his government has been 
successful in the fight against them in the 
north of the country.
"I don't think Nigeria can't thank enough US" 
for the help, he said.


--
Miriam Burgues
White House Correspondent
Efe News Services
1220 National Press Building.



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
12:18 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #2

Pool held briefly after the conclusion of 
POTUS's speech before moving to the spray 
of his bilat with President Muhammadu Buhari 
of Nigeria. The speech was open press but 
couple of notes on atmosphere: FLOTUS and 
Dr. Jill Biden sat together in seats off to the 
side, close to the stage; Italian Prime Minister 
Renzi was there (Italy was seated just below 
pool's viewing box); Iran and Syria had 
representatives there; Secretary Kerry and 
Ambassador Power were seated together for 
US.

Pool was brought into the room for the bilat 
with Mr. Buhari at 12:08pm. The delegations 
were seated across from each other at a long, 
rectangular table. Among those on the US 
side: Secretary Kerry, Ambassador Power, 
Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines, 
Kyle Murphy, Gayle Smith.

Mr. Obama spoke first:

He said he was very pleased able to work with 
Mr. Buhari, said he's made progress while in 
office particularly on combating Boko Haram.
"We discussed here today additional ways 
that we can make further progress" not only to 
destroy Boko Haram but also to help people 
recover.
He said they discussed how Nigeria role as 
exporter, the need for a reduction of conflict in 
the Niger Delta region. He said Mr. Buhari 
wisely is heading up an effort to try to make 
progress on the issue. "We want to be helpful 
in any way we can," he said.
POTUS said Mr. Buhari has taken bold 
economic reforms. "We pledged to offer all the 
assistance we can in those areas," he said.
He said Nigeria has helped with climate 
change. "He's going to be president longer 
than I am," POTUS joked of Mr. Buhari, but the 
US and Nigeria have put in place framework 
for cooperation in years to come.

Mr. Buhari was very difficult to hear. He said 
they identified security, economy and 
corruption as problems early on and have 
been very successful on Boko Haram. He 
thanked the US for its support. And he wished 
POTUS a happy retirement.

Pool is holding before next event.
-----



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
09:45 AM -0500

Subject: Potus foreign pool report 1

Potus left the hotel at 10.07 am, a bit later than 
expected, and arrives in UNGA shortly after.
He is going to give his last speech as 
president in UNGA.
His remarks are open press.

--
Miriam Burgues
White House Correspondent
Efe News Services
1220 National Press Building.



Tuesday, September 20, 2016
09:44 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #1

President Obama left the Palace shortly after 
10am. Motorcade was on the move at 10:07am. 
Mr. Obama arrived at the United Nations for 
his eighth and final speech to the General 
Assembly as POTUS. Motorcade arrived at the 
UN at 10:13am, a bit behind schedule. For 
those keeping track, the weather has much 
improved from yesterday - sunny, nice breeze, 
not humid.

Pool is headed to viewing box for the speech, 
which is open press.


--
Carol Lee
The Wall Street Journal



Sunday, September 18, 2016
10:12 PM -0500

Subject: Fwd: WH Travel Pool Report #6

Obama at Manhattan Fundraiser

POTUS spoke for slightly more than 10 
minutes to the donors at Danny
Meyers' apartment before taking questions. 
Here are a few highlights
(please check against the transcript):

"It is a cliche that every election is the most 
important election of
our lifetimes. This time, it's true."

He then described himself, as he has many 
times before, as a relay
runner in a race.

"No one person is going to bring about all the 
change that is necessary."

"We've run a good race and we're much better 
off now than when I took office."

He ticked off the loss of jobs and prospect of a 
global depression in
2009. The economy generated 15 million new 
jobs during his presidency.
Obama highlighted last week's census report, 
which reported rising
family incomes and a drop in poverty rates.

Obama also cited marriage equality (to 
applause), the diplomatic
opening to Cuba, and the disarming of nukes 
in Iran (no applause).

"It's very hard to find an area where we're not 
better off than we were before."

"We now have one candidate in this race who 
is prepared to carry on
that same kind of governance. This is 
somebody who is smart who is
tough...She's displayed it again and again and 
again."

He said Clinton was "as qualified as any 
individual who has ever run
for this office."

"Her judgment has been unerring."

"And then there's the other guy."

"Some of you may have business with him. If 
you have, it doesn't sound
like it's been a pleasant experience." 
(Scattered giggles)

"This guy's not qualified to be president and 
he shows no interest in
even gaining the rudimentary knowledge 
required to make really  tough
decisions on a day to day basis."

Trump, he said, showed "no desire to get up to 
speed."

He described the Trump campaign as an 
"infomercial" and a "reality show."

Worse, he said "It's tapping into some of our 
worst impulses as a country."

"This should not be a close election, but it will 
be and the reason it
will be is not because of Hillary's flaws, but 
because structurally,
we've become a very polarized society."

"It's very hard for you to think you're going to 
vote for someone who
you've been told is taking the country in the 
wrong direction."

"I will also say there is a reason why we 
haven't had a woman president."

"We as a society still grapple with what it 
means to see powerful
woman. And it still troubles us in a lot of ways, 
unfairly. And that
expresses itself in all sorts of ways."

"The good news is, despite all that, I have 
confidence in the American
people that we're going to make the right 
decision and we're going to
win this thing."

Sighted in the crowd, Huma Abedin. The host 
thanked Michael Douglas,
but he was sitting in a part of the room 
obscured from pool's view.

Mark Landler
NY Times



Sunday, September 18, 2016
11:46 AM -0500

Subject: WH Travel Pool Report #1 -- some 
news ahead of Obama's trip to UNGA



Sunday, September 18, 2016

Good morning,

President Obama leaves later this afternoon 
for the UN General Assembly, and the WH has 
added two bilats to his schedule.

From Press Secretary Josh Earnest:

In addition to the previously announced 
bilateral engagements on the margins of the 
UN General Assembly in New York City, 
President Obama will have a pull-aside with 
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, 
September 19.<x-apple-data-detectors://1> The 
two leaders will discuss steps to deepen the 
U.S.-China relationship, while addressing 
issues of bilateral and regional concern, 
including North Korea's provocations.

On Wednesday, September 21--also on the 
margins of the UN General Assembly in New 
York City--President Obama will take part in a 
bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting between 
the President and Prime Minister will afford 
them an opportunity to discuss the strong ties 
between the United States and Israel, as 
recently underscored by the finalization of a 
new 10-year Memorandum of Understanding 
with Israel, the single largest pledge of military 
assistance in U.S. history. The meeting also 
will be an opportunity to discuss the need for 
genuine advancement of a two-state solution 
to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the face of 
deeply troubling trends on the ground. 
Additionally, the leaders are likely to discuss 
continued implementation of the Joint 
Comprehensive Plan of Action and other 
regional security issues.

###

Mark Landler
NY Times



Saturday, September 17, 2016
12:50 PM -0500

Subject: Print Pool Report 2


Motorcade arrived at Fort Belvoir at 12:14. As 
press vans peeled away from motorcade, 
again no POTUS sighting.

President's golf partners today are: Tony 
Kornheiser, Ben Finkenbinder and seemingly 
permanent foursome member, Joe Paulsen.

No word if today's adventure will end up on 
Kornheiser's sports show, "Pardon the 
Interruption."

Pool is holding at Bozzelli Bros. Deli in the 
recreational center, which feels a full state 
away from the links on this sprawling base.

Side note: Fotogs very upset that "comfy 
chairs" have been removed from our area. Call 
Monty Python immediately.

Nicole Duran
White House Correspondent
Washington Examiner



Friday, September 16, 2016
01:02 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report #1 -- Obama on bitherism
 
A pool report outlining Obama's remarks at 
the TPP pool spray is forthcoming, but first his 
reaction to ABC News' Jon Karl asking him 
about Trump's remarks on whether Obama 
was born in the United States.
 
"I, John, have no reaction and I'm shocked 
that a question like that has come up at a time 
when we have so many other things to do. 
Well, I'm not that shocked actually. It's fairly 
typical. We got other things to attend to. I was 
pretty confident about where I was born. I 
think most people were as well. My hope 
would be the presidential elect, election 
reflects more serious issues than that."
 


--
Chris Johnson
Washington Blade
Chief Political & White House Reporter



Thursday, September 15, 2016
11:37 AM -0500

Subject: In town pool #3 -- Remarks and return

POTUS spoke for about 20 minutes. Again, 
remarks were carried on WH site. Pool was 
ushered out at 11:36 am.

Motorcade was on the move at 11:55 am back 
to the White House. We were through the 
White House gates three minutes later at 11:58 
am.
--
Byron Tau
Reporter, Wall Street Journal



Thursday, September 15, 2016
11:36 AM -0500

Subject: In-town pool #2 -- Our Oceans 
Conference

Pool was ushered into a room at the State 
Dept. at 11:12 am. It is a very dark and very 
very blue room - unsurprisingly, it's ocean-
themed.

Sec. Kerry introduced the president at 11:13 
am. POTUS introduced at 11:14 am.

POTUS remarks are being carried live on WH 
website.

--
Byron Tau
Reporter, Wall Street Journal



Thursday, September 15, 2016
11:35 AM -0500

Subject: In-town pool #1 -- departing White 
House

Motorcade was underway at 11:05 am.

Pool caught a glimpse of President Obama 
exiting the White House, wearing a dark suit.

POTUS is headed to the 2016 Our Ocean 
Conference at State Department HQ in Foggy 
Bottom.

Arrived moments later at State. Motorcade 
came to a stop at 11:09 am.
--
Byron Tau
Reporter, Wall Street Journal



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
10:22 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 8 // Departing 
restaurant

The motorcade departed Oyamel at 10:06 p.m.

Excited crowds jumped up and down with 
their cell phones held high in landscape mode 
as the Obama family left the restaurant.

Pool spotted Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, 
dining on Oyamel's patio as the Obamas dined 
inside.

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
08:15 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 7 // Dinner

The motorcade arrived at the corner of 7th and 
D Streets Northwest at 8:35 p.m.

Per the White House, the President and the 
First Family are having dinner at Oyamel 
Cocina Mexicana.

Pool holding at Hill Country Barbecue across 
the street.

[image1.JPG]

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
08:15 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 6 // Departing 
museum

After about 80 minutes at the Smithsonian 
National Museum of African American History 
and Culture, the motorcade departed for its 
next destination at 8:31 p.m.

There was no coverage of the Obama family's 
private tour of the museum. Pool held in vans.

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
08:14 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 5 // Museum

After a motorcade of just two blocks, the 
President arrived at his destination at 7:11 
p.m.

The President and the First Family are taking a 
tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of 
African American History and Culture, the 
White House said.

Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
08:13 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 4 // White House 
departure

President Obama left the residence at 7:07 
p.m. We suspect the First Lady and his 
daughters were also with him, but we did not 
have visual confirmation.

The motorcade departed the south lawn for an 
off-the-schedule social event at an as-yet-
undisclosed location. We're told to expect no 
coverage of the event.



Gregory Korte
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
01:20 PM -0500

Subject: Foreign Pool Report Myanmar 
(Burma) State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu 
Kyi
 
 
Foreign Pool Report Myanmar State 
Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

ASSK arrived at the WH at 11.19 a.m. This was 
immediately followed by her meeting with 
POTUS.

Your pooler entered the Oval Office at 12.27.

POTUS spoke first welcoming Daw ASSK to 
the White House. Her first visit to the WH in 
this capacity represents the remarkable 
progress that Burma is undergoing. Referring 
to the transition of Burma to elections and a 
legislation, which though still has significant 
restraints from the previous government, 
POTUS said the new government is giving 
voice to the hopes and dreams to new 
generation of Burmese people.

As a consequence, POTUS said, ASSK is in a 
position to begin shaking a remarkable social, 
political and economic transformation. 
Referring to the progress made in Burma in 
the last several months, POTUS said: “The 
United States is now prepared to lift sanctions 
that have been imposed on Burma for quite 
some time. It is the right thing to do in order to 
ensure that people of Burma see rewards from 
a new way of doing business …”

Referring to the earlier decision to suspension 
of preferential treatment for Burma as a 
beneficiary developing country under the 
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) 
program, POTUS said if you combine those 
two efforts, the US, businesses and nonprofit 
institutions there is greater incentive to invest 
and participate in an increasingly democratic 
and prosperous Burma.

ASSK spoke next for more than six minutes.   
Thanking POTUS for the invitation, ASSK said 
this is an opportunity to thank the people of 
United States who helped and supported 
people of Myanmar (Burma) in their 
democratic struggle. “We have reached at a 
point where people did not expect us to reach 
five years ago,” she said. But there is so much 
that now has to be done.

Reiterating her push for national 
reconciliation, ASSK said fighting has been 
going on for decades.  There are officially 135 
ethnic groups and to keep them all in one 
country is not an easy matter. But we think, we 
can do that. What all of want is a truly 
democratic federal union. A union in which we 
can create true strength of our diversity.
Unity, she underscored, also needs prosperity. 
We want to be sure that our people are better 
off, she said.

ASSK referred to the steps taken by her 
government to look into communal strife in 
the country. “We want to make sure that 
everyone who is entitled to citizenship is 
accorded citizenship as quickly and as fairly 
as possible,” she said. “This is what we are 
trying to do in Rakhine (State),” she added.

The US Congress, she noted, has been more 
than friendly towards the effort of democratic 
reforms. Over the years the US Congress took 
many steps including sanctions to push 
democratic reforms in the country, she said.

“We think time has now come to remove all 
the sanctions that hurt us economically,” she 
said.

ASSK invited US businesses to invest in 
Myanmar (Burma). She hoped that in the next 
few weeks, the legislature would bring in new 
investment law. This along with lifting of 
sanctions Burma would be a very attractive 
destination for people from all over the world.

“We think, the country is in a position to take 
off,” ASSK said. The economic development is 
part of the democratic process, she said. 
There is still a lot to be done, she 
acknowledged.

The Burmese constitution, she said, is not 
entirely democratic, because it gives the 
military special power to the military. “I want 
our military to be an honorable institution and 
not respected by the people and capable of 
protecting and defending our rights. ,… but we 
do not think, politics is a place for the 
military,” ASSK said, adding that her 
government would continue to work to make 
the constitution truly democratic.

As ASSK concluded her remarks, Jeff Mason 
from Reuters asked POTUS what is his time 
frame for lifting sanctions.

POTUS said: “Soon.”

“Soon” he repeated as your pooler left the 
Oval Office at 12.41 p.m.  
On Tuesday CSIS held a conference on US-
Myanmar relations. Key note by Ben Rhodes. 
Link



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
01:19 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report No. 3 // Pool spray 
clarifications

Your pooler heard President Obama 
repeatedly refer to State Counselor Aung San 
Suu Kyi as "Aung Suu." Co-poolers noted that 
Obama more likely said "Daw Suu," a 
Burmese honorific which translates into "Ms. 
Suu."

Notably, President Obama did repeatedly refer 
to Myanmar as "Burma," in contravention of 
the current style.

Also, while previous pool report noted that 
Vice President Biden was not present during 
the pool spray, the Vice President's office 
confirms he did attend but left prior to the 
spray.


Gregory Korte
White House correspondent
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
01:14 PM -0500

Subject: Pool Report No. 1 // Aung San Suu 
Kyi pool spray
 
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi 
could be seen entering the West Wing at 11:19 
a.m., just ahead of the scheduled 11:20 a.m. 
start of the meeting. The pool was called into 
the Oval Office at 12:27 a.m. The official 
schedule said Vice President Biden would 
also attend the bilateral, but he was not 
present during the pool spray.
 
Suu Kyi sat in a chair to Obama’s right, in 
front of the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. She 
wore a white and gold printed skirt with 
matching sash and a brown blouse, with a 
trademark yellow flower in her hair.
 
Both Obama and Suu Kyi made remarks. 
Highlights below; check against transcript.
 
Obama welcomed Suu Kyi to the White House, 
noting that it was “not her first visit to the 
Oval Office, but her first visit in her official 
capacity.” He said her position is evidence of 
the “remarkable progress that Burma is 
undergoing.”
 
“When I was first elected, Aung Suu was still 
under house arrest.” He praised the “courage, 
strength and resilience of the Burmese 
people.” But he noted that Myanmar has a 
“representative legislature that still has 
significant restrictions from the previous 
government.”
 
As a result of the “remarkable social and 
political transformation,” Obama said had 
consulted with Suu Kyi and was “now 
prepared to lift sanctions that we have 
imposed.”
 
“It is the right thing to do to ensure that the 
people of Burma see rewards for a new way of 
doing business.”
 
He said the United States would both drop the 
sanctions and restore Burma to the 
generalized system of preferences. “As we 
combine these two efforts, I think this will give 
the U.S., our businesses, our non-profit 
institutions, an incentive to invest.”
 
“I can tell you as I visited as the first U.S. 
president to travel there, I could see the 
tremendous potential about to be unleashed.” 
He said that potential was best represented by 
Suu Kyi. He encouraged Americans to visit 
and invest in Burma, “a beautiful country with 
a rich culture.”
 
He turned to Suu Kyi, offering 
“Congratulations on the progress that has 
been made. It is not complete.” He said no one 
would have predicted this visit five years ago. 
“It’s a good news story in an era when so 
often we see countries going the opposite 
direction.
 
Suu Kyi began speaking at 12:34.
 
“We have reached a point where, as President 
Obama said, people didn’t expect us to be five 
years ago,” she said.
 
She said her first priority was “national 
reconciliation and peace,” saying Myanmar 
has never seen peace in her lifetime. “There 
was always fighting going on in one place or 
another.”
 
“What all of us wanted was a truly democratic 
federal union. We are trying to do that right 
now.”
 
“Unity also means prosperity, because people 
fight over limited resources,” she said. “We 
want everybody who is a citizen of our country 
to be afforded the full rights of citizenship.” 
She said Myanmar is a very poor country with 
tremendous potential, and has proven that 
divisions can be overcome, “that you can 
create unity out of diversity.”
 
She thanked the U.S. Congress for putting 
pressure on Myanmar to restore human rights, 
but said the time had come for the U.S. to lift 
sanctions. She pleaded for people to visit and 
invest in the country. “I expect businessmen 
to come to our country to make profits.” She 
said she expected the legislature to pass a 
new investment law “that I hope will be very 
attractive to countries around the world.”
 
“We have a constitution that is not very 
democratic, because it gives the military a 
special place in politics.” She said she was 
working to change the constitution and 
restore the military to an “honorable” 
institution capable of protecting the country.
 
She again thanked the U.S. Congress and 
Obama personally for his previous visit.
 
As pool was being ushered out, Jeff Mason of 
Reuters asked Obama about the timeframe for 
lifting sanctions.
 
“Soon,” Obama said.
 
“For all of them?” Mason asked.
 
“Soon,” Obama repeated.
 
Pool was ushered out at 12:41 p.m. Time 
elapsed: 14 minutes.
 
 
 
 
Gregory Korte
White House correspondent
USA TODAY



Wednesday, September 14, 2016
01:12 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #15 - POTUS greets 
Bratton, O'Neil

From Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric 
Schultz:

At the conclusion of tonight's event in New 
York, the President had the opportunity to 
briefly greet New York City Police 
Commissioner Bill Bratton and New York 
City's next Police Commissioner James O'Neil. 
The President congratulated them both on 
their recent moves, thanked both of them for 
their selfless service, and extended best 
wishes for their next steps.

Sent from my iPhone



Tuesday, September 13, 2016
10:16 PM -0500

Subject: Intown print pool 2 -- POTUS return 
home 

Marine One landed on the South Lawn at 10:17 
pm. Potus stepped out, saluted and walked 
into the residence. We have a full lid for the 
night. 

Sent from my iPhone



Tuesday, September 13, 2016
10:14 PM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report #14 - Andrews

Air Force One landed Andrews AFB at 9:50 
pm. POTUS stepped out at 10:01, walked to 
Marine One, which lifted off at 10:07.

FYI DCCC chair Ben Ray Lujan was on Air 
Force One for trip back to Andrews.

Handing off to in-town pool.

Linda Feldmann
CSM



Monday, September 12, 2016
03:19 PM -0500


On Background from a White House Official:


In advance of the 2017 open enrollment 
period, this morning, the President dropped 
by a meeting with senior Administration 
officials and leaders from insurance 
companies participating in the Health 
Insurance Marketplace. Administration 
officials underscored the importance of 
continuing the work that has helped bring the 
nation’s uninsured rate to the lowest level on 
record and solicited ideas for how to further 
strengthen the Marketplace. As part of 
maintaining an ongoing dialogue and 
discussing the shared goal of building a 
thriving Marketplace, Administration officials 
have met with Marketplace health plan leaders 
each year about open enrollment. This year’s 
meeting provided an opportunity to discuss 
best practices that HHS and health insurance 
companies will employ to encourage new 
customers to sign up and returning customers 
to shop around and re-enroll.
 
The following individuals attended the 
meeting:
 
Administration Participants:
•          President Barack Obama
•          Secretary of Health and Human 
Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell
•          Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett
•          Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Implementation Kristie Canegallo
 
Issuer Leaders:
•          Bruce Broussard, President and CEO, 
Humana 
•          David Cordani, President and CEO, 
Cigna
•          Darnell Dent, President and CEO, 
FirstCare Health Plans
•          Andrew Dreyfus, President and CEO, 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
•          Pat Geraghty, Chairman and CEO, 
Florida Blue 
•          Martin Hickey, CEO, New Mexico Health 
Connections
•          Dan Hilferty, President and CEO, 
Independence Blue Cross
•          David Holmberg, President and CEO, 
Highmark Health
•          Dan Loepp, President and CEO, Blue 
Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
•          J. Mario Molina, President and CEO, 
Molina Healthcare
•          J. Brad Wilson, President and CEO, 
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
•          Carmella Bocchino, Executive Vice 
President, America’s Health Insurance Plans
•          Scott Serota, President and CEO, Blue 
Cross Blue Shield Association
 
Additionally, today, the President sent a letter 
to every insurance company offering 2017 
coverage on the Marketplace to emphasize the 
Administration’s commitment to working with 
them, discuss recent actions taken to further 
strengthen the Marketplace, and ask for their 
help in signing up uninsured Americans. The 
text of the letter follows:
 
September 12
 
As we approach the last open enrollment 
period of my Presidency, I am writing to thank 
you for the part your organization plays in 
providing quality, affordable health insurance 
to millions of Americans through the Health 
Insurance Marketplace.  Some of you have 
worked with us from before the Affordable 
Care Act was enacted, while others have 
newly entered this market.  All of you have 
shared your expertise and experience as we 
set out to improve health care access, 
affordability, and quality.  I do not need to tell 
you the profound difference that access to 
good, affordable health care is making in the 
lives of millions of Americans who are being 
covered.  The Marketplace has helped 
contribute to a record low uninsured rate, and 
Marketplace enrollees report high satisfaction, 
improved access, and a reduced chance of 
falling into medical debt.  I appreciate your 
organization's contributions to that progress 
and your ongoing commitment to your 
consumers, your community, and our Nation.
 
            We know that this progress has not 
been without challenges.  Most new 
enterprises have growing pains and 
opportunities for improvement.  The 
Marketplace, while strong, is no exception.  
Time and experience will help drive that 
improvement, as will constructive policy 
changes.  In recent weeks and months, 
informed by ideas Secretary Burwell and her 
team have heard from key stakeholders, the 
Department of Health and Human Services 
offered a number of improvements to further 
strengthen the stability and sustainability of 
the individual market for issuers and 
consumers alike.  In July, I offered ideas on 
legislative changes that could also contribute 
to these goals.  And we will continue to listen 
and identify opportunities to do so.  These 
efforts underscore my commitment to making 
sure the Marketplace continues to work long 
after I leave office. 
 
            To that end, I want to enlist your help 
as we head into this fourth annual open 
enrollment period.  We know that signing up 
more uninsured Americans for coverage 
generates benefits all around.  Health 
coverage helps children excel at school, 
adults work more productively, and Americans 
of all ages live longer, healthier lives.  
Coverage also improves financial security for 
individuals, lowers uncompensated care for 
providers, and limits the "hidden tax" of cost-
shifting to privately insured people.  And since 
the remaining uninsured are 
disproportionately younger and healthier, 
signing them up improves the risk pool    and 
consequently the affordability of coverage for 
all enrollees.  Secretary Burwell has 
developed a data-driven plan to find and enroll 
those who still lack coverage, including by 
stepping up the outreach activities that 
worked best over the last 3 years; working 
with the Department of the Treasury to reach 
out to uninsured people who paid the 
individual responsibility fee for 2015; and 
increasing our focus on enrolling young 
adults.  We are also hosting a Millennial 
Outreach and Engagement Summit at the 
White House on September 27 focused 
exclusively on how to enroll more youth in the 
Marketplace during open enrollment.  We 
welcome efforts to increase your outreach 
during this open enrollment period.
 
            Together, we have been part of historic 
changes to the United States health system 
that have improved health quality, equity, 
affordability, and outcomes.  But our work is 
not over.  I look forward to our continued 
success.
 
Sincerely,
President Barack Obama
 

Alex Leary
Washington Bureau Chief
Tampa Bay Times



Sunday, September 11, 2016
07:29 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #10


Motorcade arrived at the White House at 6:11.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Sunday, September 11, 2016
07:29 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #9


Motorcade is departing Great Falls Park at 
5:41.

Apologies for delays/redundancies in sending 
out reports. The park has plenty to offer in 
scenery, not so much in cell service.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Sunday, September 11, 2016
07:28 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #8

POTUS is hiking Great Falls Park with Malia 
Obama, an aide tells the pool. 


Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Sunday, September 11, 2016
07:27 PM -0500

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #7

Motorcade pulled into the parking lot of Great 
Falls Park in Virginia at 4:44. 

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Sunday, September 11, 2016
10:38 AM -0500

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #1


Motorcade is rolling at 9:09 a.m. en route to 
the Pentagon, where POTUS will be observing 
the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attack.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo

###################

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #2


After a 10 minute ride by the monuments and 
Arlington Cemetery, motorcade arrived at the 
Pentagon at 9:19 a.m.

Per the White House, earlier this morning 
POTUS observed a moment of silence from 
the Oval Office.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo


###################


Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #3


POTUS participated in a wreath ceremony 
outside of the Pentagon. He was joined by 
Secretary Carter and his wife Stephanie, and 
General Dunford and his wife Ellen.

A trumpet played as POTUS stood solemnly in 
front of the wreath with his hand over his 
heart. They then moved to the stage.

The audience was told to lend its attention to a 
flag hanging outside the Pentagon as the US 
Army Brass Quintet played the National 
Anthem. A prayer was then said by Chaplain 
(Rear Admirable) Margaret Kibben. A moment 
of silence was observed at 9:32 in 
remembrance those who perished in the 
Pentagon attack.



Us army brass quintet


Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo


###################


Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #3


POTUS participated in a wreath ceremony 
outside of the Pentagon. He was joined by 
Secretary Carter and his wife Stephanie, and 
General Dunford and his wife Ellen.

A trumpet played as POTUS stood solemnly in 
front of the wreath with his hand over his 
heart. They then moved to the stage.

The audience was told to lend its attention to a 
flag hanging outside the Pentagon as the US 
Army Brass Quintet played the National 
Anthem. A prayer was then said by Chaplain 
(Rear Admirable) Margaret Kibben. A moment 
of silence was observed at 9:32 in 
remembrance those who perished in the 
Pentagon attack.



Us army brass quintet


Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo


###################

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #4


General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered remarks for 
about three minutes.

Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter spoke 
next, speaking for about six minutes.

POTUS began his remarks at 9:41. He began 
with a scripture verse. To the survivors and 
the victims' families, he said "Your steadfast 
love and faithfulness has been an inspiration 
to me" and the country. He praised "patriots" 
both civilian and in the military for "defending 
not only our country, but our ideals." His 
remarks referenced the recent attacks in San 
Bernardino and Orlando. "We know that our 
diversity, our patchwork heritage is not a 
weakness, it still and always will be one of our 
greatest strengths" POTUS said. He recounted 
individual anecdotes from victims' families, 
first responders and service members.

"As Americans we do not give into fear," he 
said.

POTUS concluded his remarks at 9:51. The 
band played "America the Beautiful" after he 
spoke.

(Please double check your pooler's quotes 
against official transcript).

The audience is a mix of service members and 
families, including some children. Weather is 
sunny but with a little bit of breeze.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo


###################

Subject: WH pool 9/11 report #5


Motorcade rolled out of the Pentagon at 10:08 
a.m. and arrived at the White House at 10:16.

Also a correction to an earlier report: Gen. 
Dunford's wife's name is spelled Ellyn.

We have a lunch lid until 2:30.

Tierney Sneed
Talking Points Memo



Saturday, September 10, 2016
09:26 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #4

After another long and uneventful drive, the 
motorcade rolled into WH grounds at 
7:40pm.Your pooler did not see POTUS again. 
We have a full lid at 7:45pm. Have a great 
evening guys.

Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown 



Saturday, September 10, 2016
09:25 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #3

After almost 5 hours of holding in a very 
lovely little golf cottage, your pool loaded up 
into the motorcade at 6:06 pm. Your pooler 
was able to catch a glimpse of POTUS from 
the cottage at a distance once while he was 
playing, but couldn't make out anything that 
was happening. As we loaded into the vans 
there was no sighting of POTUS. Motorcade is 
rolling out of the golf course at 6:25pm. As we 
left there were again curious crowds of people 
with their cameras out.

Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown (>www.symantec.com<)



Breanna Edwards | News Editor | Univision 
Communications Inc. | 101 



Saturday, September 10, 2016
01:36 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #2

After a long and uneventful drive the 
motorcade arrived at Caves Valley Golf Club in 
Owings Mills, MD at 1:25 pm. There was a 
small group of people looking curiously at the 
motorcade and taking photos. Pool spotted 
POTUS at a distance wearing what looks to be 
a blueish green polo, dark blue shorts and a 
tan cap. POTUS was shaking hands and 
talking to an unidentified group of three men, 
before walking on to the course.

White House says POTUS will be golfing with 
Kevin Plank, Marvin Nicholson and Joe 
Paulsen


Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown 



Saturday, September 10, 2016
01:35 PM -0500

Subject: Pool report #1


And we're off, folks. Motorcade departed the 
White House at 12:03 pm. Destination 
unknown. But it's a beautiful, albeit scorching 
Saturday.

Sent from my Android phone using 
TouchDown 



Friday, September 09, 2016
07:49 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #6: WH arrival/lid


At 7:21 p.m., after a 25-minute drive from Joint 
Base Andrews, the president's motorcade 
entered the White House grounds. The 
motorcade again followed most traffic laws, 
and had to deal with some late-Friday rush 
congestion. Your pooler did not spot President 
Obama specifically exit his vehicle, but the 
golfing party appeared to enter the residence 
around 7:24 p.m.

No word on how President Obama played 
today in the intense heat -- and after a lengthy 
break from the links. Dr. Martha Joynt Kumar, 
director of the White House Transition Project, 
reminded your pooler today that President 
Dwight D. Eisenhower also enjoyed the game. 
“I’m going to pass a law that no one can ask 
me my golf score," he once quipped, uttering 
a sentiment shared by presidents of both 
parties before and after Ike's presidency.

And at 7:30 p.m., we have a travel and photo 
lid. Have a great weekend, everybody.


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT

Sent from my iPhone


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT



Friday, September 09, 2016
07:48 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #5

Press pool has decamped JBA's luxurious 
Burger King and at 6:27 p.m., the vans are 
waiting to link up with the president's 
motorcade for the drive back into The District. 
The pool was able to view Donald Trump and 
Hillary Clinton campaign events on a wall-
mounted television as some poolers sampled 
items off the menu.


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT



Friday, September 09, 2016
07:47 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #4 - JBA


After an uneventful drive out of downtown 
Washington to suburban Maryland during 
which the president's motorcade followed just 
about all local traffic laws and patterns, 
including waiting on a crowded exit ramp, we 
entered the Joint Base Andrews gates at 3:28 
p.m. The president's vehicles broke off from 
pool vans two minutes later. A White House 
aide ends the suspense with this: "Potus is 
golfing at JBA today with Marvin Nicholson 
and Joe Paulsen."

Your pooler and others were surprised the 
president opted to hit the links on such a 
warm day, but consider this line from famous 
golf course designer Pete Dye: "The ardent 
golfer would play Mount Everest if somebody 
put a flagstick on top."

The pool is holding at Burger King.


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT

Sent from my iPhone


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT



Friday, September 09, 2016
07:46 PM -0500

Subject: In-town pool report #3 - pool 
assembling


The pool is being assembled for an "off-
campus movement" on this scorching hot 
early September afternoon in your nation's 
capital. No official word on our destination. 
Secret Service agents are dressed casually, 
lots of short-sleeve shirts. Your pooler, 
however, has this quote from Gary Player, a 
pro golf legend and nine-time major 
tournament champion, on his mind: "The more 
I practice, the luckier I get." Pool is loading 
into vans. No sign of POTUS yet.


John T. Bennett
White House Correspondent
CQ Roll Call
@BennettJohnT


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:43 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #9--wheels up / 
india bilat readout / greeters at airport

Wheels up at Laos airport at 5:30pm

XXXXXXXX
Greeters at airport:

Minister of Natural Resources and 
Environment of the Lao People's Democratic 
Republic: HE Sommad Pholsena
Ambassador of Lao People's Republic to the 
US, Canada, and Mexico: HE Mai Sayavongs
Director General of Europe and America 
department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 
Lao People's Democratic Republic:  Mr. 
Khouanta Phalivong
Director General of the Press Department at 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs : Mr. 
Phonethavy Boutdara
Director General Of Protocol Department of 
Ministry of Affairs: Ambassador Seng 
Soukhathivong
Director of American division of America and 
Europe of Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mr. 
Chatoulinh Sihaphom


XXXXXXXCC

From a White House official:

The President met today with Prime Minister 
Narendra Modi of India on the sidelines of the 
EAS Summit in Laos.  The leaders reaffirmed 
the importance of the deepening partnership 
between the U.S. and India and the value of 
our shared engagement in the region, 
including through the East Asia Summit.  
President Obama thanked Prime Minister Modi 
for his cooperation on a broad range of global 
and bilateral issues and commended Prime 
Minister Modi's leadership in addressing the 
urgent threats posed by climate change. The 
leaders noted our joint commitment, fulfilled 
by the United States in advance of the G20 
Leaders' Summit, to join the Paris Agreement 
this year as well as our resolve to adopt an 
ambitious HFC amendment to the Montreal 
Protocol this year.  Reaffirming the strong 
bonds of friendship between the United States 
and India, the President underscored that the 
United States strongly supports India's 
membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:42 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #9 -- motorcade 
on move / presser starts soon

Obama headed back to landmark hotel. 
Motorcade departed east asia summit location 
3:40pm.

Presser will start immediately after arrival at 
hotel about 10 mins from now
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:41 AM -0500

Subject: [WHCA Foreign] [WH Pool] Travel 
Pool Report #8 -- modi-obama meeting

US-India bilateral began at 2:42pm

Modi wearing off-white garb. Obama in dark 
blue suit. They grin and laugh. Obama asks 
modi whether they should shake for cameras.
Obama is all grins and appears to be in 
relaxed joking mood.
After a few photos modi stands. Obama says 
"oh, should we stand?" He buttons up his suit 
as if to say, yeah lets go all the way, do this 
thing properly.
The two then do a proper standing grip and 
grin.


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:40 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #8 -- modi-obama 
meeting

US-India bilateral began at 2:42pm

Modi wearing off-white garb. Obama in dark 
blue suit. They grin and laugh. Obama asks 
modi whether they should shake for cameras.
Obama is all grins and appears to be in 
relaxed joking mood.
After a few photos modi stands. Obama says 
"oh, should we stand?" He buttons up his suit 
as if to say, yeah lets go all the way, do this 
thing properly.
The two then do a proper standing grip and 
grin.
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:40 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #7 -- Quotes from 
Duterte's long-suffering spokesman 
(#toughest job at ASEAN)


When asked if Duterte's headaches happen 
often, his spokesman Jose Ruperto Martin 
Andaman said, "It's not regular, but when he is 
tired and he is always working. because lately, 
before we flew here to Laos, we had a very 
bad bombing incident...and the president was 
not able to rest on the weekend which is 
usually his rest day on Saturday. Because he 
had to attend to the victims, the victims' 
families and the investigation. And then he 
had to work here in Laos in bilateral meetings. 
I guess it's taken it's toll on our president."


"The president is coming now. He will attend 
the closing ceremony...hopefully he can come. 
We are waiting for him...hopefully he can 
attend the East Asia. hopefully he's better 
now."


Asked about reports of his daughter 
miscarrying, spokesman said, "I just found out 
now, I have to confirm it. It's a family matter. I 
cannot confirm or deny it."


"Yes he had a few minutes with Presdient 
Obama, but I don't know what they talked 
about because it was just the two of them."


The US-Philippines bilateral should be 
rescheduled. "we just don't know when."


Asked about south china sea issue, 
spokesman said, "Our president would rather 
take the soft-landing strategy and talk peace 
with China...It means that the president 
acknowledges the fact that we won the case, 
and we will not leave the four-corners of the 
decision. It's just right now we are on the side 
of peace. Our president wants to talk peace 
with everyone."


Of the chance of Obama & Duterte still 
meeting here, spokesman said, "The chances 
are high, anything is possible. We are still an 
ally of the United STates, we work with the 
United States. It just so happens that the 
meetings and the busyness of the schedule 
has taken over.
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:39 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report 5c -- POTUS Sept. 
11 plans

From a White House official:

On Sunday, September 11th<x-apple-data-
detectors://0>, President Obama will attend 
and deliver remarks at the Memorial 
Observance Ceremony at the Pentagon to 
honor the memory of those killed in the 2001 
terrorist attack. Secretary Carter and 
Chairman Dunford will also attend. Additional 
details on the ceremony will be released in the 
coming days.

Sent from my iPhone
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:38 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #6 -- Duterte 
mystery solved (sort of)


As EAS leaders take family photo, Duterte 
spokesman Jose Ruperto Martin Andaman 
giving strange impromptu press conference 
very close to the side.


Duterte was sidelined by a migraine headache 
and that is why he was not at ASEAN meeting, 
Andaman says


Spokesman said he could not confirm or deny 
reports that Duterte's daughter suffered a 
miscarriage. He said he is just hearing these 
reports as well, and doesn't know if true, but 
"It is a family matter."


There is still a chance that good that Duterte 
and Obama may still meet at EAS meeting. 
Bilateral between China & Philippines  has not 
been yet been set up but still working on that, 
he said.


Pool will transcribe his actual taped quotes 
from Duterte spokesman later if time allows. 
Pool wanted to get you this bit of news first.


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:37 AM -0500

Subject: Travel pool report 6b -- POTUS in the 
summit room, pool spray, no questions

After the family photo, POTUS  entered the 
summit room at 12:54 pm and stood talking 
with PM Modi for a few minutes before taking 
his seat at the enormous circular dais. Susan 
Rice sat behind him, listening on the headset 
as the Lao president spoke. Potus was subtly 
chewing his gum; we could not see his 
headset from where we were. The pool had 
expected to hear Ban Ki-moon speak, but 
there was a massive herding of the many 
press corps out of the room before that could 
happen.

Sent from my iPhone


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:36 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #5b -- clarification 
on fam photo

Family photo about to take place is for 11th 
East Asia Summit.

ASEAN fam photo was the one taken earlier 
before their meeting, the one we were 
scrutinizing for Duterte.

H/t jen bowman
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:36 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #5 -- ASEAN 
scene in main hall

While waiting eternity for ASEAN family 
picture, photographers in holding pen playing 
world leader bingo.
"I see Park coming."
"Look China PM Li Keqiang!"

Family photo taking place in convention 
center's main hall. Red platform with little 
numbers 1-19 pasted to the red carpet, lest 
leaders forget their place.

Fresh flowers adorn the ground all along 
platform's edge, slowly wilting from humidity 
and the inevitable march of time as they await 
leaders' arrival. (Same could be said of pool.)

Sense of general boredom among lower-level 
diplomats standing around waiting for their 
bosses. Punctuated every few mins by an 
aides launching into full sprint across floor on 
some urgent last-minute task. In one such 
case, task turns out to be iced coffee from 
starbucks.

Pooler wishes WHCA would assign him such 
an aide.


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:35 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #4 -- ASEAN 
intrigue as reporters hunt for duterte

POTUS arrives, shakes hands with us amb to 
asean. On eay to stage he shakes  exchanges 
warm words with ASSK. Walks up to stage 
with others for Family photo.

Sidenote: have now been huddled with video 
pool and others for while trying to ascetain 
interaction if any between obama and duterte. 
After a csi-like effort we have come to zero 
conclusion on anything, whether we saw 
duterte at meeting, what movements he made. 
Whether obama shook his hand. Whether he 
was spotted earlier on grassy knoll. (At this 
point duterte has become the Asean 
equivalent of britney spears....what is he 
wearing and what does it say about US-Phil 
relations?...consider that free story idea for 
any takers.)
Current thinking after looking at photos 
among pool is that duterte was not at meeting.

Okay 2nd sidenote: your pool now feels fairly 
certian in saying that duterte was not present. 
We compared and matched family photo with 
standing chart in media booklet. The man 
standing two ti right of Obama is supposed to 
represent Philippines, but he is most definitely 
not duterte. He is a short man with a too 
happy grin with white hair and the only man 
dressed in white (all other leaders dressed in 
dark suits + ASSK in her usual fashionable 
garb)

Now return to regularly sked program: 
Awkwardness as leaders on stage try to figure 
out handshake. End up crossing arms across 
chest to hold each others' hands in a weird 
bunting-style line pose.

Lower mekong initiative leaders are requested 
to stay on stage. Wedding photo like 
confusion ensues as leaders try to sort out 
who among them that is.

Potus sits down at head of table. Laos, chair 
of asean this year sits at other end.

In opening statement, POTUS does bruce 
springsteen-like rendition of greatest hits:
How often he'a met with asean leaders
"Reflects growing importance of asean and 
this region"
Asean key to "prosperous world"
Rule based order and human rights
economic cooperation
Importance of paris Climate change 
agreement
"We will continue to push for completion of 
Trans pacific partnership."
South china sea ruling in july "was binding"
"We'll continue trying to resolve issue 
peacefully."

His rendition seems well-received, altho no 
one at table holds up lighter for encore : )
-----


Thursday, September 08, 2016
08:34 AM -0500

Subject: Travel Pool Report #3 -- arrived at US 
asean meeting, colorful boredom

POTUS arrived at National Convention Center 
for US-Asean meeting at 10:44am.

Enormous hall of ceilings 3-stories high.

Ushered into completely packed US-Asean 
Summit or as they have it on screen "4th 
Asean-US Summit." (Matter of perspective, i 
suppose)
A rectangular table at center. Sidelines 
crammed with aides ready for diplomatic 
discussions.
Tense diplomacy talks occurring in press area 
as well Lao camera men who have been 
waiting in place for hours resentful (perhaps 
rightfully so) of pool and other WH reporters 
barging in last second and jockeying for 
territories and land features well reserved in 
advance.
Asean arbitrator has arrived and sorting 
things out.

Ministers begin arriving, including aun sang 
suu kyi (sp?), PM singapore Lee, & asean 
secretariat. POTUS not yet here. So Everyone 
looking busy reviewing notes ahead of 
meeting. Some aides busy as well with less 
official work: taking selfies.
-----