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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) JoshuaShapiro, 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
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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 ----- Unsubscribe 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. -----