Pool Reports of April 29, 2025

WH in-town pool report #1 – Two minutes to press briefing

Good morning. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will hold a press briefing this morning with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. We have not received a two-minute warning, but it is scheduled to begin any moment now.

WH in-town pool report #2 — Press briefing begins

The briefing began at 8:38 am.

WH in-town pool report #3 — Press briefing ends

The briefing ended at 9:07 am ET.

WH in-town pool report #4 — Lunch lid

The White House has called a lunch lid until 12:30 pm ET.

WH in-town pool report #5 — Gathering for M1 departure

Your pool has been called to gather at the Palm Room doors for the president's departure. He's headed to Michigan.

WH in-town pool report #6 — POTUS gaggles

The president emerged from the Oval Office at 2:18 pm ET and spoke briefly to the press before boarding Marine One. Please note the president positioned himself on the far side of the pool initially and was inaudible to your pooler for half the gaggle; your pooler will review the audio shortly.

He did not answer questions on Canada.

The president said he would be turning his focus to a "big, beautiful" bill with Congress now that his first 100 days are over, stating it would be the most important legislation in the country's history if passed, citing its large proposed tax cuts.

The president said his EOs offering limited auto tariff relief were a transitional step. "It's a little bit of help," he said. "it's a little transition."

He said he'd be talking to Australia's leadership on trade and added, "India's coming along great. I think we'll have a deal with India."

Asked who he would like to be the new pope, he joked, "I would like to be pope," and then said he had no preference but mentioned the cardinal from New York.

POTUS then boarded M1, which lifted off at 2:28 pm ET. Handing over to the out-of-town pool but will try to pull fuller quotes.

WH in-town pool report #7 – Fuller POTUS quotes

On the Amazon story this morning: "Jeff Bezos is very nice. Terrific. He solved the problem very quickly. He did the right thing. Good guy."

He said there's no update on negotiations with Canada.

Asked if the media are the enemy of the people by an individual who claimed reporters are trying to obscure White House signs on the North Lawn driveway displaying deportees, he said, "I guess they are. I guess they are, right?"

Asked about negotiations with Congress over tax legislation, he said, "the Republicans are with us. I think we've got the big beautiful deal that's moving along, and I think we're going to have it taken care of."

Asked about his 100-day milestone and the road ahead: "Well I think either we've done everything, or it's in the process of being done. For instance, the border's in great shape – 99.9%, came out again today. 99.9. I would say that was my No. 1 thing. The economy would be certainly right up there, and I think it's doing great. We were losing billions and billions of dollars a day with trade, and now I have that down to a very low level, and soon we're going to be making a lot of money."

"A very important element that we're working on now, more important than anything with the border in good shape, is the fact that we want to get, and very importantly, the big beautiful new deal. If we get that done, that's the biggest thing. [inaudible] And I think we're going to get it done. We have great Republican support. If the Democrats blocked it, you'd have a 60% tax increase. I don't think that's going to happen. We have great support from Republicans."

"The next period of time, I think, my biggest focus will be on Congress, the deal that we're working on. that would be the biggest bill in the history of our country in terms of tax cuts and regulation cuts, and other things."

On his preference for the next pope, he joked: "I would like to be pope. That would be my No. 1 choice. I don't know. I have no preference. I must say, we have a cardinal out of a place called New York who's very good. So we'll see what happens."

On whether he would travel to Africa as president: "Sure, I would do that. I would do that. Absolutely."

On whether he'll speak to the president of Australia on trade: "They are calling, and I'll be talking to him, yes."

And on trade negotiations with India, he said: "India's coming along great. I think we'll have a deal with India... they want to make a deal."

On the auto tariff EOs, he said: "We just wanted to help them enjoy this little transition, short-term. If they can't get parts, you know, it has to do with a very small percentage. If they can't get parts, we didn't want to penalize them."

WH in-town pool report #8 – Dinner lid

A dinner lid has been called until 8:30 pm ET.

WH in-town pool report #9 — POTUS return and lid

Marine One landed on the South Lawn at 9:48 pm ET. POTUS entered the White House moments later without answering shouted questions from your pool.

The White House has called a lid. Have a good evening.

travel report 1 — overview from JBA

Greetings from Joint Base Andrews, from where the president is to visit Warren, Michigan, for a rally to mark his 100th day in office, which began at noon today.

Today will be his first domestic trip that does not involve a visit to one of his golf resorts since he took office in January.

Please note that under the WH's takeover of the pool system, there will be no wire services flying with the president today.

Further, this change in the pool makeup has eliminated the slot once filled by a dedicated "co-pooler" and reduced the total number of print reporters in each travel pool from five to two. This may affect the quality and speed of the pool reports.

Moreover, the WH stopped sending out transcripts of the president's remarks months ago, and only sporadically posts transcripts on the White House web site. It has been a staple of reports since your pooler began covering the WH under Obama to write "please check quotes against transcript," but there is not a point to such language any more.

Your pooler's advice is to watch for TV coverage of the president's possible remarks under the wing and hope the WH will stream any remarks if he visits the press cabin. Your pooler will provide quotes as early and as thoroughly as practicable.

We are flying today aboard the larger plane, a modified Boeing 747, tail number 29000.

travel report 2 – Marine 1 arrival

Marine 1 set down on the tarmac at JBA at 1437 and taxied to a halt just ahead of the waiting airplane's nose.

President Trump stepped out of the forward door wearing a blue suit and bright red tie and down the two stairs and walked the several dozen pacesto Air Force 1. In his hand was a red MAGA hat. He waved to the travel pool waiting ahead of the port wing, saluted the two Air Force master sergeants on either side of the roll-up staircase, then climbed up and stepped aboard at 1442.

We should be airborne shortly.

Per the WH press office:

Traveling on AF1:
Sec. Pete Hegseth
Stephen Miller
Dan Scavino
James Blair
Karoline Leavitt
Dr. Mehemet Oz
Chairman Michael Whatley

travel report 3 — Arrival in Michigan

Air Force 1 touched down at Selfridge Air National Guard base at 1557, 65 minutes and 425 miles from JBA's runway 19R.

The flight was uneventful, a bit bumpy about a half hour in, and then an exciting heavy crosswind landing. No visitors from the forward part of the plane.

travel report 4 — motorcade to air base event

President Trump emerged from Air Force 1's forward door at 1614, adjusted his Trump hat to account for the wind gusts and came down the stairs.

He chatted with his greeters and then climbed into his waiting limousine at 1615.

At 1617 the motorcade is driving to a hangar for the speech.

His remarks to the Michigan National Guard are set to be carried live on CSPAN and possibly other places.

travel report 5 — at event hangar

After a one-minute drive covering maybe a couple of hundred yards, the motorcade stopped at a hangar.

Pool was brought inside, which is staged with three banks of service members in camouflage seated on bleachers.

A pair of A-10 Warthog ground attack fighters are parked behind them on either side of a US flag on the far wall.

A lectern with the presidential seal affixed is on the concrete floor. Souza marches are playing over a speaker.

We are awaiting the president's entrance.

Per the WH press office:

Greeters:

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Major General Paul Rogers, The Adjutant General

Brigadier General Daniel Kramer, Assistant to the Adjutant General

Speaker Matt Hall, Speaker of the Michigan State House

Senator Aric Nesbitt, Michigan State Senate Minority Leader

travel report 6 — Trump enters, starts speaking

Trump entered the hangar at 1629 as the Souza march playing was replaced with Hail to the Chief.

Trump began his remarks at 1630 after shaking hands with the greeters from earlier at the base of the plane, arranged behind and to his right, with Gov Whitmer on one end and SECDEF Hegseth at the other end.

The remarks should be covered live on CSPAN.

They are about the continued existence of Selfridge air guard base, which Trump said he was about to announce.

travel report 7 — Trump remarks over

Trump spoke for 15 minutes, getting his most applause when he said the retired A-10s would be replaced with F-15s.

"As Commander in Chief, I'm proud to announce that very soon we will replace the retiring a 10 warthogs with 21 brand new F-15 Eagles."

He spoke about how much military enlistment numbers have increased and how bad President Biden was, claiming he did not care about National Guard units.

Spoke about his "golden dome" missile defense shield, about how fast he defeated ISIS and how he won Michigan in his elections.

He turned over the lectern to Hegseth at 1645, who spoke for less than two minutes. He was followed by Whitmer. She spoke for less than a minute.

At 1450 the local officials had finished thanking Trump and the pool was led out to the press vans.

travel report 8 — motorcade underway

At 1652 the motorcade is moving toward the rally site in Warren.

travel report 9 — arrival at rally site

The presidential motorcade arrived at Macomb Sports and Expo Center at 1720, completing the 11 mile trip in 28 minutes.

Most of the drive was on southbound I-94, which was closed off to other traffic. As we got back on surface streets near the event, there occasional onlookers, but very few compared to normal events.

A handful of protesters were assembled at the entrance to the community college, one holding a sign declaring Trump a "FAILURE."

travel report 10 — rally color

The staging consists of five grandstands arranged around the stage in a U-shape, with about 20 rows of white folding chairs set up in front of the stage.

Large signs on the walls proclaim "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!", "THE GOLDEN AGE," "BUY AMERICAN HIRE AMERICAN," "INVESTING IN AMERICA," and "THE AMERICAN DREAM IS BACK."

Electronic sign boards announce "100 DAYS OF GREATNESS."

The event is mostly full but there are plenty of empty seats 15 minutes before the announced start.

The sound track is that of a Trump rally — the pool arrived to "Gloria," made infamous for its use at Trump's Jan 6 rally — but so far has not hit deafening decibels.

The venue capacity is 4,000, but only about half or three-fifths is being used.

travel report 11 -- Trump takes stage

The president was announced at 1800 sharp and, following the full playing of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," began speaking at 1802 to chants of USA from the rallygoers.

He began with one of his favorite lies, that he had won the state in the 2020 election.

"Actually I won it three times."

The rally is being carried live on CSPAN

travel report 12 -- Trump remarks over

The president spoke for 89 minutes on a variety of topics. Attendees began trickling out at about 30 minutes and continued to the end.

Trump told his audience that many people were saying that he has had the best first 100 days ever of any president, that he had stopped illegal immigration and was deporting criminal aliens.

"We're ushering in the golden age of America."

Talked about his "front-row joes," calling out Mr. Wall, who dresses in a brick patterned suit, the women from North Carolina.

Criticized predecessor Joe Biden for allowing in an "invasion" of migrants entering illegally.

Criticized former VP Kamala Harris, mocking her first name.

"I had to fight two candidates."

Called migrants: "People of crime of the absolute highest level."

Said if he had not won in November, we would have been a third-world country.

"They cheat at elections, they cheat like hell."

Said he had deployed the US military to stop the "invasion" at the border.

Loading up big 757s with migrants. "They are sick."

Said the operator of the Auto Pen was actually the president, not Biden.

Transnational gangs, insane asylums, Tren de Aragua, TdA.

"We are delivering mass deportation."

Said the "worst of the worst" are being sent to the prison in El Salvador, then showed a video of migrants being dragged onto planes in chains to a driving music beat.

(The video went on for several minutes, and the audience cheered and chanted USA afterward.)

Trump said that Democrats tried to jail him because he was their political opponent.

Trump complained about recent polls showing that he and his policies are unpopular.

"Ninety-seven percent of the stories about me were negative, think of it, and yet we won in a landslide."

Claiming, again, that the price of eggs is down "87 percent" since he took office.

Calls Brooke Rollins his "commissioner of agriculture" and says she did a great job of getting eggs for Easter.

Claims were are states where gasoline prices are down to $1.98 a gallon and mortgage rates are down and prescription drug prices are down.

"The fake news won't ever tell you that."

Claims that grocery prices are down."

Back to $1.98/gallon a gas except now it's going on "in a lot of states."

Says he knows more than the Fed Chair about interest rates. "Believe me." Also the Fed chair is not doing a good job, which he is not supposed to do.

Says in "legitimate" polls he has approvals in the 60s and 70s.

Lies, again, about the 2020 election: "I like the three victories, which we absolutely had."

Claiming that trade deficits "lose" the country money.

"We lost billions and billions of dollars a day."

Then polled which insult is better for Biden: "Sleep Joe? Or Crooked Joe?"

Now on the topic of Biden going to the beach and falling asleep in his chair.

"He would fall asleep with cameras blazing.'

"Clean beautiful coal."

"You now China uses coal."

He then criticized the "Green New Scam" and wind turbines and electric vehicle mandate."

"I've already imposed a 25 percent tariff on all foreign automobiles."

An attendee near the front started some type of disturbance and was led out by security. Trump said the young man was actually a "she."

Brought to the stage Brian Pannebacker, the retired auto worker who frequently speaks at Trump rallies, who pitched a book he is writing about his support of Trump.

Trump then turned to the tariffs he began levying in his first term on steel and aluminum and washing machines, which he began after people came to him with their tears in their eyes.

He returned to his interpretation of tariffs and international trade, calling trade deficits to countries "subsidies" to those countries. The amount lost per day increased to $5 billion.

Then moved to the commencement address he is planned to do on Thursday.

"They're going to have the biggest crowd they've ever had."

"Trillions of dollars are pouring into the United States."

Back to claiming that Democrats cheat in elections.

One hour in, he brings to the stage Stephen Miller. "There is nobody smarter or tougher than Stephen Miller."

Miller shouts much praise about Trump for about a minute, hugs Trump, and steps down.

(Another rallygoer was led out, this time in handcuffs. No one on stage remarked on it.)

Trump then brought up WH aide Margo Martin, who said only: "Trump 2028, anyone?"

Then he brought up CNN's Scott Jennings.

Bragging about getting rid of paper straws and flow restrictors. "We've opened up your water."

"We're giving you gas stoves."

Discussed Elon Musk's rocket that gets captured by arms at the launch gantry, which has become a favorite story of his at rallies.

Making federal workers return to the office.

(About 70 minutes in, the trickle of departures has increased somewhat in volume.)

Back to complaining about the criminal investigations against him, says he was investigated more than Alphonse Capone.

Laptop from hell.

He brought back free speech and ended DEI and made it official policy of the US government that there are two genders, male and female.

Stopped men from competing in women's sports, puberty blocks.

Military has great recruiting. "Six months ago, nobody wanted to join the military."

Gulf of America. Mount McKinley.

Some summaries and quotes below. Pool was hustled out at 1930 back to the press vans.

travel report 13

The president's motorcade left the venue at 1935, heading back to the air national guard base.

travel report 14 — back at Selfridge air guard base

The motorcade was back at the guard base at 2000 following an 25-minute return trip.

The president was out of his limousine and up the stairs before the pool could get up to the wing.

We are now boarding Air Force 1 for the flight home.