Pool Reports of April 5, 2024

WH in-town pool report #1/ POTUS briefed on earthquake

Greetings from the White House on a crisp spring morning.

The press office sent the following:

'The President has been briefed on the earthquake, which had an epicenter in New Jersey, and he is in touch with his team who are monitoring potential impacts. The White House is in touch with federal, state, and local officials as we learn more.'

WH in-town pool report #2/ Pool gathers

Pool has gathered at the Palm Room doors ahead of POTUS’s departure to Baltimore.

WH in-town pool report #3/ Earthquake update

From the White House press office:

'The President spoke with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy about this morning's earthquake. The President said his Administration is in touch with state and local officials and will provide assistance if needed. The White House continues to monitor this situation.'

WH in-town pool report #4/ Pool at south portico

Pool has gathered at the south portico for POTUS’s departure.

WH in-town pool report #5/ Brief comments on earthquake and Gaza

POTUS emerged from the south portico at 12.52pm and spoke briefly to reporters.

He said he had spoken to the governor of New Jersey about the earthquake. The words "all right" were audible.

A reporter asked if POTUS had threatened military aid to Israel. POTUS replied only: "I asked them to do what they're doing."

POTUS then boarded Marine One and lifted off at 12.58pm.

WH in-town pool report #6/ Travelling with POTUS

From the White House press office:

'Joining the President aboard Marine One for an aerial tour of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge:

Governor Wes Moore (MD)

Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff

Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'

WH in-town pool report #7/ More detail on earthquake comment

Re pool report #5, here is some more detail on what POTUS said about the earthquake:

"Regarding the earthquake, I spoke to the governor, [he] thinks everything’s under control and is not too concerned about it. The governor of New Jersey. So [inaudible] all right."

(Thanks to Danny Kemp of AFP for the assist.)

Out of town pool #1

Greetings from JBA on a windy, cloudy day.

The out of town pool is about to lift here, where we expect to join and follow POTUS and Marine One during an aerial tour of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Unclear how much will be visible from the ospreys but will report upon arrival.

Out of town #2 / landed and rolling

Marine One landed at the Martin State Airport Landing Zone in Middle River, MD, at 1:34pm.

A few minutes later, as choppers wound down, POTUS emerged and got into the Beast. As of 1:43pm we are rolling to the next stop, where he will get a briefing and deliver remarks.

For the aerial tour, there were two loops over the site of the bridge collapse. Your pooler did not spot Marine One but hard-working, long-lens photogs may have been able to capture it.

Via WH:

Traveling with the President via motorcade en route to Maryland Transportation Authority:

Governor Wes Moore (MD)
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Tom Perez, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor & Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Samantha Silverberg, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Infrastructure Implementation
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Caitlin Durkovich, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Homeland Security Advisor for Resilience and Response

Out of town pool report #3 / arrival

We arrived at the Maryland Transportation Authority in Dundalk, MD, at 2:08pm. The motorcade ride was uneventful until the last few minutes. We rode on I-695, getting off and exit and circling around near the base of the bridge, the mangled portions ahead visible along with the ship in the water.

POTUS is scheduled to receive an operational briefing and meet with first responders, which will be pooled. He will then deliver public remarks outside.

Out of town pool report #4 / briefing

For the briefing, POTUS entered a room with four large television screens that displayed images of the ship, collapsed bridge, and an aerial map.

POTUS chummed in with questions, and at one point made a joke (hard to hear but sounded like it had to do with paying tolls).

Briefers talked with him about removing the ship and the collapsed bridge to restore commerce to the port. They hope to remove sections to open alternate channels and get more ships.

Brigadier General John Lloyd, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said one task is to remove a large section sitting on the ship. It is 5,000 tons and 125 feet high. They are trying to cut that piece off the ship and remove it, so the ship can also be moved. He also described a "mangled mess" below the water. He said he had 51 divers and 12 cranes on site, and all that he needed.

Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, from the Maryland Department of Transportation, talked about the economic impact with the port closed, and vehicle traffic diverted. He said the $60 million in early federal funds have been useful.

Nearly a dozen first responders stood to the side, with Maryland and American flags behind them. After the briefing, POTUS went over and saluted each of them and shook their hands. Gov. Moore followed just behind him. POTUS spoke quietly and it was difficult to make out exactly what he was saying (with some he appeared to be exchanging challenge coins but it wasn't clear if he was the giver or recipient). After he got halfway through those exchanges, pool was moved outside where he will deliver remarks. Those will be public, but will provide any additional color from here.

From the WH:

The President is participating in an operational briefing on response and recovery efforts.

Briefing Participants
Governor Wes Moore (MD)
Senator Ben Cardin (MD)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD)
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-7)
Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore, MD
Johnny Olszewski, County Executive, Baltimore County
Steuart Pittman Jr., County Executive, Anne Arundel
Secretary Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland Department of Transportation
Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath, United States Coast Guard
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Brigadier General John Lloyd, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Out of town pool report #5 / speech

It was blustery and cold during POTUS public remarks — the nearby flags waving vigorously — in which he declared: "We're going to move heaven and earth to rebuild this bridge." He talked about his family ties to Baltimore, and the amount of time he spent driving over the bridge.

Before the speech, as he walked near the pool on the way to the stage, he did not respond to a easily heard question from Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg about whether the company should shoulder some of the costs related to the bridge.

After his remarks, POTUS walked back into the Maryland Transportation Authority Police building. He is scheduled to meet with family members of the victims from the bridge collapse. That meeting is closed so pool is holding in vans.

The White House also provided the speaking program:

Speaking Program
Johnny Olszewski, County Executive, Baltimore County
Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore, MD
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-7)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD)
Senator Ben Cardin (MD)
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Governor Wes Moore (MD)
The President

Out of town pool report #6 / rolling

POTUS was inside for about an hour, meeting privately with loved ones and family members of those who died during the bridge collapse.

We are now rolling back to the landing zone, with POTUS planning to take a short Marine One flight to Delaware.

Out of town report #7 / lifting for DANG

We had a brisk but uneventful 25-minute motorcade ride — one that left in its wake some hairy Friday rush hour traffic — and arrived back to the Martin State Airport Landing Zone.

POTUS boarded Marine One ant 5:16pm, to depart on a short flight to Delaware Air National Guard Base.

Out of town pool report #8 / DANG arrival

Marine One landed around 5:50pm. POTUS emerged, shook hands with greeters, and got into the car. We are rolling at 5:58pm.

From the WH:

Traveling with the President aboard Marine One en route to Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff

And:

Greeting the President upon arrival at Delaware Air National Guard Base:

Colonel Christopher M. Farmer, Director of Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Delaware
Colonel Timothy J. Hoyle, Director of State Partnership Program

Out of town pool report #9 / residence and lid

We arrived at POTUS' residence at 6:10pm.

As we pulled into his neighborhood there were half a dozen people at the corner protesting the war in Gaza. Signs were up that read, "Israel kills kids, Biden funds," and "Free Palestine."

As soon as we arrived at the residence, a lid was called.

Out of town pool report #10 / week ahead

Passing along the week ahead schedule, as just provided by the White House:

WEEK AHEAD 4/7-4/14

On Monday, the President will depart Wilmington, Delaware en route to Madison, Wisconsin. Then, the President will deliver remarks on lowering costs for Americans. After, the President will depart Madison, Wisconsin en route to Chicago, Illinois. The President will then participate in a campaign reception. In the evening, the President will return to the White House.

On Tuesday, the President and the First Lady will welcome Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Mrs. Kishida Yuko of Japan to the White House.

On Wednesday, the President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida of Japan for an Official Visit to the United States, which will include a State Dinner. The visit will underscore the deep and enduring Alliance between the United States and Japan and the two nations’ shared commitment to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida will discuss strengthening collaboration on critical issues for both nations in order to ensure the Alliance is well equipped to respond to ever-evolving regional and global challenges. The Vice President and the Second Gentleman will attend.

On Friday, the President will depart the White House en route to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

On Sunday, the President will return to the White House.