Pool Reports of August 1, 2024

In-Town Pool Report 1: URGENT RSVP LINK

From the press office:

Please RSVP here for the POTUS remarks

In-town pool report 2: State dining room

Pool has been gathered and is waiting in the state dining room for POTUS. Remarks will be live streamed and broadcast so I will not relay them but will provide further color.

In-town pool report 3: Two-minute warning

POTUS remarks incoming

In-town pool report 4: Enter POTUS

POTUS entered the State Dining Room at 1218

He is speaking while flanked by family members.

Remarks are being broadcast.

From White House:

The President is delivering remarks on freeing Americans detained in Russia.

Families of the Freed Detained Americans:

To the President's right: Elizabeth Whelan (sister ofPaul Whelan)

To Elizabeth's right: Family of Alsu Kurmasheva

-Pavel Butorin (husband)

-Bibi Butorin (daughter)

- Miriam Butorin (daughter)

To the President's left: Family of Evan Gershkovich

-Mikhail Gershkovich (father)

- Ella Milman (mother)

- Danielle Gershkovich (sister)

- Anthony Huczek (brother in law)

To Evan Gershkovich's family's left: Family of Vladimir Kara-Murza

- Evgeniya Kara-Murza (wife)

- Ekaterina Kara-Murza (daughter)

- Daniil Kara-Murza (son)

In-town pool report 5: POTUS wraps

POTUS exited at 1229. He took questions from several reporters and led the assembled press in singing "Happy Birthday" to a daughter of one of the returned hostages, who turns 13 tomorrow.

In-town pool report 6: Briefing delay

The press briefing is now scheduled to start at 1305.

In-Town Pool Report 7: Two minutes to briefing

2 minute warning as of 1312

In-Town Pool Report 8: Briefing begins

KJP and Jake Sullivan entered at 1315

The briefing is being broadcast and livestreamed.

In-Town Pool Report 9: Briefing over

The press briefing ended at 1406

Jake Sullivan and KJP took questions on a number of subjects, including the prisoner exchange and the situation in the Middle East.

More from the press office:

From a WH official:

Today, as the United States celebrates the release of Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Paul Whelan, we fly the Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag to remember all the other Americans who remain held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. The flag symbolizes our enduring commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our fellow Americans, and our sacred vow to continue working tirelessly until every American is accounted for and returns safely back home. We see you, and we stand with you. This is the first time the flag will be flown at the White House in celebration.

In-town pool report 10: Lunch lid!

We have a lunch lid to 1700.

In-Town Pool Report 11: Extended lid and readout

The White House has extended the lunch lid to 2100, which makes it a lunch and dinner lid.

Also, the press office provides the following readout:

This afternoon, the President spoke individually with Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to thank them for their partnership on today's historic deal that brought home Americans and others detained in Russia. The President expressed his appreciation for their support during the complex negotiations and active engagement throughout the process to achieve this monumental release.

In-Town Pool Report 12: Gathering for motorcade

Pool has been summoned to gather for departure to JBA. It is now 2233.

In-town pool report 13: Rolling to JBA

Motorcade is moving en route JBA as of 2258.

Pool did not witness POTUS exit the residence or enter his vehicle.

In-town pool report 14: arrival and travelers

Motorcade entered the gates of Joint Base Andrews at 2316.

From the press office —

Traveling with the President en route to Joint Base Andrews:

Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
Jon Finer, Assistant to the President & Principal Deputy National Security Advisor
Karine Jean-Pierre, Assistant to the President & Press Secretary
Richard Ruffner, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Ashley Williams, Deputy Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of Strategic Outreach
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President

In-town pool report 15: Flight line

Motorcade proceeded to the passenger terminal and came to a stop at 2320.

Pool has been escorted through passenger terminal security and is holding in front of a press riser that has been set up.

Pool did not see POTUS' vehicle but VPOTUS' armored SUV was spotted idling outside the passenger terminal. Pool has not seen VPOTUS.

In-town pool report 16: Wheels down

The aircraft carrying the freed prisoners was wheels down at 2337 and is now taxing to the press riser.

In-town pool report 17: Stopped and chocked

The plane came to a stop at 2343 and stopped engines a minute later. POTUS and VPOTUS walked toward the plane and waited at bottom of airstairs.

Paul Whelan exited first and greeted POTUS, " how you doing, sir?"

He then spoke to POTUS/VPOTUS and hugged them both but pool did not hear them, they hugged his sister to applause while Evan Gershkovich exited, hugged VPOTUS, then POTUS and spoke to both.

Evan then hugged family members while Alsu exited and spoke first to POTUS, then shook hands with and said Ike to VPOTUS.

POTUS said " happy birthday" to her daughter who ran up to her, crying, saying " I love you so much, I can't believe you're here."

Her husband said "this is real"

Whelan then came back to POTUS and shook his hand and thanked him.

POTUS and VPOTUS spoke, please check broadcast while I transcribe my audio and send quotes.

In-town pool report 18 — rolling back

Pool loaded back into motorcade at 0007. We are rolling for the White House as of 0016.

I will send POTUS/VPOTUS quotes ASAP.

In-Town Pool Report 19: POTUS/VPOTUS Q&A quotes

Please, PLEASE check against official transcript when it comes out. I have included a link to an Otter below.

https://otter.ai/u/Gmw7Kp8dsSOZLTitTk-opZsImKY?utm_source=copy_url

Q: Mr President, how does it feel?

POTUS: "It feels wonderful, it was a long time coming.

I meant what I said, alliances make a difference, [allies] stepped up and took a chance for us.

I asked them to do some things that were against her immediate self interest? And really very difficult for them to do, particularly Germany and Slovenia…"

Q: "what's your message to other countries that may think that taking Americans into their custody unlawfully detaining them would be a good way to get something they want from us?"

POTUS: " That's been the case for all of history. My job is to make sure that the number one they don't get to do we get them back. I don't buy this idea that you're not gonna let you're gonna let these people rot in jail, because other people may be captured, sent out all the notification to all the other countries, all our citizens of countries not to go to what to do, what not to do."

To VPOTUS: "How do you feel?"

VPOTUS: "This is an extraordinary day. And I'm very thankful for our president, and what he has done this entire career, but in particular, as it relates to these families and these individuals, what he has been able to do to bring the Allies together on many issues, but in particular, this one, this is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy, and understands the strength that rest in understanding the significance of diplomacy."

Q to POTUS: When did you know you got the deal done?

POTUS: "A while ago — we wanted to make sure everything was in place. Slovenia made the right move at the right time. So anyway, look, it's time to trust."

In-town Pool report 20a: Correction/Greeters

From me: The last pool report should have been numbered 19, not 20. I'm labeling this 20a. The next and hopefully final one will be 21.

From the press office:

The President and the Vice President are participating in a greet with freed detained Americans and their families:

Paul Whelan

Elizabeth Whelan (sister)

Alsu Kurmasheva

Pavel Butorin (husband)

Bibi Butorin (daughter)

Miriam Butorin (daughter)

Evan Gershkovich

Mikhail Gershkovich (father)

Ella Milman (mother)

Danielle Gershkovich (sister)

Anthony Huczek (brother in law)

In-town pool report 21: Arrival and lid

Motorcade pulled into the gates at 0036.

POTUS entered the residence at approximately 0039 at which point a lid was declared by the press office.