Pool Reports of August 13, 2020

WH pool report 1

Pool was advised to hasten their arrival to the White House for COVID testing, and is now gathered for an event with the president that previously was not on the public schedule.

It is rainy and steamy outside, somewhat less steamy inside.

WH pool report 2

In the Oval, where the president is seated at his desk, surrounded by his senior staff.

Said he spoke with leaders of Israel and UAE and they are signing a peace agreement.

Said he expects other Muslim countries to follow suit.

"Things are happening that I can't talk talk about" but they are amazing.

MORE TO COME

WH pool report 3 — some remarks

US AMB Friedman says the deal will be called the Abraham accord.

Trump jokes he wanted it to call the Donald J Trump accord but that the press wouldn't understand.

He praises Jared Kushner for achieving it.

"Muslims will be welcome in Israel," Kushner said.

MORE

WH pool report 4 - much praise for Trump from his senior aides

NSA Robert O'Brien tells Trump that he has brought peace to the Middle East.

"What we see today is a new Middle East," said Brian Hook, praising his maximum pressure campaign on Iran.

WH pool report 5 - avail done

Trump quotes on some Qs:

Says he has prevented war with NK and others. "You would have been at war if I had not been elected."

Says all of US adversaries want Biden to win. "that would be like a dream."

Pool told to leave at 1107.

Trump said he would do a news conference at around 1730.

He refused to answer question about why he is trying to block mail voting.

More quotes to come, but for faster service, watch TV.

WH pool report 6 -- some quotes from Q and A

In a few minutes of questions and answers:

Q: What was the tenor of the conversation like with Netanyahu and bin Zayed?

"It was like love."

Said things were tense in the Middle East when he took office, but now things are less tense."

"I've kept us out of war."

"We're doing very well in the Middle East."

Q: Does he support annexation of Palestinian land?

"We're talking to Israel about that right now."

Q: What about snap back sanctions on Iran?

He compliments the questioner but does not answer.

Q: Asked why the deal happened now.

Trump quickly turned to how great it was that he withdrew from the "ridiculous" Iran nuclear agreement.

"Money hasn't been going to some horrible, horrible groups…. Because Iran isn't getting money."

"If I win the election, I will have a deal made with Iran within 30 days."

"They'd much rather negotiate with Sleepy Joe Biden than with us."

"Rightfully they're waiting until after the election because, there's nothing China, Iran, Russia, all of them, would like to see more than have Trump be defeated,, where they can deal with Joe Biden, because that would be like a dream."

The visit to the Oval was held to tout the new agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which will bring full diplomatic relations between the two nations. He said he had just finished a conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Mohammed bin Zayed.

He and his foreign policy leadership agreed this was a major accomplishment and will advance peace for Israel and isolating Iran.

"UAE is big stuff. UAE is very powerful, very strong, has one of the strongest militaries."

Said there would be a formal signing at the WH within a few weeks.

Please check quotes against a recording or the transcript.

WH pool report 7 -- lunch lid until 1300

The WH press office just announced the info in the subject line.

WH pool report 8

The press office just announced that the press secretary's briefing will now begin at 1315.

WH pool report 9

The press office just gave a two-minute warning for Kayleigh McEnany's press conference.

WH pool report 10

WH press secretary Kayleigh McEnany entered the briefing room at 1331 along with Jared Kushner, Robert O'Brien, Brian Hook.

The press conference is being carried on the White House web site and C-span and perhaps other places.

WH pool report 11 -- briefing over

Kushner and O'Brien left after 30 minutes, after each took some questions.

Kayleigh McEnany left at 1414 after taking questions for 11 minutes.

The updated guidance says Trump is hold his news conference at 1730.

WH pool report 12

Please take note the president's news conference has been moved up to 1715:

UPDATE: The President's news conference will now begin at 5:15PM.

WH pool report 13

The press office just announced a two minute warning for the president's news conference.

It will be streamed on the White House web site and C-span.

WH pool report 14 -- president has begun his briefing

The president entered the room at 1727.

WH pool report 15 -- president reading a political speech off the lectern

The president has been speaking 8 minutes now in what so far has been a purely political speech, attacking Joe Biden at length, and reading from remarks resting on the lectern.

WH pool report 16 --- briefing over

Trump left the briefing room at 1811. He opened his remarks with an extended political attack on Joe Biden.

Pool asked the WH who wrote those remarks and whether the WH counsel's office reviewed and approved them as not violating the Hatch Act.

WH spokesman Judd Deere responded: "The President's prepared remarks are composed in compliance with the Hatch Act."

WH pool report 17 -- lid

At 1820 the WH press office announced a travel/photo lid.

Have a good evening.