Pool Reports of August 19, 2025

In-Town Pool Report #1 Schedule

Good morning from the White House. I'll be your print pooler for the day.

FPPO, the White House shares that the president will sign the Maintaining American Superiority by Improving Export Control Transparency Act at 1 PM.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is also expected to brief the press at 1 PM.

In-Town Pool Report #2 Lunch Lid

We have a lunch lid until 12:30.

In-Town Pool Report #3 Two min warning

The briefing will begin in two minutes.

In-Town Pool Report #4 Briefing begins

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt started the briefing.

In Town Pool Report # 5 Briefing ends

The briefing has ended. Leavitt hinted that she may hold another briefing tomorrow.

In-Town Pool Report #6 Bessent

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent just walked past the briefing room but declined to take questions, telling your poolers that he was only willing to talk about the weather as he walked away.

We briefly heard Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" playing loudly from the other side of the White House. It appears it was the soundtrack for a video of the new Rose Garden patio that Dan Scavino just posted to X.

https://x.com/scavino47/status/1957895278003921337?s=46

In Town Pool Report # 7 Pool Field Trip

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt brought us back to the Rose Garden and told us that the president is testing the new speakers for "what will be the best event in the history of the White House." She said the next party is "hopefully soon."

Trump is currently controlling the playlist. "Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum is currently playing.

In Town Pool Report #8 Back from Rose Garden

More from our trip to the Rose Garden, huge thanks to co-pooler Charlie Spiering for help with the quotes.

The president emerged from the Oval Office briefly and pumped his fist as his familiar playlist music was playing, pointing out to the press. He was with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Songs included Pavarotti's "Nessun dorma," Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "You Are So Beautiful." Daniel Baldwin of OANN caught POTUS's brief appearance on video.

POTUS did not talk to the press. Only a partial pool — without some TV cameras and photographers — made the trip.

Leavitt said the president hinted that the first White House party on the new patio would be for the press.
"He said 'Maybe we'll do that,'" she said.

"They are literally the umbrellas from Mar-a-Lago," she said of the yellow and white striped umbrellas on the patio.

"The roses remain untouched," she added.

When asked if the First Lady was pleased with the renovation, Leavitt said: "I believe so."

Leavitt confirmed the president's plans in Bedminster for August had been canceled due to the Ukraine/Russia talks.

"This is normally the time when the president goes on vacation but not this president," she said. "There discussions about him working from Bedminster for a couple of weeks but he decided against it."

"He's a man on a mission. He wants to move. Get things done quickly."

"He wants to strike when the iron is hot."

On timing of trilateral meeting:

"It's hard to judge. I think he wants to see how the bilat goes," she said.

Leavitt also tried to assist the pool in identifying some of the songs by opening the AI chatbot Grok. She said she believes the Rose Garden construction is completed.

In Town Pool Report #9 Travel Photo/Lid

We have a travel/photo lid.

I've included an Otter of the Rose Garden trip. Thank you to co-pooler Charlie Spiering, whose recording continued after your pooler's cut off while asking Siri to identify songs on the president's playlist. Also hat tip to the AP's Alex Brandon, who identified "A Whiter Shade of Pale."

One clarification from last email — Leavitt said the president had decided not to go on vacation as he usually does, but she did not specify that decision is linked to the Ukraine talks.

https://otter.ai/u/fn3SCkZgfB32ZjrJwxjZ88CBceI