Pool Reports of July 11, 2025

In-Town Pool Note #1: Vought Gaggle

Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought gaggled with reporters in the White House driveway this morning.

"FEMA has $13 billion in its reserves right now to continue to pay for the necessary expenses," Vought said of that agency before adding that "the president has said to Texas, anything it needs it will get." He continued that, at the same time, "we also want FEMA to be reformed. We want FEMA to work well...the President is going to continue to be asking tough questions of all of his agencies."

Vought also discussed the planned renovations for FED headquarters, blasting their largess as on par with "the Palace of Versailles."

"This is approaching that level," he said adding that, in terms of spending, "it probably would qualify as one of the eighth wonders of the ancient world if you were able to go back that far."

Of the recissions package on Capitol Hill, Vought said, "I am confident that they will pass the bill." He called it a potentially "huge pivot point in how this town does business" and "will be an exciting milestone" in making permanent cost reductions.

As Vought gaggled with reporters a family of ducks made its way across the White House lawn, through the driveway, and onto pebble beach.

In-Town Pool Note #2: White House Departure

President Trump walked out of the White House at 9:50 wearing a blue suit sans tie. He gaggled for a few minutes, but over the roar of Marine One, your print pool reporter was unable to hear.

I'll get audio shortly and pass along quotes.

Trump was later joined by the First Lady, and together they greeted assembled well-wishers. POTUS paused briefly on his way to Marine One to point out the new flagpole to FLOTUS.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also later boarded the helicopter.

Marine One is wheels up from White House at 10:00.

In-Town Pool Note #3: Gaggle Quotes

President Trump gaggled for a little more than three minutes.

Asked about the proposed 35% tariff on Canda, the president replied, "it was sent yesterday. They called. I think it was fairly well received."

He said that FED Chair Powell was doing "a terrible job." He said that interest rates should be "three points lower."

Trump mourned the Texas floods as "a horrible thing" and said that he would soon be there "with some of the great families and others—the governors, everybody."

Asked about Brazil, Trump said "maybe at some point I'll talk to them," referring to officials in the Brazzilian government. He said of the former president of that country, "they're treating President Bolsonaro very unfairly."

Trump blasted the Biden administration's handling of the Southern Border before adding that "we're getting the criminals out, and we're getting them out fast. The Courts have ultimately done the right thing. Amazingly, they've really done the right thing, and they understand, it's really the survival of our country. It is a very important thing."

Referring to missing migrant children, the president said, "As you know, 300,000 children are missing, right? 300,000 under Biden, and we've already gotten back 10,000 of those children, and we have a lot more planned to come back. We're getting them back by the thousands."

After his comments about the FED, Trump concluded by saying that the country was previously "dead" but is now "hot." Said the president, "one year ago, our country was a dead country. We were going nowhere except down. We were the laughing stock all over the world, and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world."

Big thanks to ABC for sharing audio after the gaggle ended.

In-Town Pool Note #3B: Gaggle Quotes Addendum

Asked about Russian drones damaging a maternity hospital, Trump replied briefly, "I know. You'll be seeing things happen."

Apologies for not adding that exchange to the earlier report.

Out of town pool note #1 - JBA and wheels up

Good morning from a rather warm Joint Base Andrews, I'll be your print pooler for President Trump's travel this weekend to flood-hit Kerr County, TX; Bedminster; and the FIFA Club World Cup Championship in East Rutherford, NJ.

Marine One touched down at JBA at 10.07am. President Trump, in blue suit and white shirt with no tie, and the First Lady, in a beige safari jacket and olive green pants, disembarked and walked to Air Force One. POTUS pumped a fist at the pool, didn't speak, then they climbed the stairs, he pumped a fist again at the top, and went inside at 10.13am.

AF1 is rolling and will be wheels up shortly.

WH passes on the following on travelers.

AF1 Guests:
The First Lady
Secretary Brooke Rollins (USDA)
Secretary Scott Turner (HUD)
Administrator Kelly Loeffler (SBA)
Senator John Cornyn
Senator Ted Cruz
Rep. Wesley Hunt
Susie Wiles
James Blair
Robert Gabriel
Nick Luna
Steven Cheung
Ross Worthington
Dep. Sec. Andrew Hughes (HUD)
James Braid

Out of town pool note #2 - Wheels down Kelly Field, TX

Air Force One was wheels down at a sunny Kelly Field air base, San Antonio, TX, at 11.59am local time. We will be lifting to Kerrville.

Out of town pool note #3 - Ospreys

There were no visitors to the press cabin during the flight, I should have added.

POTUS and FLOTUS emerged at 12.11pm and descended the steps, followed by his fellow travelers. Trump pumped his fist, Melania waved, neither stopped for the press, and they headed for M1. We didn't see it lift.

Pool is now hustling to Ospreys in the footsteps of Sen Ted Cruz, Sec Rollins and others, some of whom are wearing white USA 45-47 hats. Lifting shortly

Out of town pool note #4 - Kerrville

After a slightly bumpy and oil-leaky Osprey ride, pool saw M1 land at Kerrville-Kerr County airport at 12.43pm and taxied to a halt. It's hot and partly cloudy, and there are a few low, greenish hills on the horizon.

POTUS and FLOTUS were greeted by Gov Abbott as they stepped out of M1. Pool was too far for questions and our view was slightly obscured by vehicles.

We were rushed to van and motorcade now rolling as of 12.53pm.

Out of town pool note #5 - Disaster site briefing

Motorcade stopped at an area near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville where there was an overturned tractor trailer and numerous downed tree, with a large piece of plastic debris in amongst the trees that were still standing. Damage appeared to be more extensive nearer the bank but we couldn't get closer.

POTUS, wearing a white USA cap, was already out of his SUV receiving a briefing in front of a map and a red and white Kerrville Fire Dept fire engine, from officials including Gov Abbott, and two officials in cowboy hats. POTUS listened and nodded for more than 10 mins to the briefing, which is ongoing. FLOTUS stood on the other side of Abbott.

Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was standing next to the pool. Briefing was inaudible from where pool was standing on other side of a downed tree. Around two dozen rescue workers and what appeared to be service members were watching off to one side. It looked like this.

Scenes of flood damage including washed-away and downed trees along one river could be seen as the motorcade was en route to the site. A handful of people gathered at various junctions and strip malls waved and filmed.

More tk

Out of town pool note #6 - Rolling

POTUS and FLOTUS finished getting their briefing from Texas Emergency Management and Kerrville Fire Dept officials, and then shook hands with all 30 or so rescue workers and coast guard members (the service members referred to in the previous note). He didn't speak to the pool.

After just over 20 minutes in the area, which is called Louise Hays Park, pool was rushed back to the van before POTUS had finished shaking hands. Motorcade is now rolling again

Out of town pool note #7 - Roundtable venue

Motorcade stopped at the Happy State Bank Expo Hall in Kerrville, where POTUS and FLOTUS will hold a round table with first responders and local officials. Pool hasn't laid eyes on them here yet and no word on when event will start.

Homeland Security Sec Kristi Noem, Sec Rollins, Sens Cruz and Cornyn and others are talking to officials in the hall while we wait for POTUS. There is a Presidential Seal and a black drape saying 'Texas Strong' in large white letters in front of where he will sit. Large US and Texas state flags are on the wall behind.

Event will be livestreamed so will provide color and major highlights: https://www.youtube.com/live/PRuMlPjiKQg?si=KuExYcv2fe584F1f

Out of town pool note #8 - Roundtable starts

President Trump and the First Lady entered at 2.47pm. 'This is a tough one,' he said. 'I've never seen anything like this'

Officials are sat along a long u-shaped table draped in a black tablecloth, with Trump at the top.

Again, the link is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/PRuMlPjiKQg?si=iVX94CSaLlcEvmHx

Out of town pool note #9 - roundtable ends, and rolling

President Trump spoke, followed briefly by Melania, then Gov Abbott and Sec Noem.

He variously described the Texas floods as once in 100 years, once in 500 years and once in 1,000 years.

POTUS said about the floodwaters: "This is like a giant, giant wave in the Pacific Ocean, that the best surfers in the world would be afraid to surf"

Earlier: "I've been to a lot of hurricanes and tornadoes and I've never seen anything like this."

"The First Lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood. Nobody has any idea how and why a thing like this could happen."

"My administration is doing everything in its power to help Texas"

Melania spoke briefly at POTUS's invitation
"My deepest sympathy to parents who lost beautiful young souls"
"I will be back, I promise to them"

POTUS asked TV personality Dr Phil, who was sitting near him whose company is based in Fort Worth TX, to give some "words of wisdom". Dr Phil said that the "number one stressor in life is the loss of a child."

POTUS took a handful of questions, calling one a reporter a 'very evil person' for
asking about criticisms regarding flood warnings and preparations.

Trump then did a rope line of dozens of emergency workers in the next door room, which had a huge Texas flag on the wall.

"This is as tough as we've seen….
The governor is doing a very good job, you're doing a phenomenal job and we appreciate it," Trump told them.

Pool was ushered out halfway through the rope line and motorcade is now rolling.

Out of town pool note #10 - lifting

POTUS and FLOTUS were already in M1 by the time pool pulled up back at Kerrville Kerr-County airport. After a hot dash to the Ospreys, we are lurching off into the air.

Out of town pool note #11 - Back on AF1 and heading for NJ

Marine One touched down at Kelly Field at 4.27pm just after a sudden burst of rain. POTUS and FLOTUS disembarked at 4.33pm, Trump waved to the pool but climbed the steps without stopping for any questions.

AF1 is now rolling and we'll be wheels up shortly for New Jersey.

Out of town pool note #12 - Newark

AF1 was wheels down at Newark, NJ at 8.45pm. We had no visitors to the cabin this time either

Out of town pool note #13 - M1 to Bedminster, and lid

POTUS and FLOTUS stepped out from AF1 at 8.58pm, waved to the pool, descended the stairs, waved again, and walked to M1 without stopping to chat.

M1 lifted into the night at 9.05pm for Bedminster, NJ. And the White House called a lid.

Thanks for tuning in today. Many thanks to co-pooler Hugo Lowell of The Guardian for keen eyes and good cheer