Pool Reports of July 31, 2025

In town pool report #1: Lunch lid

Good morning from steamy Washington, D.C. We have a lunch lid until 12:30 p.m.

No changes to the president's schedule for the day, which is below:

12:30 PM THE PRESIDENT has lunch with the Vice President
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

4:00 PM THE PRESIDENT signs an Executive Order
Roosevelt Room
White House Press Pool

Briefing Schedule:
1:00 PM Press Briefing by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
On Camera

In-town pool report #2: Two minutes to briefing

Two-minute warning called for Karoline Leavitt's press briefing at 1:20 p.m. The briefing is being streamed live on the White House website and on C-SPAN's site.

In town pool report #3: Gathering for EO signing

Pool is gathering to go into the Roosevelt Room for today's executive order signing. You should be able to watch the event live, but I will send color and news from the room.

In town pool report #4: Event begins

POTUS entered the Roosevelt Room at 4:18 p.m. He was joined by VP Vance, Sec. Kennedy, Sec. Bessent, Sec. Lutnick, Sec. McMahon, Harrison Butker, Lawrence Taylor, Bryson DeChambeau, Annika Sorenstam and others.

Karoline Leavitt, Sergio Gor and a few other administration officials were also in the room.

Your pooler’s service is spotty in the Roosevelt Room, so apologies in advance if reports are slow to come through.

In town pool report #5: Trump remarks

President Trump said other members of the president's council on sports, fitness and nutrition who were not in attendance include Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tony Romo, Nick Bosa, Saquon Barkley, Roger Goodell, Wayne Gretzky and Mariano Rivera.

Trump said the council would also assist with issues pertaining to college athletics and women's sports.

"It's a mess, what happened. What they're doing with college football, and the fan's are upset about it." Said players are being "traded around like playing cards."

Trump invited council members to speak, all of whom expressed an appreciation for being part of the initiative. Most spoke about a desire to help young people lead healthy lives. HHS Sec. Robert Kennedy Jr. and VP Vance spoke as well.

POTUS walked over to a desk and signed the executive order at 4:38 p.m. He is now taking questions.

In town pool report #6: Q&A

Trump took questions for about 16 minutes.

Trump was asked about what sports meant to him.
"I think what this council is doing is going to be very important."

Asked about the ballroom.
"We've been planning it a long time…but there's never been a president who was good at ballrooms."
"They've always wanted to have it. In the first term I said if I get another shot at this I'm going to do a ballroom."

Asked about Virginia Giuffre-
Said he didn't know why Jeffrey Epstein was taking young workers.
"We threw him out... I didn't like that he was doing it."

On Canada:
Said he hadn't spoken to PM Carney today. Said he didn't like the comments about recognizing a Palestinian state but said it wasn't necessarily a dealbreaker.

On Iran:
"Iran has been acting very badly."
Touted strikes on nuclear sites.
"Iran has not been saying the right thing."

Asked about Powell, he called the Fed chairman "terrible" and a "political hack."

On Kamala Harris's political future:
"She can't talk. She can't do an interview. I thought it was a very strange campaign we had… I wouldn't call her a skilled politician."

Russia: "I think it's disgusting what they're doing."

Asked if he agreed with Rep. Greene calling what's happening in Gaza a "genocide," Trump said it's "terrible what's happening."

POTUS wrapped up at 4:55 p.m. and exited the room.

In town pool report #7: Witkoff quote

Flagging one more quote from POTUS. This quote was referring to special envoy Steve Witkoff:

"Going to Israel, and then he's going to Russia, believe it or not."

The rest of his quote was in response to a question was about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments about "genocide" in Gaza and whether he agreed.

"It's terrible what's occurring there. It's a terrible thing. People are very hungry. You know, the United States gave $60 million for food and it's a shame, because I don't see the results of it. And we gave it to people that in theory are watching over it fairly closely. We wanted Israel to watch over it. Part of the problem is Hamas is taking the money and they're taking the food."

"But we gave $60 million a couple of weeks ago. Nobody said anything about it. Nobody said, 'Thank you,' but I didn't need the thank you. I just wanted people to get fed. And we're helping out financially with that situation. It's a terrible situation."

In-town pool report #8: Russia sanctions quote

And passing along this full quote from POTUS on Russia when asked about recent strikes on Kyiv and plans for sanctions.

"I think it's disgusting. Russia? I think it's disgusting what they're doing. This is Biden's war, it's not my war. But I said if I get in I'll try and get the thing stopped. But I think what Russia's doing is very sad."

Asked about sanctioning Russia:
"Yeah, we have about eight days. Yeah, we're going to put sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him. You know? They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions, and tariffs and everything else. I don't know if that has any effect. But we're going to do it. Europe is extremely upset. But this is a war that should have never happened."

In town pool report #9: Lid

The White House called a travel/photo lid for the day at 6:24 p.m. Have a good rest of the night!