Pool Reports of June 12, 2025

in-town pool report #1 - bills info

Good morning from the White House. We are waiting to gather for the East Room bill-signing event. A White House official confirmed Trump is expected to sign a measure blocking a California rule banning the sale of new gasoline-fueled cars by 2035, as well as measures to block state policies to pare tailpipe emissions in some automobiles and smog-causing nitrogen oxide pollution via trucks. (More information is here, via our colleagues at AP.)

The White House passes along the below quotes about the measures President Trump will sign:

"Today, common sense prevailed. We thank President Trump, EPA Administrator Zeldin, and congressional leadership for taking decisive action to end crippling, detached-from-reality rulemakings that would have imposed devastating economic consequences on American businesses and families. This is not the United States of California. With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is restoring the certainty that the trucking industry needs to deliver for our nation as we continue to reduce our environmental impact."  - ATA President and CEO Chris Spear

"Today's historic bill signing is a major victory for American consumers, manufacturers and U.S. energy security. We thank President Trump and Congress for delivering on their promise to put an end to these extreme mandates and ensure every American can choose the vehicle that's best for them." - API President and CEO Mike Sommers

"We appreciate the actions taken by President Trump to sign H.J. Res. 88 into law and help align emissions standards with today's market realities. We have long advocated for one national standard that will allow us to stay competitive, continue to invest in U.S. innovation, and offer customer choice across the broadest lineup of gas-powered and electric vehicles." – General Motors

More TK.

in-town pool report #2 - gathering

The in-town pool and pre-credentialed media are gathering for President Trump's bill-signing event. The event will stream live, including at the below C-SPAN link. Color and highlights TK.

https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/president-trump-signs-resolutions-barring-ca-ev-rules/433933

In-town pool report #3 — Trump arrives

The president entered the East Room at 11:24 a.m. to "Hail to the Chief" and a standing ovation via the center aisle. A small desk with binders and a box of pens is set up beside his lectern on stage. Both desk and lectern feature the seal of the Office of the President. 

The event is being live streamed. Highlights and color TK. 

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso chatted with other lawmakers while standing in the front row. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise was all smiles when he entered, waving and shaking hands. Speaker Mike Johnson slipped into his front row seat a few minutes before President Trump's entrance, shaking a few hands. A military band played in the nearby Grand Foyer. 

More TK.

In-town pool report #4 - POTUS highlights

President Trump has begun name-checking GOP lawmakers seated in the audience. Before this portion of the event, some highlights of Trump's opening remarks:

About Republicans' budget reconciliation bill, Trump called it the "great big, beautiful bill." Invited guests laughed when he said he added "great" to its moniker. 

About Speaker Johnson: "We're joined today by the great speaker of the House. I think he's going to go down as a great speaker."

POTUS claimed his administration has taken in $88 billion in tariff revenue. 

On Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, Trump called him a "numbskull" who has refused to lower interest rates despite Europe dropping its rates "10 times — we've done none. Nobody understands."

On former President Joe Biden, Trump said one difference between them is he stays awake at night thinking about the country's problems and possible fixes. On Biden: "He was much better at sleeping than me."

As always, please check quotes against transcripts and video. 

More TK.

In-town pool report #5 - Elon Musk comments/others

POTUS is still speaking on stage. There is no TelePrompter set up for this event. President Trump carried in a dark binder and has appeared to, at times, refer to prepared remarks while looking down at his lectern. 

During his ongoing remarks, POTUS delivered familiar themes on electric vehicles, laws in California, having automobiles like BMWs built in the United States, the 2024 election, and U.S. electricity capacity.

On the automobile brand owned by former DOGE head Elon Musk: "I like Tesla." He said he likes other brands, too. POTUS said Musk "likes me" despite his move against the EV mandate, adding Musk told him he was not worried if the mandate was terminated if other automakers were equally impacted. 

On Musk relationship: "After that, he got a little bit strange. I'm not sure why" over "smaller" issues. 

On electric boats and the weight of the required batteries, POTUS said he was told: "The boat will not float, sir. It's too heavy." And on the prospect of being electrocuted in an electric boat sinking or being attacked by a shark: "I'll take electrocution every single day."

More TK.

In-town pool report #6 - signing + questions possible

President Trump sat at the small table on stage and began putting pen to paper at 12:18 p.m.

POTUS indicated he would likely take some questions after signing. 

Before signing, Trump asked several stakeholders to speak on stage. One was John B. Hess, CEO of the Hess Corporation. POTUS smiled and patted Hess on the back when he referred to the Gulf of America.

In-town pool report #7 - Q&A has begun

POTUS is taking questions. Event is playing out live. A transcript of Q&A will follow.

In-town pool report #8 - Newsom + Iran + possible Israeli strike

POTUS is still at the lectern. Q&A highlights, so far: 

On phone calls to California Gov. Gavin Newsom: "He doesn't remember the call. He doesn't remember I never spoke to him. … I called him a second time. He picked up, and I told him he better get his ass in gear."

On talks with Iran: "I would love to avoid a conflict. … They're going to have to be willing to give us some things that they're not willing to give us right now."

On reports of an Israeli strike on Iran: "I don't want to say it's imminent but it looks like something that could well happen."

Ongoing. More TK. 

Check against transcript and video, as always.

In-town pool report #9 - event ends + more Israel/Iran/other topics

President Trump expressed frustration with both Russia and Ukraine: "I'm very disappointed in Russia. But I'm disappointed in Ukraine, also." 

Asked about supporting or opposing an Israeli strike on Iran: "As long as I think there will be an agreement, I don't want them going in." Doing so could "blow it," he said of a deal, which he described as "fairly close."

On Saturday's "no kings protest": "I don't feel like a king. I have to go through Hell to get stuff. … We're not a king at all."

On Sen. Rand Paul: POTUS hopes to see him at this evening's congressional picnic. "He's been a friend of mine, but I don't think he understands how great this bill is."

POTUS wrapped up at 12:46 p.m. He ignored shouted questions along the rope line from the press. 

Please check against transcript & video.

In-town pool report #10 - Speaker on SALT

As Speaker Johnson exited after POTUS, your pooler asked if he's worried the latest SALT changes being floated by GOP senators would be too large to get the full budget reconciliation ("one big beautiful bill) through the House. Johnson, holding prayer hands in front of his chest, replied: "I hope they modify it in a very small way. We'll see."

In-town pool report #11 - lunch lid

A lunch lid until 2 p.m. was just called by the White House.

In-town pool report #12 - partial Q&A transcript

Partial POTUS Q&A transcript — East Room

Questions are paraphrased. POTUS answers are highlights and some parts were inaudible. Please check, for full quotes and to fill in the inaudible parts, against video and transcript:

Q: What's your message to auto dealers across the country as they navigate this period of time?

Trump: "They're going to do better than ever before. … We're going to make them more money than they've ever made before."

Q: Was Gov. Gavin Newsom trying to kill the auto industry?

Trump: "Oh, he was killing [it]. [Inaudible comment about rising prices]. It's the most incredible disaster I've ever seen. That's why the cars are just as bad. Everything's bad. And now you have this situation with his own sheriff, who's a good man, by the way, said two days ago, three days ago, 'You could not have done this without the military. They were going to take over this whole [city]. … So sad."

…

"I like Gavin. I like him, always. … He said I never called him. … They asked him a question on Fox, I guess. 'I never spoke to him.' He doesn't remember the call."

On producing a call log of a previous conversation: "I had it. It took me about two minutes. Here's the call, it lasted 16 minutes and 4 seconds. … I called him a second time. He picked up, and I told him, 'You have to get your ass in gear."

Q: Your reaction to the plane crash in India, and will you speak to Prime Minister Modi?

Trump: "The plane crash is terrible. I've already told them, anything we can do… It's a big country, a strong country. I let them know that anything we can do, we'll be over there immediately.

Q: How confident are you, sir, that conflict can be avoided with Iran?

Trump: "Well, I'd love to avoid conflict. Iran's going to have to negotiate a little tougher, meaning they're going to have to give us some things that they're not willing to give us right now. I'm the last person… I kept us out of wars…"

Q: How imminent is an Israeli strike on Iran?

Trump:  "I don't want to say it's imminent but it looks like something that could very well happen. Look, it's very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Other than that, I want them to be successful. … We'll help them be successful. We'll trade with them, we'll do whatever is necessary."

Q: With the China trade deal, are you still concerned about the national security issues with Chinese students studying in the U.S.?

Trump: "Look, I've always been in favor of students coming from other countries, that includes China, and we have 500,000 Chinese students coming in. I've always been in favor of it. Does it mean you — that you have to watch people? Yeah. You have to watch students, but you have to watch other people also. I've been strongly in favor of it. I think it's a great thing. It's also — it's good for our schools. It's good for — I think it's good for our country. I'm also in favor of having them stay, I've been in favor of letting them stay. If you get educated for four years, you're willing to get educated for your years, I like people being able to stay. You know, they have great students."

[Applause]

"To me, that's almost like, you know, getting your — buying your way in — in a legitimate way. You know, you have stories where Apple wants to hire somebody and they can't because they can't stay. They went to a great school, he finished first in his class, they made him a big offer and everything's done, but he has no idea whether he'll be able to stay. And I'm all for making sure people like that can go to work for all our great companies.

"And you know what they do? They go back to their country and there are stories all over the place, they go back to their country, and they start a company just like they were going to start there, they end up starting it in China or India or someplace [else], and now among the richest people in the world. They've got thousands and thousands of employees. They make a great, this is happening all the time because they are not allowed to stay and … I think we'll probably end up doing something about that, right?"

Q: What about escalation between Ukraine and Russia?

Trump: I'm very close to the situation. I'm very disappointed in Russia. But I'm disappointed in Ukraine, also, because I think deals could have been made. And they were losing five, six thousand people a week, soldiers, mostly, but also people [inaudible] because they get hit by missiles."

Q: Are you in support of an Israeli strike on Iran or okay with it because it is not an American war?

Trump: "I want to have an agreement with Iran. We're fairly close to an agreement. We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement. … As long as I think there is an agreement, I don't want them going in … because [inaudible], but it also could blow it."

In-town pool report #13 - gathering

The in-town pool has gathered again, this time for the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn. The event will be live-streamed, including at the below link. Newsy quotes and notable color TK.

https://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/pres-trump-first-lady-host-congressional-picnic/433934

In-town pool report #14 - POTUS speaking

POTUS arrived on the South Lawn at 7:17 p.m. as a military band played "Hail to the Chief." He stepped out onto the Truman Balcony with the First Lady. Trump touted that Republican and Democratic members of Congress were in attendance. 

He is still speaking. No news yet. Familiar themes. 

The pool spotted Sen. Rand Paul, in sunglasses, taking a picture before returning to a buffet under a large white tent with white flags on top. 

As the pool zig-zagged onto the South Lawn around Rose Garden construction, a Navy band played some hits, including "Stayin' Alive." 

In-town pool report #15 - POTUS wraps

President Trump concluded his remarks at 7:25 p.m. No news. 

He noted the chance of severe weather during his military parade on Saturday, but said precipitation wouldn't bother the Army tanks. 

With GOP senators in attendance, POTUS made a pitch for the party's budget reconciliation bill:

"But as a result of these many other historic wins for the American people, a majority of Americans now believe our country is on the right track for the first time in over 28 years, according to a very prestigious poll, 28 years, it has not been and this is the first time in 28 years. It'll only get better when the Senate passes the 'one big, beautiful bill' and Congress sends it to my desk for the Fourth of July. We're shooting for the Fourth of July. I think it's going to be the most important piece of legislation that our country has passed in many, many years."

POTUS is now working a rope line about 40 yards from your pooler's position. 

More TK.

In-town pool report #16 - Trump departs

POTUS and FLOTUS headed inside the White House via the South Portico doors at 8:04 p.m. He saluted Marine guards on either sides of the door. 

POTUS reached the end of the rope line at 7:59 p.m. He then doubled back toward the South Portico, chatting with a new group of guests that had gathered, some missing his first pass. 

Guests were five and six deep at some points, and many held their phones aloft to get a shot of Trump. Your pooler only had eyes on POTUS a few times — he was chatting with guests, shaking hands and smiling each time. FLOTUS was by his side, smiling and chatting. 

The first couple is still working the rope line as of 8 p.m. The small Navy band was playing an extended version of "Brickhouse" as they went inside. 

More TK.

in-town pool report #17 - Rubio statement (Israel-Iran)

Flagging the below statement on Israel's strikes in Iran from Secretary of State Rubio, which was released by the White House moments ago:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
06/12/25

Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio

"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel."

In-town pool report #18 - lid

The White House called a travel/photo lid at 9:03 p.m.