Pool Reports by Aurelia End, Agence France-Presse
| Sent: | Reports: |
| May 15, 2025 10:01 AST |
Pool report #1 - Business roundtable in Doha // Remarks on Iran Good morning. I'll have the pleasure to serve as your pooler on this busy day, that starts in Qatar and will end in Abu Dhabi, for the last leg of the President's Gulf visit. At 9:43 the pool was led into a conference room at the St Regis Hotel. POTUS, seated at a large square table, was already chatting with other attendees as we came in and then started his remarks by touting a "very special trip". On Iran, he noted: "So we'll see what happens but we're in very serious negotiations with Iran for long term peace" "Iran has sort of agreed to the terms" he noted. "We're getting close to maybe doing a deal" More tk and please check against audio and transcript |
| May 15, 2025 10:23 AST |
Pool report #2 - POTUS says might go to Turkey Friday of « appropriate » Potus still speaking at 10:21 More tk but wanted to share these comments about Russia and Ukraine, and the discussions in Turkey "I was thinking about going, but it's very tough because of what we're doing today and tomorrow. But you know, if something happened, I'd go on Friday if it was appropriate" Please check against audio as always |
| May 15, 2025 10:33 AST |
Pool report #3 - Quote on Gaza and Otter of business roundtable Pool was led out at 10:24 after POTUS took shouted questions on Russia, on sovereign wealth fund and on Gaza which he said he wanted to make "a freedom zone" In his speech POTUS insisted on how much he "liked" the trip, adding that the whole Gulf tour could raise "a total of three and a half, 4 trillion dollars" Sec Scott Bessent made brief remarks about China Larry Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, seated to the left of POTUS also spoke, followed by Boeing's Kelly Ortberg. https://otter.ai/u/ysY9az1G6rkl4T99hrzQNF-HGcA A list of participants provided by the WH U.S. Delegation:
Back Bench:
Qatar Delegation:
Business Guests:
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| May 15, 2025 11:18 AST |
Pool report #4 - Rolling to Air Base At 10:15 motorcade is rolling to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the Middle East. |
| May 15, 2025 12:30 AST |
Pool report #5 - Arrival at Air Base First a correction to previous report: we started rolling from the St Regis hotel at 11:15, not 10:15, your pooler apologizes for the error. The motorcade pulled up next to a big hangar at Al Udeid Air Base at 12:12 am after an uneventful drive along closed roads and under dusty skies, through a flat desertic landscape punctuated by tall electricity pylons. At regular intervals police officers were standing guard next to their vehicles, facing away from the convoy. Shortly before entering the base your pooler spotted a couple of bright red Tesla Cybertrucks, the same type of vehicles that escorted the presidential motorcade when it first drove through Doha yesterday. They belong to the Qatari internal security forces (Lekhwiya). |
| May 15, 2025 12:47 AST |
Pool report #6 - POTUS speaking. Service very spotty here, apologies for any delay. At 12:28 your pool was led in the hangar where POTUS appeared on stage at 12:34 to applause and cheers while Lee Greenwood was singing « God bless the USA ». He started speaking at 12:37. A note that his remarks should stream live so will only share relevant color. Stage set up with a US flag and a Qatari flag. Troops in military fatigues are standing on bleachers behind the stage and under a large banner with the words "Peace through Strength" More are seated on bleachers on both sides and on chairs facing the stage. Two military planes complete the decor. A few Qatari officials are also in attendance. |
| May 15, 2025 13:54 AST |
Pool report #7 - Leaving ceremony, back on AF1 Remarks ended at 1: 26 pm POTUS was still on stage as pool was ushered out, taking in the cheers and applause while « YMCA » was blasting. A note that the planes on display in the hangar were a F-16 and a MQ-9 Reaper drone. At 1:37 pm after a very short ride in the motorcade, we came at a stop near Air Force One, parked among hangars and military planes. The emir of Qatar was there to see POTUS off. The two leaders chatted for a moment, with your pool stationed too far away to hear what they were saying. They then watched as helicopters and fighter jets flew over the base and then walked to the stairs of the presidential plane on a red carpet, with a Qatari honor guard standing at attention. One last short conversation and POTUS boarded at 1:45. We should be wheels up shortly. |
| May 15, 2025 13:54 AST |
Pool report #8 - Wheels up [APP Note: No additional text was included in this report.] |
| May 15, 2025 16:04 GST |
Pool report #9 - Wheels down in the UAE and very short gaggle Potus joined us as we were landing for a very short gaggle. He touted the achievements of this Gulf tour and took one question on Russia and Ukraine We were wheels down at 3:59 pm local time (please note that Abou Dhabi is in a different time zone meaning the flight lasted approx one hour) This has been a leitmotiv of this Gulf visit: 20 minutes into the flight, your pooler spotted two UAE fighter jets from the windows of the press cabin, escorting Air Force One. A third one appeared shortly after. |
| May 15, 2025 16:26 GST |
Pool report #9a - Resending Otter link Here is another link to the plane gaggle for those who asked hope it works |
| May 15, 2025 16:24 GST |
Pool report #10 - Arrival ceremony at airport At 4:15 pm POTUS entered the Presidential Flight Terminal He was greeted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahya, president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, and other dignitaries. Your print pooler was stationed quite far away and could not hear anything of the pleasantries they exchanged, nor could she really see the details of their interaction . Drums and chanting started as they walked along a corridor lined up with members of a military honor guard carrying rifles, and children waving flags of both countries . At 4:17 the two leaders got into another room and it appeared greetings continued but pool was kept at a distance, before being ushered out and led to the vans. Per the WH Greeters for arrival ceremony:
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| May 15, 2025 16:39 GST |
Pool report #11 - Rolling to mosque and full quotes on Putin At 4:38 pm the motorcade is rolling from the airport. Next stop is Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque Should be a 10 minute ride. And here are fuller quotes of POTUS on getting together with Putin. As always please check against audio/video "Look, nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together, ok? And obviously he wasn't going to go. He was going to go, but he thought I was going to go. He wasn't going if I wasn't there. » "And I don't believe anything's going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together. But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying." |
| May 15, 2025 16:58 GST |
Pool report #12 - Arrival at mosque At 4:57 pm the motorcade reached the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Also note that there was a typo in a previous pool report on the UAE president's name which is Sheikh Khaled Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (and not Al Nahya) More tk The WH shares this Greeter for arrival ceremony:
Sequence of Events:
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| May 15, 2025 17:38 GST |
Pool report #13 - Mosque visit At 5:03 pm POTUS and the UAE dignitaries appeared at the end of a colonnade made of delicate arches and white pillars, adorned with golden accents and intricate flower inlays. They walked towards the pool which was then promptly led away and brought into a gigantic prayer hall. More flowers here, this time as motives on the carpet, probably the biggest your pooler has ever seen. There is a massive chandelier hanging from the dome. The president, wearing socks since wearing shoes is not allowed inside this place of worship, and his hosts entered at 5:18 pm. They walked around as POTUS was given explanations about various features of the hall. He then seemed to adress a group of reporters but your pooler was held at a distance and not allowed to go close enough to hear what he said. More tk |
| May 15, 2025 17:50 GST |
Pool report 14 - Leaving mosque + quotes At 5:45 pm the motorcade left the mosque, its immaculately white minarets and domes an impressive sight in the late afternoon light. Thanks a lot to Jennifer Jacobs of CBS and to other colleagues for sharing these quotes of the short remarks POTUS made inside the mosque. "Isn't this beautiful? It is so beautiful." "This is an incredible culture" "This is the first time they've closed the mosque for the day. Is that true? First time they closed it. It's in honor of the United States. Better than in honor of me. Let's give it to the country. That's a great tribute." |
| May 15, 2025 18:03 GST |
Pool report #15 - Holding Pool currently holding at the Riz-Carlton ahead of the evening state visit program. |
| May 15, 2025 19:34 GST |
Pool #16 - Rolling to presidential palace At 7:32 pm the motorcade is en route to the Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace in Abou Dhabi. |
| May 15, 2025 20:26 GST |
Pool report #17 - Presidential palace The motorcade reached the presidential palace, a huge complex surrounded by palm trees, elaborate gardens and fountains at 8 pm. While waiting to get in your pool spotted Karoline Leavitt, Susie Wiles, Stephen Miller... We were led to a richly decorated hall complete with marble floors and chandeliers where POTUS and the UAE president were greeting delegations, flags of both countries serving as background. Greetings were over at 8:10 pm and the two leaders then proceeded to another part of the hall. At first your pool could not get past the very strict and tense Emirati security to follow them. We were ultimately allowed to get closer while the President was shown a space exhibition. Steve Witkoff, Howard Lutnick, Pete Hegseth and other members of the US delegation were also having a look at a series of panels and artefacts. More tk Adding this from the WH. UAE Delegation:
U.S. Delegation:
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| May 15, 2025 20:40 GST |
Pool report #18 - Short quote After touring the exhibit, POTUS and the UAE president briefly approached the pool. POTUS commented on the beauty of the place and added, as he did earlier at the mosque, "it's an amazing culture" They left the hall shortly after 8:30 pm More tk |
| May 15, 2025 21:15 GST |
Pool report #19 - Bilateral meeting, remarks, Medal of honor At 8:43 pm the pool entered a reception room where POTUS and the UAE president were sitting next to each other in chairs with golden accent. A portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed, the father of the Emirati leader, was placed behind them. The US delegation and the Emirati delegation are also here, their members facing each other. The Abou Dhabi ruler was speaking in Arabic when we got in. At 8:51 pm POTUS started his remarks. He said the UAE leader was « a great warrior » and said their relationship was so good « it cannot get better » He said he was looking forward to welcoming the UAE president at the WH, calling him « a magnificent man » As always please check against audio. POTUS then received the Order of Zayed, the UAE highest civilian distinction. Four soldiers entered the room carrying a frame with an elaborate necklace in it. The president and the Emirati leader then posed for pictures with the decoration and pool was ushered out. More tk |
| May 15, 2025 21:44 GST |
Pool report #20 - Guest book signing, says « probably » going back to DC At 9:31 pm POTUS sat down to sign the official guest book, the UAE president standing next to him, and he once again told us how "amazing" this trip was. He then, in a rather enigmatic way, said: "we'll be leaving tomorrow morning as you know, almost destination unknown". But POTUS then added that he is "probably going back to Washington DC" Pool now holding during banquet dinner. |
| May 15, 2025 23:07 GST |
Pool report #21 - Leaving palace Motorcade on the move at 11:05 pm |
| May 15, 2025 23:38 GST |
Pool report #22- Back at hotel and lid At 11:31 pm we were back at the Ritz Carlton and the WH gave us a travel/photo lid. Thanks for bearing with me on this busy day. A shoutout to all the other poolers for invaluable assist and good cheer, especially copooler Alex Leary (WSJ) and Jennifer Jacobs (CBS). |
Donald J. Trump (2nd Term), Pool Reports of May 15, 2025 Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/377579