Pool Reports of May 20, 2025

In-town print pool note #1 - rolling to capitol

POTUS left White House at 8:52 en route to a meeting with House GOP at the Capitol 

He arrived at 8:59

Your pooler did not see POTUS exit the beast

In town pool #2 — Hill arrival

After arrival, POTUS talked to reporters in the Capitol while pool remained outside 

At 9:14 pool was taken to a hold room in the Capitol while POTUS spoke to House GOP. WH did not share what time he started speaking.

In town pool 3 - Hill departure

POTUS began rolling back to the White House at 10:47

The pool was not present when POTUS left the House GOP meeting, so did not hear any remarks he may have made 

Pool did not see him enter the motorcade from our vantage point

In town pool note 3 — correction

Pool had initially thought the motorcade was rolling but then it came to a stop before leaving the Capitol grounds. We are still holding and have yet to leave the Capitol.

In town pool note 4 — leaving the Capitol

The motorcade left the Capitol grounds en route back to the White House at 11:08

POTUS was not seen by pool entering the motorcade 

Before leaving, he gaggled with reporters inside the Capitol, which pool was not present for 

In town pool note 5 — WH arrival

POTUS arrived back at the WH at 11:14

Short drive from the Capitol was uneventful

In town pool note 6 - south lawn event

The WH has informed the pool that the Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day event on the South Lawn, slated for 11:55, is now closed press

In town pool note 7 - lunch lid

The WH has informed the pool there is a lunch lid until 2:30 pm

In-town pool note 8 - gathering for Oval

The pool gathered at 3:50 to head into the Oval for a defense announcement 

Per the WH, the event will be live-streamed on its YouTube channel 

https://youtube.com/@whitehouse?feature=shared

In-town pool note 9 - oval remarks

The pool was ushered into the Oval at 4:02, where Trump announced plans for a Golden Dome defense system

Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Michael Guetlein, who he said would lead the effort 

Also present were Sen. Jim banks and Sen Kevin Cramer and sen Dan Sullivan 

Trump said he had selected the "architecture" for the program

Trump said Canada had called and "wanted to be a part of it."

He said he should be "fully operational by the end of my term" 

Trump said the big beautiful bill would include $25 billion for the defense program 

"This is something that is going to be very protective," he said 

Trump said he expected it to take "a little less than 3 years" and that the total cost would be $175 billion 

After wrapping up a q and a, the pool was ushered out at 4:24

in-town pool note #10 -- lid

The WH has called a lid

Good night!