Pool Reports of May 26, 2025

In-town pool note #1 - gathering

Pool is gathering at 10.13m for the president's departure for Arlington National Cemetery.

In-town pool note #2 - rolling

Pool was loaded into the vans at 10.24am. POTUS got into the Beast at 11.07am. Motorcade is rolling at 11.08am to Arlington.

In-town pool note #3 - arrival at Arlington National Cemetery

Motorcade pulled into Arlington National Cemetery at 11.15am and stopped at 11.19amSpectators on the street along the way took pictures of the motorcade as we drove. A small crowd gathered near the cemetery, with one person saluting the motorcade. Spectators also lined up to watch inside the cemetery. We heard a 21-gun salute and heard cannon fire and saw cannon smoke. 

Pool did not see POTUS exit the Beast. 

First stop is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

In-town pool note #4 - wreath ceremony

POTUS approached the tomb at 11.25amaccompanied by VPOTUS, SECDEF and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. The four raised their hands for a salute and held them while a military band played the Star Spangled Banner. 

POTUS placed the wreath at 11.28am, and stood in front of it for a moment. He, Vance, Hegseth, and the general raised their hands again for a salute with their eyes closed. 

The ceremony concluded at 11.32am, POTUS is in the visitors center while we move. 

Pool spotted Peter Navarro, Tulsi Gabbard, Lee Zeldin, Ricky Buria among the spectators behind POTUS. 

White House passes on:

Some Attendees:

The Vice President

Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense

Secretary Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Secretary Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Administrator Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Director Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence

General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

MG Trevor Bredenkamp, Commanding General of the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the U.S. Military District of Washington

Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries

In-town note #4a - correction

Hi all, 

I'm sorry but I have a correction here: your pooler had been told by WH staff it was the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff participating in the wreath ceremony alongside POTUS, VPOTUS, and SECDEF, but it was MG Trevor Bredenkamp, commanding general of the joint task force – National capital region and the US military district of Washington. 

Sincere apologies for the misidentification.

In-town pool note #5 - amphitheater + speech exceprts

Pool sat down in the amphitheater at 11.32am.

We are awaiting POTUS's speech with a rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic from a Marine Corps band. 

The White House passes on these excerpts from POTUS's imminent speech: 

These warriors picked up the mantle of duty and service, knowing that to live for others meant always that they might die for others.

They asked nothing. They gave everything. And we owe them everything and more.

///

For the families of the fallen, you feel the absence of your heroes every day—in the familiar laugh no longer heard, the empty space at Sunday dinner, or the want of a hug or a pat on the back that will never come again. 

Every Gold Star Family fights a battle long after the victory is won—and today, we lift you up and we hold you high.

///

In every generation since, at Trenton and Yorktown, at Vicksburg and Shiloh—and in faraway places with names like Château-Thierry, Anzio, Iwo Jima, Khe Sanh, and Kandahar—a chosen few have given all on the altar of freedom.

They plunged into the crucible of battle, stormed into the fires of hell, charged into the valley of death, and rose into the arms of angels.

///

The sacrifice that they made was not merely for a single battle, a long-ago victory, or a fleeting triumph decades or centuries past. Their sacrifice was for today, tomorrow, and every morning after. Every child that lives in peace, every home that is filled with joy and love, every day the Republic stands, is only possible because of those who did what had to be done when duty called and the cost was everything.

///

Our debt to them is eternal—and it does not diminish with time, it only grows and grows with each passing year. The greatest monument to their courage is not carved in marble or cast in bronze—it is all around us, an American nation 300 million strong, which will soon be greater than ever before.

///

Great poets have written that it is love which moves the sun and the stars. But here on this sacred soil, we are reminded that it is love which moves the course of history—and moves it always toward Freedom. 

///

From Bunker Hill to Bastogne and Cantigny to the Coral Sea, from Gettysburg to Guadalcanal and Concord to Kabul, America's best and America's bravest have fought, bled, and died so that we could pick up the torch of liberty, raise it high, and carry it onward to places they could never have dreamed.

In-town pool note #6 - speech begins

POTUS walked out at 11.43am, accompanied again by VPOTUS, SECDEF and the chairman of the joint chiefs. The crowd cheered. 

Someone in the crowd shouted "we love you, Trump!". 

A prayer began at 11.44am. Marine band began playing the national anthem at 11.46am. 

General Dan Cain, chairman of the joint chiefs, began speaking at 11.48am. Then secretary Hegseth began speaking at 11.52am to a few whoops from the crowd. 

At 11.58am there was a performance of This Land is Your Land by Navy sailors. 

VPOTUS began speaking at 12.03pm, also to some whoops and cheers from the crowd. There was applause when he said troops are our most precious resource. He introduced POTUS at 12.10pm. 

POTUS began his remarks at 12.10pm. 

They are being carried live on the White House's YouTube page: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UoKkQ0vToI

In-town pool note #7 - speech ends

POTUS concluded his Memorial Day remarks at 12.28pm. Pool is headed back to the vans. 

During the speech, he gave Pete Hegseth his backing, saying SECDEF is doing "really well", "He went through a lot" and "he's a tough cookie", Trump added. 

POTUS talked about the importance of honoring the memories of fallen US soldiers. He mentioned and thanked specific soldiers who died in service to the US. He also thanked members of their families who were in attendance. "Their stories remind us of the real meaning of the day". There was a standing ovation for some of the family members POTUS asked to stand. 

He joked that he's glad he wasn't president during the 2021-2025 presidential term so that he can be president for the US's 250th anniversary next year.

In-town pool note #8 - rolling

Pool loaded into the vans at 12.30pm.

Pool did not see POTUS get into the Beast. We are told that POTUS was in the car as of 12.40pm. 

Pool saw VPOTUS, Hegseth and chairman of joint chiefs standing chatting as we drove through the cemetery to the exit. We heard more cannons. 

We're rolling to Sterling, VA for golf at 12.45pm.

In-town pool note #9 - golf arrival

Motorcade pulled into POTUS's VA golf club at 1.14pm after an uneventful drive. Pool saw POTUS exit the Beast and go into the club also at 1.14pm.

In-town pool note #10 - gathering

Pool is loading into the vans at 16.40pmahead of Trump's departure from the golf club.

In-town pool note #11 - rolling

Pool was too far—and our view too obstructed— to see POTUS exit the golf club and get into the Beast. But pool did see him in the Beast as it drove in front of us. 

Motorcade is DC-bound at 6.00pm.

In-town pool note #12 - White House

Motorcade arrived at the White House at 6.33pm. 

POTUS exited the Beast at 6.35pm and walked straight into the White House. 

A little color from the drive: Just as we exited the club, we saw a few protestors. One held a "dump Trump" sign and another held a sign saying "make America garbage again". There was also a motorist who gave the motorcade the finger from their car. (Thank you to my fellow poolers for their eagle eyes.) 

Spectators filmed the motorcade from their cars along the highway and from the sidewalks once back in DC.

In-town pool #13 - lid

We have a travel/photo lid at 6.38pm. 

Hope everyone had a lovely Memorial Day!