Pool Reports of May 7, 2025

In-town Pool Report #2: briefing canceled

Passing along this statement from the White House: 

"Given the President's press engagement in the Oval, the Press Briefing by the Press Secretary will take place on a later day."

In-town Pool Report #3: gathering from swearing-in ceremony

The pool is gathering for the swearing-in ceremony for David Perdue, the new U.S. ambassador to China. TV cameras have pre-set in the Oval Office so the ceremony will be available on your usual livestreams.

In-town Pool Report #4: entering the Oval

The pool entered the Oval Office at 1:38 p.m.

In-town Pool Report #5: end of spray

Pool was escorted out of the Oval Office at 1:55 p.m. As always, please check quotes against videos. 

POTUS opened the ceremony by announcing he signed a proclamation to celebrate victory day for World War II. 

"We'll have two victory days, World War I and World War II. In the future we're going to have a major celebration of each day. We're not going to have days off because we don't have enough days in the year. We have too many celebrations already."

POTUS then introduced David Perdue and Secretary of State Marco Rubio swore him in as the new U.S. ambassador to China. 

"You're going to do a fantastic job and say hello to President Xi when you're over there," POTUS said. 

He then took questions from reporters.

On exemptions for certain items like car seats, he said he would think about it but he is not looking to have so many exemptions. "I want to make it nice and simple," he said.

When asked about the US position on Iran and whether it can have an enrichment program as long as it doesn't reach weapons grade, POTUS said, "We haven't made that decision yet. We will, but we haven't made that decision yet." 

POTUS said he did not know if his administration was sending migrants to Libya. He referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security. 

POTUS said he was not considering tariffs with China ahead of trade talks this weekend in Switzerland. 

When asked if he's going to take diplomatic action regarding India and Pakistan: "I get along with both. I know both very well and I want to see them work it out. I want to see 'em stop." 

He said he has not made a decision about whether to refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf. He said he would consider it, but "I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."

When asked about China saying the U.S. initiated trade talks this weekend, POTUS said, "They said we initiated? Well, I think they ought to go back and study their files."