Pool Reports of November 19, 2025

In-town pool report #1 - No POTUS public schedule updates

Morning!

Just a quick pool report to say that, as of yet, there are no updates to POTUS' public schedule of events (i.e. no public bill signing).

On tap so far:

EST:
9:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

11:35 AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route U.S. - Saudi Investment Forum
The White House
White House Press Pool

12:00 PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the U.S. - Saudi Investment Forum
Washington, D.C.
Pre-Credentialed Media

1:15 PM THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House
The White House
White House Press Pool

In-town pool report #2 - Gathering

Pool was called to gather at 11:20 a.m.

In-town pool report #3 - Rolling

The motorcade started rolling at 11:43 a.m.

Pool did not see POTUS step into the Beast.

In-town pool report #4 - Arrival

The motorcade arrived at the Kennedy Center at 11:49 a.m.

Pool passed the typical bystanders filming the motorcade, including a man who waved and a woman who gave the thumbs down.

Pool did not see POTUS step out of the Beast.

In-town pool report #5 - POTUS on stage

POTUS and MBS walked on stage at 12:02 p.m.

Pool is currently holding at the side of the auditorium, the Eisenhower Theatre, which is full of business people and dignitaries.

Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo and another woman briefly addressed the crowd.

Pool sees WH COS Susie Wiles, who slightly tripped as she made her way to her seat, in the front row. Elon Musk is also in the front row, with Jensen Huang. They are seated near Commerce Secy Howard Lutnick and Energy Secy Doug Burgum, who are in the second row.

The Saudi ambassador to the U.S. greeted Wiles at one point.

In-town pool report #5a- POTUS on stage/Burgum correction

Apologies for misidentifying Burgum as energy and not interior secy.

In-town pool report #6 - POTUS speaking

MBS started speaking at 12:03 p.m. in Arabic for a minute.

POTUS started speaking at 12:03 p.m.

Otter:
https://otter.ai/u/BhXdRSZ3A-wi2xf5fFGPeSYwlPs

In-town pool report #7 - POTUS concludes
[APP Note: This is the first of two reports numbered '7'.]

POTUS concluded at 1:04 p.m., speaking about "beautiful, normal inflation" and defending himself against critics regarding immigrant labor, saying "our people need to be taught."

Here are my rough notes:

POTUS started by underscoring his accomplishments over the past nine months.

Praised MBS for his leadership.

Spoke of pseudo-state dinner in the East Room; called it "far too small" amid ballroom construction.

Emphasised elevation of Saudi Arabia as a key non-NATO ally.

Downplayed problems getting F35 deal approved; said Saudi Arabia had also agreed to buy "tanks."

Touted removing Iran nuclear threat, calling it a "dark cloud" over Saudi Arabia.

Congratulated business leaders for helping broker, among other deals, cooperation on AI and microchips.

Thanked MBS for his $1 trillion commitment to invest in the U.S.; joked that he asked the crown prince to increase that, during a photo opp, to $1.5 trillion.

Alluded to SCOTUS case on tariffs, previews that the admin will find another way to impose duties.

Namechecked Yasir Al-Rumayyan, saying he sees him "dressed both ways" — in western clothes and otherwise.

Talks about permitting AI facilities to produce their own energy, electric generating plants, amid efforts to confront electricity price concerns; approving plants in roughly two or three weeks.

"If it's nuclear, add another week."

"They are being approved rapidly."

"We leading China by a lot on AI."

Spoke about Asia trip and investments from Toyota.

Rued U.S.'s previous dominance in auto and microchips before companies "left."

Singled out Jensen Huang: "You're doing such a good job."

Asked Huang about the Blackwell chips and whether they are have been surpassed yet.

POTUS also mentioned that DHS Secy Kristi Noem and first daughter Tiffany Trump are in the audience.

Pool also now sees Treasury Secy Scott Bessent in the front row.

"My message… is… America is back" and "open for business."

Referred to Boeing "coming back."

Bemoaned the "green new scam" and efforts countering climate change; "these people… we have to investigate them immediately."

Mentioned inflation, saying now "We have beautiful, normal inflation."

Spoke about the OBBB and winning the 2024 election in terms of congressional districts.

Points to claims of attracting $18 trillion in investments in the U.S.

"That's called success."

Cites GE Energy commitments; quips representative does not have a good seat.

Spoke about meeting pollsters before the emergence of COVID-19, who predicted he would have won the 2020 election.

"We did great" — on COVID response.

"We had the greatest economy in the history of the world."

Said U.S. would soon experience that again.

Defends immigrants helping to build the plants, other industries.

"I love my conservative friends… but this is MAGA."

"Our people need to be taught."

Spoke about winning the 2020 election and transgender issues.

Wiles shook her head when POTUS described her as the "most powerful woman in the world."

POTUS called affordability Democrats' "new word."

"Their prices were high."

Jokes that the word "liberal" may not exist where the attendees are from.

Complains progressives are actually "regressive."

Calls MBS one of the most respected leaders in the world. MBS is sitting in the front row between Musk and Bessent.

Talks about relationship with Turkey.

"There's something wrong" with Fed Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

"I would love to fire him."

Jokes about wanting to fire Bessent over interest rates, reflecting on how Bessent urged him not to fire Powell; says Lutnick would be more for firing Powell.

"This room lives on deductions."

Middle class people do not rely on deductions, he says.

Quips on whether Elon Musk has ever thanked him for helping Tesla with car deductions.

Talks up tax reform from first administration being expanded in OBBB.

"Someday it's going to be appreciated."

"Just enjoy it."

"Think about me once in a while."

Jokes Saudi Arabia would not like him as much if he "killed" oil and natural gas; complained about wind mills.

"Everyone they go around you lose money."

"You're supposed to make money with energy."

Jokes again about coal needing PR help.

Promises to get plants approved in 28 days, cutting, in particular, environmental regulations.

Speaks about wanting to deregulate AI.

Says woke is essentially "illegal."

Says he is "disappointed" in Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We're going to start working on Sudan."

Gets extended applause from room.

"It wasn't on my chart."

"I'm good at settling disputes."

"I use tariffs to settle all these wars."

Says he got a phone call from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which Modi says he would stop fighting with Pakistan.

"Let me settle your frigging war": says he told Putin that during a phone call.

Of Gaza: "It's a strong peace."

Says his peace board is going to "blow" everyone away.

"We want to change our enemies."

"They're respecting America again."

"This is a group I respect."

"This is amazing group of people."

In-town pool report #7 - Arrival back at the WH
[APP Note: This is the second of two reports numbered '7'.]

Motorcade started rolling at roughly 1:10 p.m. and arrived back at the WH at 1:18 p.m.

Pool did not see POTUS get in or out of the Beast.

In-town pool report #8 - Lunch lid

From the WH:

Lunch Lid until 2:30 PM

Apologies for the misnumbered pool reports -- we're back on track now!

In-town pool report #9 - Stephen Miller gaggle

WH deputy COS for policy Stephen Miller gaggled at the sticks.

Was asked about possible Russia-Ukraine peace deal and whether POTUS was going to sign the Epstein files bill.

Otter attached:
https://otter.ai/u/2jG98HRJT3fa6PbjTZqgLDaemcs

In-town pool report #11 - Lid

The WH called a lid at 6:17 p.m.