Pool Reports of November 5, 2025

White House in town pool #1 - breakfast with Republican senators

Pool entered the state dining room at 8:19 am for the president's breakfast with Republican senators.

Breakfast is airing in all the regular spots. Pooler will send details and highlights.

Pooler has asked for a list of attendees but sees many GOP senators including Rand Paul. Senators are seated at seven round tables with nine seats each. There are microphones at every seat along with notepads and pens. Food is being cleared away as we await POTUS.

Deputy CoS James Blair was spotted in the room. VP Vance is walking around greeting senators. Vance appears to be seated at a front table next to John Thune.

POTUS entering at 8:23 am

More tk…

White House in town pool #2 - POTUS on the election

POTUS on last night's election: "Last night was not expected to be a victory. I don't think it was good for Republicans. I'm not sure it was good for anybody, but we had an interesting evening, and we learned a lot. … I will say a few remarks, and then after that, I will ask the press to leave. … We'll have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented, and what we should do about it, and also about the shutdown, how that relates to last night. … the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans."

He also said the government needs to reopen: "We must get the government back open soon, and really immediately."

More tk…

White House in town pool #3 - More POTUS comments

The president spoke for 20 minutes.

Here's one more quote from POTUS on last night's election: "And they say that I wasn't on the ballot was the biggest factor. I don't know about that but I was honored that they said that."

POTUS called for the filibuster to end: "If you don't terminate the filibuster, we won't pass any legislation."

He railed against Democrats as part of his appeal: "If I thought that they weren't going to pass the filibuster, I wouldn't even bring it up. They're going to pass it within the first hour. … It's going to be a very, very bad situation, and it's done as soon as they attain power. … They'll most likely never attain power, because we will have passed every single thing that you can imagine that is good and all good for the country, and there'll be no reason, but if we don't do that, people say they're not doing much, and they're in power."

He called for a voter ID law to be passed: "We should pass all the things that we want to make our election is secure and safe, because California is a disaster. Many of the states are disasters. … All we want is voter ID. You go to a grocery store, you have to give ID. You go to a gas station, you give ID. But for voting, they want no voter ID."

He told the senators: "It's time to have a really good talk."

More POTUS: "So I have this long, beautiful and very boring speech I won't go out there. … I think it's very important, we have to get the country up. And the way we're going to do it this afternoon is to terminate the filibuster. And it's possibly you're not going to do that, and I'm going to go by your wishes. You're very smart people. We're good friends. But I think it's a tremendous mistake. It would be a tragic mistake. Actually, it's time, it's time. If I thought they weren't going to approve, I'd sort of be with you. ... I'd be neutral to with you, but knowing that they're going to pass it as soon as they get any semblance of control or pass the first thing, then it's like we have to do it first."

Sec/State Rubio came into the room midway through POTUS' remarks, poured himself a cup of coffee and took a seat at a table in the corner.

Pool exited at 8:44 am. POTUS did not respond to shouted questions on last night's and the shutdown.

In town pool #4 - departure and no Q&A

POTUS exited the Oval Office at 10:09 am.

He waved and pointed at the pool - and shook his fist - but did not take questions.

Aides with him included Walt Nauta and Natalie Harp.

Marine One was wheels up at 10:14 am.

Pool could hear construction noise in the background as we were outside for departure. Senators were seen walking down the colonnade ahead of POTUS' departure.

Handing over to the out of town pool. …

In town pool report #5 - Bessent gaggle

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent gaggled with reporters after at TV hit.

On the tariff SCOTUS case: "It went very well. I think the Solicitor General has made a very powerful case."

Asked the plan B if SCOTUS rules against POTUS: "We're not going to discuss that now."

Pool was only present for part of the gaggle. Pool is in vans headed to JBA to pick up POTUS. There is a bad weather call. It is very windy in DC.

Here is the CSPAN link to Bessent: https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/treasury-secretary-bessent-speaks-to-reporters-at-the-white-house/668557

In town pool report #6 - JBA departure

Air Force One touched down at JBA at 5:41 pm under a full moon.

And motorcade is rolling as of 5:51 pm.

In town pool #7 - White House arrival

Motorcade pulled into the South Lawn at 6:15 pm.

Pool did not see POTUS.

In town pool #8 - lid

The White House called a travel photo lid at 6:19 pm.

It's been a pleasure pooling. Have a great rest of your evening.

Out of town pool report #1 - JBA, no tarmac gaggle

Hello from Joint Base Andrews on a stunning, if breezy, fall morning.

President Trump is heading to the America Business Forum in Miami, Florida, where he is due to speak at 1pm, per WH daily guidance. Other scheduled speakers today include Argentina and Inter Miami footballing icon Lionel Messi, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, and Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado, per the ABF website. https://www.americabusiness.com/en/america-business-miami/agenda-miami

Marine One was wheels down at 10.22am. POTUS stepped out at 10.26am. He didn't stop to talk on the tarmac but gestured to the back of the plane so hoping for a gaggle in flight. He boarded at 10.27am with a fist pump at the top of the stairs.

AF1 is rolling and will be wheels up for Miami shortly.

Out of town pool report #2 - Wheels down Miami

AF1 was wheels down at Miami International Airport at 12.25pm.

POTUS did not come back to gaggle during the flight, despite the hand gesture.

Out of town pool report #3 - Rolling/no gaggle/Kushner and Witkoff

President Trump deplaned at 12.39pm. He waved to the pool but didn't stop to gaggle, and ignored shouted questions including one about whether he was confident he'd win the SCOTUS tariffs case. He then got into the Beast as pool was hustled to vans.

It's warm but rainy.

Also spotted on the tarmac: Jared Kushner and daughter Arabella, and Steve Witkoff. Witkoff briefly held a large black umbrella for them. He was also carrying a bag from luxury brand Stefano Ricci. All three got into the Beast before POTUS deplaned.

Karoline Leavitt also spotted.

Motorcade is now rolling

Out of town pool report #4 - arrival venue

Motorcade stopped at the Kaseya Center Arena in downtown at 1.00pm after speeding uneventfully along the Miami freeways.

Light crowds outside the center with people filming the motorcade. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS.

Out of town pool report #5 - Arena

Pool was led into a huge, darkened arena where we're told the Miami Heat basketball team play. Most seats are full.

When we entered, life coach Tony Robbins was on stage, with a large 'America Business Forum' sign and two huge screens behind him, against a futuristic background of was meant to look like blue-tinted metal plating.

Robbins was hyping up the crowd, who were all standing. He was talking about the attributes of successful people, saying 'You'll
see them in the President of the United States, you'll see them in athletes'. These apparently include energy — 'the president has it,' said Robbins — and vision. There were cheers.

Trump is due to be up next. Dramatic music is playing.

Out of town pool report #5b - link

Trump's speech will go out live here via both the America Business Forum and WH YouTube channels, but your pooler will provide highlights, some key quotes and color from the arena. Now playing: the Guns n Roses version of 'Live and Let Die.'

https://www.youtube.com/live/6xVpv3kfvv8?si=hrm-UbaNQ70HaBUf

https://www.youtube.com/live/rr_ns9pAZDo?si=FgF3SAGIbm9pKPor

Out of town pool report #6 - Trump starts / dig at Mamdani

President Trump emerged at 1.41pm, walking through a tunnel of lights then walking up to the stage to the strains of 'God Bless the USA'.

He waved to the crowd then stood and acknowledged the cheers of 'USA' and applause. He's speaking at a presidential lectern, with two presidential flags and two US flags, against a blue 'America Business Forum' backdrop and two screens showing him.

He opened by saying it was a year since the 'single most consequential election victory in American history' and said that in Nov 5, 2024 'we restored our sovereignty'

'We lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York,' Trump then said in a dig at the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor. There were a few boos.

More tk

Out of town pool report #7 - More on NY

Speech continues.

Full quote on New York was: "On November 5, 2024 the American people reclaimed our government. We restored our sovereignty, We lost a little bit of sovereignty last night in New York, but we'll take care of it, don't worry about it."

He came back to NY later, talking about inflation under Biden and saying: "You're going to see the same thing in New York, by the way… And I hope it doesn't happen, but you're going to see it.'

More boos later (some but not all in the crowd) when Trump again returned to the theme, saying Democrats had 'installed a communist as mayor of the largest city in the nation'

And again: 'after last night's results, the decision facing all Americans could not be more clear, we have a choice between communism and common sense.

'As long as I'm in the White House the United States is not going communist in any way shape or form'

Trump has not, as far as your pooler can tell, mentioned Mamdani by name in this speech yet.

On the economy, laughter when Trump talked about turkey prices for Thanksgiving — then said a Saudi princess was in the audience and "probably doesn't care" because she has a "lot of cash."

He again accused Democrats of holding the country 'hostage' over the shutdown.

He mocked Obama's recent speech, saying Obama said "'Donald Trump is a mean person.' I'm not a mean person we just want to make America Great Again. He's a mean person he's a divider, Obama, Barack Hussain Obama.'

Renewed attacks on South Africa and said it 'shouldn't be in the Gs' — a reference to the G20.

A lot of familiar themes — golden age, autopen, egg prices.

Out of town pool report #8 - more Mamdani / MidEast / YMCA / wrap

While talking about trans sports, Trump says Democrats are crazy 'and Mamdani, or whatever the hell his name is'

Says he wants NYC to be successful and says maybe he'll 'help him a little bit maybe'.

(Pls check tapes for that bit pls as pool was rushed out shortly after)

Earlier, Big cheers from the audience when Trump said: "We're making the United States, the Bitcoin superpower, the crypto capital of the world, and the undisputed leader in artificial intelligence."

He brought Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to the podium to speak briefly (after mocking him for being 'a little late in his endorsement'). Suarez then gave him a 'key that opens some really nice presidential library real estate.'

Trump gave a shout-out to Witkoff for negotiating 'peace in the middle
East' and to a 'young genius named Jared Kushner' and made them both stand. Cheers and applause for both. He then made granddaughter Arabella stand too and talks about her A-grades in school.

On Middle East peace: 'We're going to have it too. We're doing well. Just keeps going along.'

Out of town pool report #9 - Rolling from arena

The Beast drove out of the arena at 3.14pm. Pool could see POTUS in the back. Motorcade is now rolling through light rain, with crowds again gathered and filming on their phones.

Out of town pool report #10 - Back on AF1, no gaggle

Motorcade stopped at Miami International Airport at 3.35pm. POTUS was already out of the Beast and on the way up the stairs of AF1 as pool was getting out of vans. He waved briefly from the top of the stairs and then went on board.

We will be wheels up for JBA shortly.

Out of town pool report #11 - Wheels down JBA

AF1 was wheels down at JBA at 5.41pm. POTUS did not gaggle in flight.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai came back to the press cabin briefly to chat with the pool.

The following parts were on record from Karoline:

She said Trump had watched Mamdani last night (after Mamdani said he knew Trump was watching)

On SCOTUS tariffs hearing today: "It was good. He hears it went well."

On the filibuster: "His mind is made up. He feels he's right on the issue and he's going to keep talking about it."

Out of town pool report #12 - No gaggle, motorcade leaves JBA

President Trump deplaned, waved to the pool, ignored more shouted questions about SCOTUS, and got into the Beast.

There is a bad weather call so POTUS is motorcading to White House. Motorcade left at 5.51pm.

Thanks for tuning in. Handing over to the in-town pool.