Pool Reports of October 1, 2025

In-town pool report #1: Lunch lid

Good morning from the White House. We have a lunch lid until 12:30 p.m.

Screens in the briefing room are playing on a loop a video of past statements from congressional Democrats about government shutdowns. The same video is playing on a loop on the White House website.

No updates to the schedule so far, which is below:

4:30 PM THE PRESIDENT signs Executive Orders
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule
1:00 PM Press Briefing by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
On Camera

In-town pool report #2: Two minute warning, possible guest

Two minute warning to the press briefing was announced at 1:14 p.m.. Just before that was announced, an aide affixed the vice presidential seal to the podium.

In-town pool report #3: Vance joins for briefing

Vice President JD Vance entered the room at 1:19 p.m., along with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The press secretary opened with remarks before turning the microphone over to Vance. The seats along the side usually occupied by White House staff were empty.

The briefing is airing live in all the usual places, so I will just send any notable color from the room.

In-town pool report #4: Briefing over

The press briefing concluded at 2:01 p.m.

Vice President Vance began speaking at 1:24 p.m. He took several questions, nearly all of which were about the shutdown, before leaving the room at about 1:42 p.m. Karoline Leavitt took over from there and fielded questions for just under 20 minutes.

In-town pool report #5: Lid

The White House called a travel/photo lid at 6:02 p.m.

Around 4:15 p.m., screens in the briefing room began playing on a loop the AI-altered video President Trump posted on Truth Social last night of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and a previously posted video of Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The sound on the videos stopped after about 40 minutes, but the videos remained up on the screens as of this writing.

Have a good evening!