Pool Reports of October 24, 2025

In-town Pool Note #1: Hassett at sticks

Good morning – I'll be your print pooler today.

Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett gaggled at the sticks around 9:50 am for about 15 mins.

The director discussed a variety of topics. Full otter below.

On government shutdown: "We 100% want the government open. We agree with Speaker Johnson whose passed a bill to get the government open."

Hassett encouraged federal workers affected by the shutdown to call their supervisors and receive guidance on economic aid like credit union loans offered with zero interest.

"We really urge the folks who are in that situation to talk to their supervisors because the supervisors have methods to help."

On Trump-Xi meeting next week: says President Trump and President Xi "are great friends" and the administration was "frustrated with some of the Chinese actions" over the last few weeks but relations have improved in the past days.

On Canada trade talks coming to halt: Hassett says Canadians have been "very difficult to negotiate with" and that "frustration has built up over time" for POTUS. Comments follow Ronald Reagan ad and Trump terminating trade talks.

On CPI Inflation numbers: Says overall "numbers were fantastic" and down relative to August. Hassett says the top line 3% inflation rise was due to a shutdown in Indiana refinery which spiked gas prices across the Midwest. He pivoted to President Joe Biden's "runaway spending" policies.

On SNAP benefit suspensions: Hassett says OMB Director Russ Vought will soon have an update on this.

Full otter: https://otter.ai/u/XhcNHC2lXRXQLmA_RWVdOoRrrQg?tab=chat&view=transcript

In-town Pool Note #2: Lunch lid

Lunch lid until 12:30 pm.

In-town Pool Report #3: Dinner lid

Dinner lid until 10 pm.

In-town Pool Note #4: Gathering for departure

Pool is gathering in the press briefing room to prepare for POTUS departure for Asia trip. Malaysia will be the first stop on his three-nation tour.

In-town Pool Note #5: POTUS gaggle

POTUS stopped to talk to press on a variety of topics at 10:42 pm until about 10:47 pm.

No major news, will send quotes shortly.

In-town Pool Note #6: Marine One wheels up

Marine One was wheels up at 10:51 pm.

In-town Pool Note #7: POTUS remarks

President Trump spoke briefly to the pool before his departure on several topics, including renovations to the ballroom, Canada relations, Xi meeting and more.

POTUS on naming ballroom: "I don't have any plan to call it after myself... [we're] probably going to call it the Presidential ballroom or something like that. We haven't really thought about a name yet."

On Canada: POTUS says he has no plans to speak or meet with Canadian PM Mark Carney after Reagan ad. He calls the ad depicting Reagan hating tariffs "possibly AI."

"They did a crooked ad. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs. What they did was really dishonest..."

After he was told Canada is pulling ad on Monday, Trump calls it "dirty playing" and adds "I can play dirtier than they can."

On Xi meeting: POTUS says he wants to talk about farmers and will bring up Taiwan, although no plans to go there yet.

"We have a lot to talk about with President Xi, and he has a lot to talk about with us. I think we'll have a good meeting."

On Virginia gubernatorial race after New Jersey stumping: "I hope she wins. I mean, the other person is horrible. She's horrible. And the Attorney General candidate talking about, you know, killing the children, and him and the children, the wife, everybody. I mean, how can you put a guy like that in office? So, I hope they both win."

"I think you have a great Republican candidate in New Jersey, as you know. Jack is going to be great, and he's going to cut your energy bills in half, and she's [Mikie Sherrill] going to double your energy bill."

Full playback otter: https://otter.ai/u/vYP5G2qtT4HJBx2Ozz7-0DRZAq4