Pool Reports of October 9, 2025

Pool Report 1/Delay

The pool hasn't yet been called to gather for the Cabinet meeting, which had been scheduled for 11.

Pool Report 2/Gathering

The pool is gathering for the Cabinet meeting. 

Please pull up YouTube or CSPAN for full quotes.

Pool Report 3/Cabinet Room

The pool entered the Cabinet Room at 12:04.

Pull up your video feeds!

Pool Report 4/Gaza opener

President Trump started off signing documents recognizing days in honor Leif Erikson and Christopher Columbus.

Trump then turned to the Gaza deal, saying he expects hostages to be released Monday or Tuesday.

He said he was "going to try to make a trip" to Egypt to attend an official peace deal signing.

Trump said he believes wealthy Arab countries will be "stepping up" to fund the rebuilding of Gaza.

Pool Report 5/Shutdown remarks

President Trump's opening remarks turned to the shutdown and his efforts to lower prescription drug costs.

He said it "makes me angry" that Americans paid higher drug prices for so long and that he's proud that tariff threats are prompting pharmaceutical companies to pledge to equalize costs.

Trump said congressional Democrats have rejected a clean CR because they don't want to have a good economy, saying Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are holding the country "hostage."

He predicted that Schumer will retire before the 2028 primary and made a remark about Nancy Pelosi not looking good in a recent TV hit.

If the shutdown continues, "We're only going to cut Democrat programs.... we'll give them a little taste of their own medicine."

Trump responded directly to Schumer's remarks on Democrats gaining ground during each day of the shutdown and said he believes it's actually getting "worse for them" and that Democrats are divided.

"This is a confession" that Schumer is serving "the partisan interests of his party," Trump said.

Pool Report 6/Going around room 'quickly'

"We're going to go quickly if we can," Trump said before asking AG Bondi to speak at 12:30.

Bondi touted DOJ's Memphis crime crackdown, prompting Trump to describe crime as a major new political issue.

DHS Secretary Noem said, "We're purchasing more buildings in Chicago to operate out of." And she said she has similar plans for Portland due to the "lying" and "disingenuous" local officials she met with on Tuesday. 

Trump said the "anarchists" in Portland were "degenerates."

Secretary of State Rubio spoke next and said yesterday's Gaza peace deal could not have happened without Trump, prompting the Cabinet to applaud. Rubio said "the president had some extraordinary phone calls and meetings" that he suggested may never be reported.

Pool Report 7/More secretaries speak

Doug Burgum and Pete Hegseth spoke next, both praising Trump's Gaza peace efforts.

VP Vance slammed the media for preemptively criticizing Trump's approach to resolve the conflict and Witkoff's role. He then attacked Democrats over the shutdown and called for five more senators to vote for reopening. 

Wright mentioned the shutdown's impact on the Energy Department. 

RFK Jr said that Trump deserves as much credit on drug prices as he has gotten for Gaza. He said under the MFN policies, 90% of drugs will be sold at the lowest price in the world by the time Trump leaves office. He then spoke about Tylenol and how Cuba has the lowest use and lowest autism rate.

Pool Report 8/Spray over

As the meeting continued, RFK linked early circumcision to higher rates of autism, saying it was likely because of Tylenol. 

Trump repeated his call for pregnant women to avoid Tylenol and not give it to their babies.

"I'm a vaccine believer," Trump also said, but called for fewer shots and more time between them for kids.

During Q&A with reporters, Trump indicated he likely will speak at the Knesset.

At 1:14, Trump asked the press to leave, citing a busy day at the White House.

Pool Report 9/Lunch lid

We have a lunch lid until 3.

Pool Report 10/Stubb arrival

President Trump welcomed Finnish President Stubb at the north entrance of the West Wing at 3:03. They did not speak to the press.

Pool Report 11/Gather for Oval

We are en route to the Oval Office.

Pool Report 12/Oval

The pool entered the Oval Office at 3:10.

President Trump welcomed Stubb and mentioned US purchases of "the finest icebreakers" from Finland.

Stubb also spoke about icebreakers in his opener and congratulated Trump on the Gaza deal, calling it diplomacy at its best. 

Finland's prime minister, also present, spoke about the jobs likely to be created by the ship purchases.

Stubb deflected on whether Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize this year and, asked if he would nominate Trump next year, said that Zelensky and the king of Jordan would be better nominators.

Trump said he doesn't know if he will get the Nobel prize tomorrow but that "I didnt do it for that."

"A day of great celebration" is coming when the hostages are released.

He said the composition of the international peacekeeping force in Gaza remains to be determined and affirmed that Gazans won't be forced to leave. 

The pool left the room at 3:40.

Pool Report 13/Finnish departure

The Finns departed around 4 p.m.

Pool Report 14/Lid

We have a travel/photo lid.

Backgrounder to President Stubb of Finland's Visit to the White House

Good afternoon,

I will serve as the Foreign Pool reporter today for the visit of Alexander Stubb, President of Finland. Below is a concise backgrounder on him, his relationship with President Donald Trump, and key points on U.S.–Finnish relations.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Backgrounder: President Donald Trump to Host President Alexander Stubb of Finland for Bilateral Meeting

Key Topics on the Agenda

– Icebreaker procurement and Arctic infrastructure cooperation
– Support for Ukraine and management of relations with Russia
– NATO integration and defense interoperability
– Trade, technology, and critical-mineral supply chains
– Climate resilience and Arctic Council coordination

Strategic Goals

From X this morning, President Stubb posted:

"Looking forward to visiting the White House today with PM Orpo. I will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on icebreaker cooperation together with @POTUS.
The MOU lays the foundation for commercial agreements between the United States Coast Guard and Finnish companies."

Helsinki views this visit as an opportunity to secure long-term maritime contracts, reinforce its NATO standing, and demonstrate that smaller European nations can play a decisive role in security and diplomacy. For the White House, it underscores Finland's importance as a stable, capable partner on NATO's northern frontier.

Overview of the Relationship

President Alexander Stubb, 57, has led Finland since March 2024. A former prime minister, foreign minister, finance minister, and member of the European Parliament, he has positioned Finland as a firmly Atlantic-oriented nation shaping transatlantic security and economic policy.

This meeting carries particular weight since Finland's accession to NATO in April 2023, which transformed it into a strategic frontline member of the alliance. Finland shares an 830-mile (1,340-kilometer) border with Russia—the longest between Russia and any EU or NATO country.

Since President Trump's return to office, he and Stubb have developed a close working relationship. They first met in France in December 2024, again at Mar-a-Lago in March 2025, and spoke by phone in August about icebreaker procurement and broader security issues. Their discussions have focused on defense, energy, Arctic strategy, and infrastructure.

Stubb made an unannounced visit to Florida in March 2025 to meet President Trump for golf and private talks on Ukraine and Arctic cooperation. Trump praised Stubb's role and said their partnership would strengthen "peace and international security."

According to reports, both Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham praised Stubb's golfing skills during the visit. Stubb did not publicly comment on Trump's game, but Finnish officials described the meeting as friendly and informal, noting that the two presidents played a full round together and had lunch afterward.

Stubb also took part in the August 18, 2025, meeting at the White House between Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, and several European leaders. His presence underscored Finland's growing role within NATO and its strategic importance as a border state with Russia.

Latest Developments & Significance of the Meeting

Ahead of the visit, President Stubb posted on X that he would sign a Memorandum of Understanding on icebreaker cooperation with President Trump. The agreement establishes the basis for commercial deals between the U.S. Coast Guard and Finnish shipyards.

Trump and Stubb are expected to finalize a plan allowing the U.S. to acquire up to four Finnish-built icebreakers as part of a broader effort to construct 11 Arctic Security Cutters, valued at approximately $6.1 billion. The arrangement reflects deepening Arctic collaboration and Finland's growing importance as a NATO and industrial partner.

For Finland, this Oval Office meeting aims to:
– Strengthen industrial and defense cooperation with the United States
– Anchor Arctic coordination and technology sharing
– Confirm Finland's active role in NATO and European security

Further Context

In August 2025, Trump and Stubb discussed Ukraine ceasefire proposals and Arctic cooperation. Finland leads the world in icebreaker design and construction—responsible for roughly 80% of global designs and 60% of production. The White House deal may include limited waivers to U.S. shipbuilding restrictions under the Jones Act.

Finland is also a founding member of the ICE Pact (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort) with the U.S. and Canada, launched in July 2024 to coordinate Arctic capabilities and shipbuilding innovation.

Foreign Pool Report # 1 Finnish Delegation

As per the Finnish Embassy, below is the delegation that will be attending the bilateral meeting scheduled at 3:15 p.m. EST in the Oval Office today.

Alexander Stubb 
President of Finland

Petteri Orpo
Prime Minister 

Leena- Kaisa Mikkola
Finland’s Ambassador to the U.S.

Lauri Tierala
Chief of Staff of the President

Risto Artjoki
State Secretary for the Prime Minister

Pasi Rajala
State Secretary for the Foreign and Defence Ministers 

Tuomas Telkkä
Domestic and Industrial Affairs Advisor

Mari-Kaisa Brander
Director of Communications

Foreign Pool Report # 2 Arrival of Finnish President Stubb

The Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, arrived at the White House at 3:03 and was welcomed by President Trump at the West Wing Portico. He was greeted with an honor guard ceremony featuring color guards from multiple branches of the military and the display of U.S. state flags. The bilateral meeting is set to begin shortly. The Finnish President didn’t answer any of the questions shouted by reporters about Ukraine.