Pool Reports of September 1, 2022

In-Town Pool Report #1

Good morning. The White House press office sends the following statement:

Last night, President Biden spoke to Congresswoman-elect Mary Peltola. The President congratulated her for her historic victory in the Alaska special election Wednesday. The two had a very warm conversation where he told her he looks forward to working with her to lower costs for working families in Alaska when she is sworn into her seat in Congress. He also wished her a very happy birthday.

In-Town Pool Report #2

Briefing pushed to 2:30.

In-Town Pool Report #3

Two-minute warning called at 2:36 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #4

Briefing began at 2:39 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #5

Briefing ended at 3:42 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #6

Pool told to gather for POTUS departure to Philadelphia from the South Lawn at 5:25 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #7

President Biden and the First Lady walked out of the White House at 5:42 p.m. His granddaughter Naomi Biden and Peter Neal followed behind. President Biden took no questions from the press before the group boarded Marine One. Wheels up 5:47 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #8

In-town pool is on South Lawn as of 9:55 p.m. for President Biden's arrival.

It is otherwise quiet at the White House. Press workspace is almost empty, as in the White House press office.

In-Town Pool Report #9

Marine One landed on South Lawn at 10:03 p.m. President Biden exited the plane, followed by the First Lady. She was wearing a mask when she exited and later took it off.

Biden took questions from reporters on Afghanistan, Iran, student loans, and the water crisis in Jackson. Answers forthcoming when pooler can check tape.

He walked into the White House at 10:08 p.m.

In-Town Pool Report #10

Correction: last pool report should have been labeled #9, apologies for my clumsy typing.

See below for transcript of tonight's Q&A session on South Lawn (only items in "" are direct quotes, otherwise pooler is paraphrasing).

Reporter: Will you go to Mississippi, sir?

POTUS: "I've been talking to Mississippi. I talked to the mayor, I talked to the congressman." "We've offered every single thing available to Mississippi. The governor has to act. There's money to deal with this problem. We've given them EPA. We've given them everything there is to offer."

"I have no plans to go there right now."

Reporter: What is your response to conservatives who want to challenge your student loan plan in court?

POTUS: "They have a right to do that. Do you have a student loan?"

Reporter: "Do I have a student loan?" "I bet a lot of your staff does."

POTUS: "They may, no one has told me they have."

Reporter: Have you been briefed on the response to the U.S. proposal on the Iran nuclear deal?

POTUS: "I've been briefed, but unless something happened in the last two hours."

Reporter: "They replied to the U.S. response."

POTUS: "Then I haven't heard it yet. I'll find out when I walk in the door."

Reporter: Mr. President, what's your response to Afghans that are still stuck around the world and are trying to get here to the U.S. through the refugee program?

POTUS: "They're like everyone else trying to get here. They have a right to try to get here. And if we can, we should accommodate them."

In-Town Pool Report #11

Lid at 10:44 p.m.

Out of town pool report #1

Good evening, I'll be your out-of-town print pooler.

Marine One landed on the tarmac at JBA at 5:55. POTUS deplaned at 5:58 with his aviators on. FLOTUS was right behind him. She shook the hands of military personnel waiting to greet her.

POTUS and FLOTUS waved to press and saluted military. They boarded AF1 at 6:00. Should be wheels up shortly.

WH sends this:

Greeting the President and the First Lady on arrival at Joint Base Andrews:

Col Matthew Jones, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing

Out of town pool report #2

AF1 was wheels up at JBA at 6:10. Wheels down at PHL at 6:37. CNN was playing in the cabin, including a speech by Rep. Kevin McCarthy ahead of Biden's address.

The WH sends this:

Traveling with the President and the First Lady on Air Force One en route Philadelphia International Airport:

Anita Dunn, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Mike Donilon, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President
Anthony Bernal, Assistant to the President & Advisor to the First Lady
Annie Tomasini, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Vinay Reddy, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Marc Gustafson, Senior Director for the White House Situation Room
Travis Dredd, Special Assistant to the President & Trip Director
Jordan Montoya, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the First Lady
Carla Frank, Special Assistant to the President & Director of Strategic Planning

Out of town pool report #3

POTUS and FLOTUS deplaned at PHL at 6:51. FLOTUS waved. Both made their way down a receiving line, with FLOTUS hugging Gov. Tom Wolf.

They chatted with the greeters until 6:54, when they got into the Beast. POTUS did not answer questions. The Beast was rolling at 6:55.

Pool was loaded onto the press bus.

WH sends:

Greeting the President and the First Lady on arrival at Philadelphia International Airport:
Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania
Bob Casey, U.S. Senator (PA)
Brendan Boyle, U.S. Congressman (PA-02)
Dwight Evans, U.S. Congressman (PA-03)
Madeleine Dean, U.S. Congresswoman (PA-04)
Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. Congresswoman (PA-05)
Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia

Out of town pool report #4

Motorcade had an uneventful ride to Independence National Historical Park. Some people were lined up outside the park to watch the motorcade arrive -- some POTUS supporters and a small number of anti-POTUS folks.

Press van unloaded at the park at 7:14.

There are several hundred people sitting in white lawn chairs in front of Independence Hall, with a podium set up in front of the main doors. A band is playing. Currently about 82 degrees and relatively low humidity.

Out of town pool report #5

POTUS and FLOTUS came out of Independence Hall at 8:01. POTUS began speaking at 8:02.

The speech is streaming at whitehouse.gov/live

The WH says only the president will speak.

The WH also sends this info on a photo line from before the speech. The pool did not see it:

Participating in a photo line with the President and the First Lady:
Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania
Bob Casey, U.S. Senator (PA)
Brendan Boyle, U.S. Congressman (PA-02)
Dwight Evans, U.S. Congressman (PA-03)
Madeleine Dean, U.S. Congresswoman (PA-04)
Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. Congresswoman (PA-05)
Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia
Chris Coons, U.S. Senator (DE)
Lisa Blunt-Rochester, U.S. Congresswoman (DE-AL)
Mike Purzycki, Mayor of Wilmington
Malcolm Kenyatta, State Representative (PA-181)
Sarah McBride, State Representative (DE)

Out of town pool report #6

POTUS finished speaking at 8:26. He and FLOTUS embraced at the podium, waved to the crowd and then walked back to the doorway of Independence Hall. They waved to the crowd again and went inside at 8:28.

In his speech, POTUS forcefully criticized "MAGA Republicans" and former president Donald Trump, differentiating them from "mainstream Republicans" who he said he can work with. He also condemned political violence, including the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as attacks on elections workers and FBI agents.

For several minutes, someone (maybe multiple people) outside the park chanted, "Let's go, Brandon" and "F Joe Biden." POTUS acknowledged the heckling, telling the crowd that those people are "entitled to be outrageous. This is a democracy."

During the speech, the crowd applauded at times, with a few cheers and some people taking photos or video on their phones.

Dramatic setup here, with red and blue spotlights coloring Independence Hall and a uniformed member of the military standing on each side of the main door. Several American flags and a long red carpet were behind POTUS as he spoke.

Out of town pool report #7

Motorcade began rolling to PHL at 8:39.

Out of town pool report #8

POTUS and FLOTUS exited the Beast at PHL, waved to reporters and boarded AF1 at 8:55. POTUS did not take questions.

Should be wheels up shortly.

Out of town pool report #9

AF1 was wheels up at PHL at 9:04. Wheels down at JBA at 9:34. CNN was playing in the cabin again.

POTUS and FLOTUS deplaned at 9:45. POTUS shook hands with the military members at the bottom of the steps. He did not answer questions.

POTUS and FLOTUS boarded Marine One at 9:47. Marine One was wheels up at 9:53.