Pool Reports of September 16, 2025

In town pool report #1

Good morning from the White House, pool is gathering for departure 

President Trump is expected to depart at 8:30 for the UK.

In town pool report #2

Trump walked out of the White House at 9:10

He said he signed paperwork to instill Miran.  
. 
Took questions on his trip, Hamas using hostages as shields, tariffs

Gaggle ongoing, some quotes to come 

In town pool report #3

Trump took questions at departure for about 20 minutes, walking down the rope line and then walked back to the front doors of the White House to accompany Melanie to Marine One.

In town pool report #3
[APP Note: It is presumed that this is Report #4.]

Marine One lifted off the South Lawn at 9:34 

With the president 
Melania Trump 
James Blair 
Tiffany Trump and her husband

In town Pool Report #5 - Quotes from Gaggle

Please double check quotes -- thank you to co-pooler Benjain Johansen from Politico for transcribing 

On TikTok deal:
"We have a deal on TikTok. I've reached a deal with China. I'm going to speak to President Xi on Friday to confirm everything up."

"We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it. The kids wanted it so badly. I had parents calling me up ... They say, 'If I don't get it done, they're in big trouble with their kids.' I think it's great. I hate to see value like that thrown out the window."

On SCOTUS/tariffs ruling:

"The Supreme Court has been terrific. I think they're very fair. All I want is fairness ... But if we win the Supreme Court case, which means the finalization of tariffs, we will be by far the richest country by far anywhere in the world and we'll be able to help our people more and we'll be able to help other countries when we want to."

On Redford:

"Robert Redford was great. He had years where there was no one better ... He made seven or eight great movies ... There was a period of time where he was the hottest."

Chicago:

"It's [Chicago's] dying. I'm going to Chicago next."

Missed the first bit of the question but assume he's talking about the Kirk suspect:

"... So they're looking at that. But the state is very competent. The governor is doing a very good job. As you know, they have the death penalty ... So as to whether or not we judge, we will be working with them."

On Gov. Cox nonviolence remarks:

"I agree with him. 100%. But most of the violence is on the left."

On Zelenskyy:

"He's going to have to get going and make a deal ... Zelenskyy is going to have to make a deal."

On Fed being an independent body:

"It should be. But I think they should listen to smart people like me. I think I have a better instinct than him ... They should listen to people that are smart. But they have to make their own choice. But they should listen."

In town Pool report #6 - correction

Walt Nauta, not James Blair, accompanied Trump on Marine One today. 

Your pooler apologizes for the misidentifiation  

Passing off to travel pool 

In town pool report #7 - Trump audio on plane

Trump spoke to reporters briefly on the plane - here's the audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttiZuxQSXSM

Trump told reporters to enjoy themselves, said he was going to Charlie Kirk's service on Sunday

Out of town pool report #1 / JBA and wheels up

POTUS arrived at JBA on Marine One at 9:42am and about five minutes later boarded AF1 with First Lady Melania Trump. At the top of the steps he gave a wave and a fist pump but didn’t stroll toward us. 

Walking just behind them was Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos. Unclear what the full travel contingent is but co-poolers spotted Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller arriving and boarding earlier.

We are rolling at 9:52am and about to be wheels up, a departure that close followers will notice comes over an hour behind schedule.

POTUS gaggled at the WH upon departure, but if he gaggles again on the flight I will send quotes and highlights once we land (since I’ll be lacking WiFi from the air, feel free to also follow along at whitehouse.gov/live)

Out of town pool report #2 / landed in UK

Wheels down at Stansted Airport at 9:07pm BST, following a flight of about six hours.

About an hour into it POTUS came back briefly, noting his earlier gaggle on the South Lawn. He remarked about the trip, "It's going to be a very big thing."

He noticed Brian Glenn, saying, "Hello Brian. I told him yesterday we took down the tent. That tent's been up for three years, I didn't know that."

Glenn corrected that the tent outside the White House had been there since 1978

POTUS responded, "You should have told me sooner, I would have taken it down. But we got it down. After you said — in 24 hours it was down. And they had a lot of permits. They weren't current. But we got it down."

"Enjoy yourselves. You're going to have some great pictures today. You're going to have the best pictures, Doug. It's going to be a beautiful event. Everyone's looking forward to it. Just relax and have a good time. Country's doing well, the stock market is setting all sorts of records. And I think there's never been a time like this. We had a horrible tragedy but we're going to have to do something about that. We can't let that happen. So I'll be going to the service on Sunday, coming back. And then we're going in, I guess a lot of you are coming out with us. Enjoy yourselves, ok? It's great to have you."

He then turned and headed back to the front cabin.

Via WH, some of the travelers on AF1:

Tiffany Trump
Michael Boulos
Susie Wiles
Stephen Miller
Dan Scavino
James Blair
Beau Harrison
Nick Luna
Karoline Leavitt
Will Scharf
Steven Cheung
Hayley Harrison
Robert Gabriel
Michael Kratsios
Ross Worthington
Dave Warrington
Ambassador Crowley
Margo Martin

Out of town report #3 / Marine One lifts

A group of military officers, about a dozen on each side, marched and formed a line at the base of the AF1 stairs.

POTUS and FLOTUS walked down and shook hands with several greeters, and he saluted and shook hands with military officers. There were a few exchanges out of earshot.

He and the First Lady walked over to Marine One and lifted around 9:25pm as pool loaded in vans.

Out of town report #4 / Remarks at Winfield House

The pool wasn't there for this, but POTUS came up to cameras after he arrived on Marine One at Winfield House, the US ambassadors residence in central London.

"We just had a good flight, a lot of people came with us. Tomorrow's going to be a very big day," he said, according to a stream of the remarks.

He was asked how it felt to be back in the U.K.: "I love it. I love Turnberry, I love Aberdeen. I have a lot of things here that — they warm my heart, I want to tell you. It's a very special place."

He was also asked if he had a message for King Charles: "We are going yo see him tomorrow. He's been a friend of mine for a long time. And everybody respects him; and they love him."

Out of town pool report #5 / lid

WH passes along that the Marine One wheels down time was 9:55pm BST.

And we also now have a travel photo lid.