Pool Reports of September 17, 2024

Pool report No. 1 Wildfire season briefing — no questions.

Pool was escorted into the Oval Office at noon exactly at the top of a briefing about wildfire season.

Governors Tina Kotek of Oregon and Gavin Newsom of California were on screens in front of POTUS. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack were seated in front of the President, who spoke for a little over a minute, reading from a paper on his desk, mostly about the toll of wildfires.

"I've flown over more of these wildfires in Arizona, Idaho and Montana and the whole crescent."

"In California there are three main wildfires displacing thousands of people."

He said the federal government and state officials are "Working closely around the clock to control these fires and protect our people."

POTUS did not respond to shouted questions before pool was escorted out.

The briefing was the first of two events on the President's schedule, though one is closed press. Press Briefing is at 1:30 p.m. Schedule is below.

11:15 am THE PRESIDENT participates in a briefing regarding the ongoing wildfire season response and Federal efforts to reduce wildfire risk
Oval Office
In-House Pool Spray (Gather 11:00 AM – Brady Press Briefing Room)

12:45 PM THE PRESIDENT receives the President's Daily Brief
Closed Press

2:15 PM THE PRESIDENT meets with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, to discuss the Bank's work to reduce global poverty and address global challenges including climate change under Banga's tenure
Oval Office
Closed Press

Briefing Schedule

1:30 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Pool report No. 2 — full list of wildfire briefing attendees

From the White House:

The President is participating in a briefing regarding the ongoing wildfire season response and Federal efforts to reduce wildfire risk.

Participants
Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Agriculture
Liz Sherwood-Randall, Assistant to the President & Homeland Security Advisor & Deputy National Security Advisor
Chief Randy Moore, U.S. Forest Service

Virtual Participants
Governor Gavin Newsom (CA)
Governor Tina Kotek (OR)
Grant Beebe, Assistant Director for Fire and Aviation, Bureau of Land Management

Pool report No. 3. — briefing moved to 2 pm.

The press briefing has been moved to 2 pm.

Pool report No. 4 -- briefing starts

The briefing began at 2:06 p.m.

Pool report No. 5 -- Briefing ends.

The White House press briefing ended at 2:57 p.m.

Pool Report No. 6 -- Lid

The White House called a lid at 5:20 p.m.