Vice Presidential Pool Reports of April 22, 2025

VP pool report #1 4/22: Heading to cultural site

Good morning from Rajasthan, where pool is being taken to pre-set at a cultural site that the second family is scheduled to visit.

Afterward, the vice president will give a speech in the afternoon (3 p.m. IST / 5:30 a.m. EDT) at the Rajasthan International Center. The remarks will "focus on the U.S. and India's shared economic priorities," the vice president's office said.

That's all pool knows of on the agenda for today, as of now.

VP pool report #2 4/22: Elephants, dancers at Amber Fort

Vice President Vance and the second family arrived at 9:36 a.m. at Amber Fort, a hilltop sandstone structure dating back to the 1590s where they're being greeted with another welcome ceremony. The site used to serve as a palace, and there is a temple here.

The vice president and family were driven to the top of a steep hill in police Jeeps, leaving the rest of the motorcade behind in a parking area at the bottom. The path up is too narrow for most vehicles.

The family was greeted by the chief minister and princess of Jaipur. The Vances slowly made their way around the carpet route, admiring the scene as drums played, stopping to look at the elephants and the male and female dancers here to greet them. The vice president is in khakis and light colored, more casual blazer.

The ceremony was held in a sun-drenched, concrete-tiled courtyard. Orange, yellow and pink flower blooms and petals were painstakingly laid out to form a trim around the carpet. And around the carpet, flower petals made elaborate flower designs — pool was repeatedly reminded not to accidentally step on the creations as we were walking around the site.

The two elephants were decked in colorful cloths and charms, while the riders of each elephant were in their own colorful outfits and safas (their hats). The female dancers were wearing veil-like coverings over their hair. Two men were in costumes designed to look like they are riding something like a llama. The female dancers were barefoot. Your pooler reached down to feel the stone tiles; they were hot. Your pooler will note that the male dancers were wearing shoes.

There is no indication the vice president or his family will be riding the elephants. In fact, the indications I have received is that they will not be.

The second family is now receiving a private tour of the fort, which pool is not permitted to join.

VP pool report #3 4/22: Departed fort

The vice president and family departed Amber Fort in their motorcade at 11:07 a.m. 

Outside the fort was another large welcome sign with Vance's picture on it, which pool saw a number of in Delhi yesterday.

Your pooler was informed that there are often snake charmers set up on the road outside of the fort, despite it now being illegal in India, but alas the road was blocked off to the public m and none were there today. Crowds were gathered behind barriers blocking off the street in the city center of Jaipur as the motorcade drove through. This motorcade passed several beautiful, elaborately designed buildings, and a temple on the drive back, as well as plenty of Vance welcome signage.

The VP arrived back at his lodging site at 11:31 a.m. Pool will not see him again until his speech at 3 p.m.

VP pool report #4 4/22: Speech

Vice President Vance took the stage at the Rajasthan International Center at 3:17 p.m., for a speech his office said would be focused on "economic priorities."

The auditorium here seats around 500, pool was told. From the pool's vantage point, it does not appear the balcony is full. There are people from a wide range of ages here, including a large school group in uniforms. Vance also welcomed business leaders who are here. There are reportedly also a number of local graduate students in attendance.

Your pooler spoke with a woman from New Delhi who is here on behalf of her company, who said she did not sleep last night because she was so excited to see Vance speak in person, something she described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity." She did not have strong feelings about the Trump administration, but said she wants to believe they have the best intentions with their policies.

Usha Vance is seated in the front row. Check quotes against audio — Otter link below.

"She's a bit of a celebrity, it turns out, in India, I think more so than her husband," he said.

So far, the VP's speech has extolled India's focus on ensuring jobs for their citizens stay in their country. He is defending and praising the Trump tariff plan.

"We want to build relationships with our foreign partners who respect their worked while don't suppress their wages to boost exports, but respect the value of their labor."

"There's a pride in being Indian, a feeling of excitement about the days that lie ahead now, it's a striking contrast with too many in the West, where some in our leadership class seem stricken by self doubt and even fear of the future. To them, humanity is always one bad decision away from catastrophe, the world will soon end."

He said he is here as a partner looking to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, and condemned "prior administrations" in Washington of being condescending to Modi and India. He said America wants to "build a bright new world" with India, "one that's constantly innovating, one that's helping people to form families, making it easier to build, invest and trade together in pursuit of common goals."

Vance received applause when he said the two countries have finalized their terms of reference for a trade deal — something that his office announced yesterday.

Dropping Otter link here for the rest:

https://otter.ai/u/aqaCuEbEH9AtcQmmNehqfVtgBIc

VP pool report #5 4/22: More quotes + VP back at hotel

The vice president's speech lasted 26 minutes. He left the venue at 3:47 p.m. and arrived at his lodging site at 3:57 p.m., according to a spokesperson. Pool is not with the vice president.

Refer to Otter link in last report for full audio and transcript.

During the rest of the speech, VP Vance also discussed the U.S. being able to "help realize India's nuclear power production goals" and "its AI ambitions" by using American energy.

He painted a picture of a bright future if the U.S. and India are aligned, but a "dark" one otherwise.

"I believe that if India and the United States work together successfully, we're going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful. But I also believe that if we fail to work together successfully, the 21st century will be a very dark time for all of humanity."

"So I want say it's clear to me, as it is the most observers, that President Trump, of course, intends to rebalance America's economic relationship with the rest of the world. That's going to cause, fundamentally, will cause profound changes within our borders, in the United States, but of course, with other countries as well. But I believe that this rebalancing is going to produce great benefits for American workers. It's going to produce great benefits for the people of India. And because our partnership is so important, to the future of the world."

And he talked about his kids more, including that his oldest son is enjoying India so much, last night Ewan suggested moving here. Until he had to walk around in the heat this morning at Amber Fort, at which time he suggested the UK.

The food was so good, and the Prime Minister was so kind to our three children that you came up to me afterwards, and he said, 'Dad, you know, I think maybe I could live in India.' But I think after about 90 minutes in the Jaipur sun today at the great palace, he suggested that maybe we should
move to England. So you take the good with the bad."

And Vance said his kids have only shown real connections to two world leaders, Trump and Modi, which is a good sign for the country's partnership with India.

"It's interesting. They've only really attached themselves to, they've only really liked, I should say they've only really built a rapport with, with two world leaders. The first, of course, is President Trump. He just has a certain energy about them, about him, but Prime Minister Modi, it's the exact same thing."

VP pool report #6 4/22: Lid

The vice president's press pool has a lid as of around 4:30 p.m. Thanks for reading along again today, everyone.

VP pool report #7 4/22: Second lady interview

A spokesperson for the vice president said Second Lady Usha Vance taped an interview this afternoon with Harsha Kumari Singh of NDTV, an Indian news company. The interview is expected to air in the 9:00pm local IST hour, and can be watched here: https://www.ndtv.com/livetv-ndtv24x7