Vice Presidential Pool Reports of July 16, 2025

VP pool report #1: Arrival at JBA

Good morning from JBA. I'll be your pooler today for Vice President JD Vance's trip to West Pittston, Pennsylvania. He'll hold a rally celebrating Republicans' landmark domestic policy bill — which they call the "One Big Beautiful Bill" — for which Vance cast the tie-breaking Senate vote earlier this month.

The vice president and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived at JBA at 11:49 am and boarded AF2 at 11:52 am. They did not take questions.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Rob Bresnahan, who represents West Pittston in the House, will be joining VPOTUS and SLOTUS on AF2, per an OVP official.

Consider this your wheels up notice.

VP pool report #2: Arrival in Northeast Pennsylvania

AF2 was wheels up at 12:04 pm and wheels down at Wilkes Barre-Scranton Airport at 12:40 pm following an uneventful flight.

VPOTUS and SLOTUS walked off the plane at 12:52 pm. Vance gave a thumbs up to the pool but did not speak to us.

We are rolling to the rally as of 12:55 pm.

VP pool report #3: Background on today's trip

A source familiar with the VP's trip today shared the following background:

Pennsylvania makes sense because:

1. It's a working class state and the OBBB helps working class Americans most of all.

2. Pennsylvania is where a lot of the closing campaign pitch was made. The location will drive home the VP's 'promises made, promises kept' message.

-The VP's speech won't be focused on any one provision. He will highlight the historic nature of POTUS's legislation. Things like: $10k annual pay boost for American families, targeted tax cuts for working Americans like no taxes on tip and no taxes on overtime, permanently fixing the Biden border crisis with the ICE funding boost and border wall funds, the economic payoff of incentivizing investment in US production, etc.

VP pool report 4: Arrival at Don's Machine Shop

Pool arrived at Don's Machine Shop at 1:10 pm after a mostly uneventful ride. There were sporadic groups of onlookers waving to the motorcade along the way, as well as a dog sporting a star spangled banner tutu and about a dozen protesters with signs.

VP pool report #5: Vance remarks begin

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler took the stage at 1:23 pm and touted the Republican megabill as a win for Main Street. "President Trump is the greatest pro worker champion in American history," she said.

Loeffler then introduced Vance, who took the stage at 1:28 pm.

I've been told the rally is being streamed live, so I will not endeavor to send comprehensive quotes, though I will do my best to flag notable ones.

Here is a CSPAN link: https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/vice-president-vance-promotes-gop-tax-and-spending-cuts-law-in-pennsylvania/662629

VP pool report #6: Vance wraps

More than 100 people, many in MAGA hats, composed the crowd in the machine shop. Signs hung that read "no tax on tips" and "America is back."

The vice president spoke for 22 minutes and wrapped at 1:50 to applause.

As always, please check all quotes against the official transcript.

Vance discussed how his late father worked at a machine shop — like Don's Machine Shop, where he held the rally — in Hamilton, Ohio. "My dad's name was Don and this is Don's machine shop, so I think it's appropriate to be here," he said.

Vance said, with the BBB, the US would "take off in a rocket ship with good policy coming from DC."

The VP touted the Trump administration's border crackdown and made fun of a recent New York Times Opinion article written by a Biden administration immigration official.

Vance then pivoted to touting the economic benefits in the bill for blue collar workers. "For the first time in a long time, workers' wages are rising faster than inflation," he said.

He said one part of the BBB the media doesn't discuss enough is how it incentivizes young people to take alternative career paths to higher education, including working in machine shops like this one. "Your government should not be forcing you to do what elites in Washington want you to do," he said.

When the VP said companies that choose to make their goods overseas are "gonna pay a big fat tariff," the crowd whooped.

Vance said the administration was "getting Washington's spending under control."

He also touted a provision in the bill establishing savings accounts with $1000 for American babies. He slammed Democrats for not voting for the provision and said they would have if it extended to "illegal aliens."

He encouraged the crowd over the next year or year and a half to "talk about what the bill does for American citizens" ahead of the midterms. He gave a shoutout to Rep. Bresnahan. "He's younger and better looking than I am," he said.

Vance called the vice presidency "a fun job" and said it was "a lot more fun having somebody you love by your side," shouting out SLOTUS.

VP pool report #7: Stop at a diner

Pool started rolling back to AVP Airport at 1:59 pm and drove for about 5 minutes to Majestic Lunch, a diner in Pittston. The VP, Loeffler, Bresnahan and SLOTUS entered at 2:07 to applause. About 40 people were seated in the diner. The restaurant's specialty is a hot dog with everything on it. "We ordered ahead of time, right?" Vance asked. The answer was a grilled cheese and a double burger.

The VP shook hands with some of the patrons in the diner. He again made fun of the NYT Opinion article. They discussed the Eagles, the local football team. SLOTUS spoke to some guests about her children.

Vance thanked several veterans for their service and shook their hands.

The VP asked about a gym in the area had recently shut down that had to do with the local VA. "We'll give you our contact information," he said. Many other vets asked him about cuts to the VA.

The VP paid at 2:23. Your pooler was made to leave because it was too tight inside. Vance left the restaurant at 2:24.

We are holding in the vans at 2:26.

VP pool report #8: Back on AF2

Pool arrived back at the airport at 2:36 and VPOTUS got out of his car at 2:38 and shook hands with, then took a photo with, about eight Pennsylvania State Troopers. He and SLOTUS walked up to AF2 at 2:40 without taking questions from the pool.

Consider this your wheels up notice.

VP pool report #9: Wheels down in Atlantic City for private stop

AF2 was wheels up at 2:51 pm and wheels down at Atlantic City Airport for a private stop at 3:23 pm. Your pooler has endeavored to get more information about the nature of the stop and will share it ASAP. Pool will be holding on AF2 for about an hour, per an OVP official.

VP pool report #10: Reason for Atlantic City stop and wheels up

Passing along the following from a Vance spokesperson about why we stopped in Atlantic City:

"the Vice President and Second Lady stopped briefly in New Jersey to pay their respects to the family of a staff member whose father recently passed away."

Your pooler did not see VPOTUS or SLOTUS get back on AF2. We will be wheels up back to JBA imminently, as of 5:12 pm.

VP pool report #11: Wheels down at JBA + lid

AF2 was wheels up from Atlantic City at 5:13 pm and wheels down at JBA at 5:48 pm after an uneventful flight. VPOTUS and SLOTUS walked off the plane at 6 pm and boarded Marine 2 at 6:01 pm. Vance did not take questions.

That's it from me for today! Thanks!