Vice Presidential Pool Reports of November 10, 2025

VP Pool 1: Walter Reed troops visit

Good morning,

I'll be your print pooler today with Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what his office tells us is a visit to wounded warriors one day ahead of Veterans Day.

The VP's office stresses that the VP and Second Lady do not have any additional engagements at Walter Reed apart from the troops visit.

Your pool is holding now awaiting the VP and Second Lady's arrival, which FPPO we expect around 9:30am.

VP Pool 2: visit to MATC

Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived at Walter Reed around 9:21am, the VP's office said. Pool was not in position to see their arrival.

The Vances entered the Military Advanced Training Center (MATC) at 9:23am. Inside the large room is lots of exercise/physical therapy equipment, as well as six padded tables where injured service members can receive treatment. During the visit, the Vances chatted with lots of medical officials and service members receiving different types of treatment. Pool was in position to hear some but not all of the conversations - no news, but some color below as well as names/descriptions from the VP's office. The Vances left just before 10:20 and did not gaggle about any news of day.

Upon entering the MATC, VP and Second Lady stopped near the entrance of the room for greetings with CAPT Melissa Austin, Director, WRNMMC and MAJ Ajus Ninan, Chief of Warrior Family Coordination Cell, WRNMMC.

Shortly thereafter, they stopped to chat with an Army Major who was injured in Afghanistan. It appeared the VP handed the Major a challenge coin. Pool was not close enough to hear their conversation

At 9:31, the Vances began chatting with an Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 whose left arm was injured in Iraq, as well as his physical therapist.

At 9:35, they moved to chat with an Army Major who was injured on his 5th combat deployment. It's his birthday today, we're told. TV pool's boom mic was in better position to capture this audio so please check the TV feed for more detailed information about their conversation - your pooler could hear some discussion about the individual's injuries, his background in the military and the types of care he's receiving here - including IV Ketamine therapy.

At 9:43, the Vances chatted with a physical therapy student working here at Walter Reed. They discussed what's next for her after finishing her clinical rotation at Walter Reed.

At 9:44, the Vances circled towards the south side of the room to chat with an Army Sergeant First Class who lost his left leg on his second combat deployment, as well as one of the officials providing him care. The injured soldier was working on dead lifts, prompting VP Vance to joke that this was all designed to shame him given the service members' obvious physical strength despite their injuries. Your pooler was not able to see the exact weight the soldier was lifting, though it indeed looked quite heavy.

At 9:49, the Vances began speaking with an Army Sergeant who's recovering from cancer - he has 5 combat deployments and said he's finished his chemotherapy treatment though he's still receiving some oral medications. VP Vance started admiring his tattoos, and then discussed his treatment and military background.

At 9:52, the Vances moved to a large table that featured lots of prosthetic limbs. The Vances chatted with the service chief for prosthetics here and others on the orthotics team. VP Vance picked up one of the devices to admire it, and they discussed some of the injuries that might require a prosthetic or orthotic device - including jumping out of planes and helicopters. The medical official also demonstrated an upper extremity device (used for lost arms/hands), showcasing the technology that allows users to teach their bodies how to fire the electrodes in the device to do things like rotate arms or open/close hands.

At 10:01a, the Vances started chatting with Sam, a Coast Guard Seaman who lost his leg this past February during boot camp. He has a prosthetic replacement, and was wearing a harness attached to the ceiling to help with his rehab. He said he's trying to return to active duty once he's medically cleared to do so.

At 10:06, the Vances moved to the center of the room with the large rehabilitation tables. There, they spoke with a Marine Lance Corporal who injured her hip during combat training, and later a Marine Sergeant (ret.) who lost one of his hands and both legs following an IED blast in Afghanistan on his 4'" combat deployment. At 10:12, a medical alert sounded over the loudspeaker for the pediatrics team. "I hope everyone's okay," Vance said. "I was worried it was gonna be 'alert, the Vice President's asking a stupid question,'" he joked. The retired soldier showcased how he could catch a ball, and tossed it to Vance. He then took off his prosthetic hand and handed it to Vance to look at briefly.

At 10:15, the Vances moved to the back of the room for a photo with all the patients and care providers. Vance said he was going to give everyone challenge coins, and talked about his attendance at the Marine Corps ball over the weekend.

At 10:19, the Vances exited the room. We did not have any opportunity for a spray or gaggle. Pool is told the VP is headed back to the WH.

That's it from your pool with the VP today - thanks!