Pool Reports of June 14, 2025

In-town pool report #1: parade pool departure from the White House

Good afternoon from the White House, where it's 85 and sunny and the rain has held off -- so far -- ahead of the president’s evening military parade.

The White House has summoned the "parade pool" that will be with the president throughout the evening. We are about to depart 1600 Penn to preset on the ellipse.

President Trump will remain at the White House for roughly 2.5 more hours. A separate visuals-only pool will capture his departure from the White House a little before his expected arrival time of 6:30 pm. 

No other guidance/changes/statements beyond what POTUS has posted on Truth Social to share at this time.

In-town pool report #2: spotted in the reviewing stand

The pool is positioned in a pen across the street from the reviewing stand. It’s not easy to make out faces but here’s the list of notable attendees that the pool has been able to piece together:

Richard Hudson
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Maria Salazar
Marco Rubio and his wife Jeanette
Lee Greenwood
Dana White
Rich McCormick
Linda McMahon
Brooke Rollins
Lee Zeldin
Russ Vought
Pete Hegseth
Doug Collins

You can find photos of the event taken from the pool’s vantage point at this link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/f4uq4kskwxszjdq746kqm/AJw6Ia5sUeltfkXqQy99cIA?rlkey=q6ergarahmm5uif1hygmmuafz&st=lmkcsg3c&dl=0

In-town pool report #3: POTUS on his way!

President Donald Trump left the White House nearly 45 minutes earlier than expected at 5:43 pm, per the White House. He’s due to arrive at the reviewing stand any minute.

In-town pool report #4: POTUS arrival/WH clarification

The White House says that President Trump arrived a few minutes ago at the parade – although parade pool has not set eyes on him – and clarifies that the daily guidance only listed his participation in the parade as 6:30 pm but not his departure, meaning he left the White House early but not as early as it seemed.

It’s unclear what time the president will walk out at the event.

In-town pool report #5: POTUS arrival

At roughly 6:06 pm the vice president, his wife and his wife walked on stage.

A minute later, at 6:07 pm, the president and first lady walked on stage to the tune of Hail to the chief and a 21-gun salute. President Trump is wearing a red tie. First lady Melania Trump is in a cream suit.

In-town pool report #6: parade color

As the president and first lady took the stage, a group of individuals wearing "250 special guest" badges positioned immediately behind the press pen (which is directly across from POTUS) began singing "Happy Birthday." The event officially celebrates the 250th birthday of the Army but it is also the 79th birthday of the president.

Others shouted "USA" then and as the national anthem concluded.

The parade could be seen starting in the distance at 6:14 pm and reached Trump at about 6:16pm. The president, who was standing, looked on, and then raised his hand in a salute and left it there, as the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" passed by him.

He is seated as of 6:17 pm watching the parade from his seat in the reviewing stand.

In town pool report #7: more parade color

The president is seated to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, to his right, and first lady Melania Trump, to his left. Hegseth is occasionally turning to the president to speak to him. The president stood up at 6:33 pm and saluted for several seconds as the WWII segment of the parade got underway. He sat down, briefly, and stood up again, as the 82nd airborne division passed him.

He was seated again as of 6:36 pm, when the Sherman tanks came through.

Although his expression is hard to see from where pool is seated, he could be seen smiling a minute ago (thanks to camera zoom feature) as he talked with the first lady.

In-town pool report #8: Parade reaches the hour mark

POTUS has stood and saluted off and on during the parade, including as the Vietnam War portion started the Gulf War. Sometimes, he has clapped Mostly, he’s been seated with his hands clasped.

Some other notes on the scene: 

Two M1/A2 Abrams tanks are positioned in front of the reviewing area (according to our military attache).

The reviewing stand is covered by a large awning that bears the logo of the U.S. Army. The president and members of the Cabinet are seated on it behind bullet-proof glass.

As the UFC was announced as a sponsor, the special guest section clapped and cheered loudly. Earlier, Lockheed Martin also received timid cheers. When Coinbase was announced, they crowd started laughing.

As the Global War on Terror section got underway, there was an immediate shift in the energy. The announcer quieted and loud rock music began playing for several minutes.

For those interested in VP Vance, he’s seated on the opposite side of the stage from POTUS. His youngest, Mirabel, is resting in his wife Usha’s arms. Vance’s oldest child, Ewan, seems to be very engaged and has been actively speaking to a military official seated beside him. Vance’s middle child, Vivek, less so. He appears to be drawing or writing.

A couple of rain drops here and there have fallen on the open area but so far no showers as the parade hits the one-hour mark.

In-town pool report #9: POTUS delivers Oath of Enlistment

At roughly 7:55 pm the president left the event and reappeared at 7:59 pm at the podium. He proceeded to deliver the Oath of Enlistment to a group of soldiers, who are now standing in front of the stage. He told them to "have a great life" afterward.

He walked away from the podium at 8:01 as another video played. He had not reappeared as of 8:05pm.

Other notes: 

At 7:26 pm the first video played that included voiceover from one of President Donald Trump's previous speeches.

The president stood and saluted again after a long period sitting at 7:50 pm for West Point during "The Future" section of the parade.

At some point after the last pool report, when the parade had passed the hour mark, VP Vance's family moved out of the front row and a group of military officials replaced them. Vance is still there, three seats in, mirroring POTUS' previous position on the other side of the stage.

In town pool report #10: POTUS takes the stage

POTUS took the stage at 8:20 pm. He's on stage now. Remarks are airing live.

At 8:16 pm VP JD Vance took the podium. He wished the nation's soldiers happy birthday and told them, "We're proud of ya."

Vance noted it was not just the Army's birthday it is also the president's birthday.

"And happy birthday Mr. President," he said. 

But the VP said he would get in trouble if he didn't mention it was his also his wedding anniversary. He told his wife he loved her as he wrapped.

POTUS was backstage for a little more than 20 minutes prior to his speech. He was not present for the set by Warren Zeiders, which included songs such as "Ride the Lightning," which ended with the singer wishing Trump a happy birthday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the other hand seemed to be very into the concert. Arms crossed, he could be seen bobbing his head along. He clapped at the end.

In-town pool report #11: POTUS remarks end/Lee Greenwood

President Trump finished his remarks after about 7 or 8 minutes at 8:28 pm. At the end of his address he asked first lady Melania Trump to join him at the podium. They waved in unison, as the crowd sang Trump happy birthday.

At 8:29 pm Lee Greenwood came on. He also told Trump, "Happy Birthday, Mr. President," in between choruses of "God Bless the USA."

The president did his signature dance moves at one point during the song, just after Greenwood told attendees to put their cell phones up. (He put his hands into fists and shimmied.)

The event is currently at a standstill at 8:35 pm. Nothing appears to be happening on stage or off stage and the president just sat down.

Still no rain.

In town pool report #12: fireworks show/POTUS departs

The president rolled out of the parade at about 9:02 pm, per the White House. Pool is currently holding in its pen.

After a short period of silence, and another video, the fireworks show over the National Mall began at roughly 8:39pm. The president was seated as the fireworks began to go off. The reviewing stand was not lit so it was not possible to see his expression once it became darker outside. Songs that played during the show included a rendition of "1812 Overture."

Around 8:56pm pool noticed that POTUS and the first lady had moved to the podium, where they stood side by side as the fireworks show reached its dramatic conclusion. At the end, FLOTUS could be seen clapping. The announcer called an end to the event at 8:58pm.

Once the show ended, the reviewing stand was relit, and it was possible to see attendees again. Several of the president's adult children were visible: Don Jr, Tiffany and Eric, as well as Eric's wife Lara, could be seen in the reviewing stand as guests began to disperse.

In town pool report #13: LID

The White House called a travel /photo lid at 9:10pm – bringing the first-event U.S. military parade of this scope on the National Mall to an end.

The president arrived at the White House at 9:06 pm, we’re told. Pool is still holding in its press pen along Constitution Avenue.

Despite the weather forecast and a few drips here and there, the only lightning and thunder that the pool recalls seeing was on screen during Warren Zeiders’ performance and when AC/DC’s Thunderstruck played.