Pool Reports of September 11, 2025

In-Town Pool Report #1: WH Departure

President Trump emerged from the North Portico at 8:37. The motorcade pulled away from the White House shortly thereafter.

In-Town Pool Report #2: Pentagon Arrival

Motorcade arrived at the Pentagon at 8:50.

In-Town Pool Report #3: Memorial Begins

President Trump and the First Lady entered the courtyard at the Pentagon at 9:02 for the 9/11 memorial.

The event is ongoing and live-streamed. 

Some color: Two fire engines are parked to the left and the right of the stage; an American flag is draped from the wall of the Pentagon; the Air Force band is playing assorted hymns and now the National Anthem; Department of War staff watch from the windows.

In-Town Pool Report: #4: POTUS Speaks/Medal of Freedom for Charlie Kirk

President Trump just announced that he intends to award the late Charlie Kirk, founder of TPUSA, the presidential medal of freedom.

POTUS is now speaking after remarks made by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

Note: There is nearly no service inside the Pentagon courtyard. Hence the delay in reports.

In-Town Pool Report #5: Remarks Conclude

POTUS remarks concluded at 10:08.

In-Town Pool Report #6: Wreath Laying Ceremony

Inside the Pentagon Chapel, President Trump and the First Lady laid a wreath in honor of those who lost their lives here 24 years ago. 

POTUS said "thank you very much" but made no other remarks. 

Afterwards, both Trump and FLOTUS signed the guest book before returning to the back of the room as Sec. of War Hegseth paid his respects.

In-Town Pool Report #7: Brief POTUS Gaggle

Motorcade returned to the White House at 10:29.

While print pool was exiting the Pentagon Chapel, President Trump made brief remarks to the rest of the press pool about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. "I can't believe Charlie—what a great guy he was.

Trump said that he would speak to the Kirk family "later this afternoon"

"You don't replace a Charlie Kirk. He was unique," he said of the late founder of TPUSA.

POTUS said he had been updated on the search for the killer, adding "they have a virtual manhunt out there. So we'll see what happens. We hope you get them."

Thanks to Bernd Debusmann for sharing audio.

In-Town Pool Report #8: Lunch Lid Until 1:30

White House called a lunch lid until 1:30.

In-Town Pool Report #9: White House Departure

Marine One departed the White House at 4:57. 

President Trump took about 10 minutes of questions. 

He said he spoke with Charlie Kirk's family. "She's devastated, absolutely devastated," he said of Kirk's widow. 

He told your pooler law enforcement was making "big progress" towards finding the killer. 

Asked about the killer's motivation, Trump told your pooler, "I have an indication, yeah," of the killer's motivation, "but we'll let you know about that later." 

More quotes TK

In-Town Pool Report #10: Additional Quotes

From President Trump's gaggle on the South Lawn: 

On how he would like his supporters to respond to the murder of Charlie Kirk: "He was an advocate of non-violence," Trump told your pooler. "That's the way I like to see people." 

On the search for the killer: "They're making big progress," Trump told your pooler, "and we'll have to see what happens." 

On the motivation of the killer: "I have an indication," Trump told your pooler of the killer's motivation, "yeah, but we'll let you know about that later." 

On the legacy of Charlie Kirk and the fate of the killer: "He's an animal, total animal, and hopefully they'll have him, and they'll get him. What he did is disgraceful. Charlie Kirk was a great person, a great man, great in every way, especially with youth. And what he did, what this man did, was disgraceful. So hopefully we'll have him and we will deal with him very appropriately."

On TPUSA: "They're great friends of mine," Trump said before calling the murder of Charlie Kirk "a devastating moment for the country." He credited Kirk for helping him win his last election and said also again that Kirk would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

More TK 

In-Town Pool Report #11: Russian Drones/Bolsonaro Conviction Quotes

Asked about Russian drones violating Polish airspace, Trump replied: "It could have been a mistake. It could have been a mistake, but regardless I'm not happy about anything having to do with that situation." 

Asked about Brazil's former President Bolsonaro being found guilty and if that means additional sanctions, Trump replied: "Well, I watched that trial. I know him pretty well--foreign leader. I thought he was a good president of Brazil, and it's very surprising that could happen very much like they tried to do with me, but they didn't get away with it at all. But I can always say this. I knew him as president of Brazil. He was a good man, and I don't see that happening."

Travel Pool Report 1/JBA

Marine One landed at 5:04.

President Trump disembarked and boarded Air Force One at 5:10.

Dan Scavino, Scott Bessent, Boris Epshteyn, Natalie Harp and Walt Nauta followed behind him.

Attorney General Pam Bondi arrived at the steps to AF1 in a small motorcade ahead of Trump. She did not stop to answer questions.

We will be airborne for LaGuardia Airport soon.

Travel Pool Report 2/LaGuardia

Air Force One landed at 5:57. We had no visitors to the press cabin. 

Bill Pulte, Steven Cheung and Lee Zeldin were among the guests spotted on board by poolers.

Travel Pool Report 3/Rolling

President Trump disembarked AF1 at 6:11. He did not stop to talk.

AG Bondi paced while talking on the phone aboard the plane during our wait on the tarmac.

The motorcade was rolling to Yankee Stadium at 6:13.

Travel Pool Report 4/Stadium

The motorcade arrived at Yankee Stadium at 6:30.

Two photographers rushed out of the vans to join President Trump for a locker room spray. Print, TV and radio poolers were not brought along, but apparently FNC filmed it. Apologies for the delayed pool report, we were asked to hold off.

A smattering of apparent Trump supporters waved at the motorcade near the airport. We then passed traffic going in the opposite direction most of the way (there was no traffic for the motorcade).

Travel Pool Report 5/Trump-player clip

Here's a link to footage of President Trump's interaction with players ahead of the game:

https://x.com/FoxNews/status/1966270608380993849?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Trump gave the Yankees a brief pep talk about victory before shaking hands.

Travel Pool Report 6/Owners box

President Trump appeared in the Steinbrenner family box at 6:57, receiving both cheers and some ardent boos.

Bulletproof glass in the front separates the open-air seats from the rest of the stadium

Trump is standing next to Yankees President Randy Levine.

An FDNY member sang the National Anthem around 7:05. Trump's face flashed on the screens, eliciting intense cheers and boos. He smiled. It seemed the cheers were more prevalent than boos in our section.

"Love you, Trump!" a fan loudly shouted.

Travel Pool Report 7/Game color

President Trump has spent much of the start of the game talking with Levine. He applauded Aaron Judge's home run and gestured to his arms while conversing with box guests before taking a seat.

Bondi and another woman are seated behind Trump. Levine is to his left and across a set of steps are Bill O'Reilly and Reps. Stefanik, Lawler, LaLota and Malliotakis. 

A little more color on the locker room:

Before the president walked in, Fernando Cruz was the last in a towel and his teammates urged him to quickly get dressed for Trump, a witness shared. 

Trump also signed a baseball (we aren't sure which player asked for it, but there are photos).

After the video feed cut, Trump took a group photo and said it was going to be valuable when they win the World Series, to approving cheers.

And a clarification on an earlier report: the locker room video was broadcast by NBC (and streamed by FNC) as part of a prepositioned transmission pool.

Travel Pool Report 8/Gone for 46 minutes

President Trump was out of our sight for 46 minutes. 

He got up from his seat at 8:09 and walked inside, returning at 8:55. Closed doors made it impossible to peer in for most of the missing period.

There are no new guests in the box and Trump is again sitting next to Yankees President Levine. We have no information on what he was doing.

Travel Pool Report 9/YMCA

The song "YMCA" played over the speakers around 9:20, prompting many audience members to do President Trump's signature dance moves while others did the traditional moves spelling the letters.

A group of enthusiastic young fans near us pined for the president to join the fun. "Do the dance! Come on, Daddy!" a young man behind us shouted.

Trump ultimately did do the moves, at least with his hands, to cheers from his supporters.

Travel Pool Report 10/Pool leaving

The pool is heading back to the motorcade during the 7th inning stretch.

As we walked through the stadium, Trump's image again flashed on the screens. The section we were near (beneath Trump's box as we crossed the stadium) chanted, "USA! USA!"

A few minutes later, he again was on the screens as we reached another section, receiving another largely favorable response. One woman or girl shrieked several times

Travel Pool Report 11/Rolling

The motorcade was rolling toward Trump Tower at 9:54.

Trump left the game shortly after the pool, leaving his box at 9:40, according to a colleague still there.

As we waited in the vans, Bill O'Reilly was stopped by police while crossing a street with barricades. "I almost got arrested," he told the press vans. He did not answer questions about a very long conversation we watched him have with Trump.

Travel Pool Report 12/Trump Tower and lid

The motorcade reached Trump Tower at 10:12.

We could see the light beams marking the 9/11 anniversary for much of the drive.

And we have a lid.