Pool Reports of September 29, 2025

In-Town Pool #1 - Netanyahu arrival forthcoming

Good morning colleagues,

Pool and the rest of the press corps is gathered at stakeout for President Trump’s greeting of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House arrival for today’s bilateral engagements.

As you may know from the White House schedule, President Trump will be meeting with Netanyahu to discuss ongoing negotiations to end the deadly conflict in Gaza.

Trump and Netanyahu will have a bilateral meeting, lunch, and press conference in State Dining Room.

The president is also meeting with bicameral congressional leaders later this afternoon—newsy day!

In-Town Pool #2 - Netanyahu arrives/Shouted qs

Netanyahu’s SUV pulled onto Pebble Beach at 11:18am.

President Trump shook the Israeli PM’s hand as they exchanged words that were inaudible.

Questions were shouted as to whether a deal had been reached. Trump waved at the press and gave a thumbs up but it was unclear whether he was giving an affirmative to the shouted questions.

He did utter something toward the press, but again, unclear what was said.

The two leaders promptly entered the West Wing thereafter.

In-Town Pool #3 - Bilateral press conference

Press is assembled in State Dining room ahead of upcoming bilateral press conference with President Trump and PM Netanyahu. No word on timing just yet.

Since this will be aired, you can expect only color in the room from your pooler where needed.

Your pooler spotted name cards on reserved seats up front for the following:

Vice President Vance
Secretary Rubio
Secretary Hegseth
Susie Wiles
Ambassador Steve Witkoff
General Caine
Jared Kushner

In-Town Pool #4 - Bilat still pending/WH announcements

Israeli delegation entered the State Dining room, but still awaiting U.S. officials—and of course President Trump and PM Netanyahu—for bilat.

Also flagging for those who didn’t see that the White House release a 20-step plan to end the conflict in Gaza and also released a readout of a trilateral call between Trump, Netanyahu and Qatar PM Al Thani.

In-Town Pool #5 - 2 min warning for bilat

Reminder this is being live streamed.

In-Town Pool #6 - Bilat starts

President Trump and PM Netanyahu entered at 2:26p.

VP Vance, Secretary Rubio, Kushner, Witkoff, Wiles and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt entered state dining room at 2:22pm.

There were some laughs exchanged between Vance, Rubio, Wiles, Witkoff and Kushner after being seated.

A note that some of the U.S. officials whose names were on seats are not here as of now:

Chairman Caine and Secretary Hegseth.

In-Town Pool #7 - Bilat concludes

The bilat with POTUS and Netanyahu concluded at 3:09p.

The two leaders declined to take questions from reporters, though several endeavored to shout questions.

One reporter shouted, "Have you consulted any Palestinians?"

Other questions:

Is there a plan to disarm Hezbollah?

Is there a deadline for Hamas?

Press is waiting for movement.

In-Town Pool #8 - Mtg with congressional leaders

Your pooler knows there's a lot of interest in whether the Oval bicameral meeting with congressional leaders will be opened for the press. I'm told by White House staff that there is "no update."

However, an aide for Democratic House Leader Jeffries told your pooler earlier that he and Senate Minority Leader Schumer would likely gaggle with the press after the meeting.

In-Town Pool #9 - Multi-gaggles

White House bicameral meeting with congressional leaders concluded.

There were multiple gaggles.

Jeffries and Schumer gaggled for about five minutes.

VP Vance, Senator Leader Thune, Speaker Johnson and OMB Director Vought gaggled shortly thereafter.

I will send Otter recordings shortly, however, Vance and company slammed Democrats for their demands to extend health care subsidies, which were described as taking the government hostage.

Jeffries and Schumer sounded more optimistic, but acknowledged there were major differences ahead of the looming shutdown.

Steve Witkoff also spoke simultaneously with reporters. I’m told he was doing an interview with Fox News’ Brett Baier.

More TK.

The press also witnessed an explosive argument between two reporters. Things eventually calmed down.

In-Town Pool #10 - Otters for gaggles

JEFFRIES AND SCHUMER GAGGLE:

https://otter.ai/u/wBs_HN1PGeGCaFZmj7OJmfgK4Xk?tab=chat

VANCE, THUNE, JOHNSON, VOUGHT GAGGLE:

https://otter.ai/u/cvyR0ynw5R55UIuUHF7Qxkow91o?utm_source=copy_url

STEVE WITKOFF INTERVIEW/GAGGLE:

https://otter.ai/u/k0I2fQPdXUQaMy_88PWHTo4u6vo

In-Town Pool #11 - Travel/Photo Lid

Pool received travel/photo lid at 6:48 p.m.

It's been a pleasure being your pooler on this very newsy day. Goodnight, all!

Foreign pool report #1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu background

Good morning,

I am your foreign pooler for the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House today, September 29, 2025. It is his fourth visit since Mr Trump began his second term.

Schedule:

Mr Netanyahu arrived in the US on Thursday, ahead of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday.

He is set to arrive in the White House at 11am, followed by a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office at 11:35am, which is currently closed to press.

The two leaders will then have lunch at noon, followed by a press conference at 1:15pm.

Purpose of visit

The meeting is expected to focus on the Trump administration's 21-point peace plan for Gaza.

The proposal, which was presented to Arab and Muslim leaders on the side lines of the United Nations General Assembly last week, includes a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, post-war governance, security arrangements, and reconstruction.

Crucially, the plan also includes a guarantee/promise from the US that Israel will not annex parts of the West Bank. This is a major demand from Arab states involved in these talks.

Context

The proposal has so far been received positively by Arab leaders.

Mr Netanyahu on Sunday told Fox News that he hoped the proposal would succeed because he wants to see the hostages released, the end of Hamas rule in Gaza and the establishment of "a new future" for the region and its people.

"Well, we're working on it," he said. "It's not been finalized yet, but we're working with President Trump's team, actually, as we speak. And I hope we can."

US and Israeli media reported that special envoy Steve Wikoff and Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner held an hours-long meeting with Mr Netanyahu in his hotel in Washington on Sunday night, to go over the details of the plan.

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump hinted at a breakthrough in a post on Truth Social, without providing details.

"We have a real chance for Greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done."

On Friday, Mr Trump gave more indications that a deal was imminent: "I think we have a deal on Gaza… It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza. … It's going to be a deal that will get the hostages back. It's going to be a deal that ends the war. It's going to be peace."

Background

The visit comes on the heels of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. It also comes at a critical time in the Middle East.

The war in Gaza began almost two years ago, when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Around 48 people are believed to remain in captivity, and about 20 are thought to be alive.

But pressure has been growing on Israel to end the war as more than 66,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble.

The meeting in the White House follows a wave of recognition of Palestinian statehood by several Western countries, including the UK, France, Canada and Australia. Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump have both maintained that the move "rewards" Hamas for its attacks.

During his UNGA speech, Mr Netanyahu slammed countries who recently recognized Palestinian statehood, calling it a "mark of shame" that sends the message that "murdering Jews pays off."

He also vowed to "finish the job" against Hamas in Gaza. He made no mention of West Bank annexation plans - a major boundary for Arab allies in the region. Mr Trump stated plainly that he will not "allow" Israel to seize that territory.

"I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It's not going to happen," he told reporters last week.

Mr Trump, who began his second term on January 20, 2025, entered office with a ceasefire in place, negotiated in part under the tenure of then-President Joe Biden.

That ceasefire collapsed on March 18, 2025.

The US, together with the help of mediators from Egypt and Qatar have been trying for months without success to broker a new ceasefire in Gaza.

Efforts appeared to stall further when Israel carried out an airstrike targeting the Hamas political leadership in Doha, Qatar on September 9, 2025. Six people, including five Hamas members and one Qatari security officer were killed.

Mr Netanyahu, 76, Israel's long-time leader has largely maintained close relations with Mr Trump.

Mr Netanyahu oversaw normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan under the Abraham Accords under the first Trump administration.

Previous visits

The Israeli premier has met with Mr Trump four times in the White House since he took office for a second time. Mr Trump hosted Mr Netanyahu on February 4, the first visit by a foreign leader. That meeting, which was meant to focus on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire which was in place, was instead eclipsed by Mr Trump's announcement during a press conference that he intends to take over Gaza and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Mr Netanyahu made a second visit on April 7, the main stated purpose of that trip was to negotiate a lower tariff, imposed on Israel as part of the US President's effort to impose blanket tariffs on most countries announced on April 2. A press conference was scheduled, but then canceled.

They met at the White House again on July 7. The leaders discussed the fallout from the June war with Iran, and how to manage Israel's broader concerns with Iran and Syria. On Gaza, Mr Netanyahu said Palestinians should have the choice to stay or to leave, and that security must remain under Israeli control. That evening over dinner, Mr Netanyahu presented the US President a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

During his first term, Mr Netanyahu met with Mr Trump five times in Washington. Mr Trump also visited Israel in May 2017. In September that year, the two held a bilateral meeting on the side lines of UNGA. In July 2024, Mr Trump hosted Mr Netanyahu in Mar-A-Lago, Florida, after the Israeli leaders' visit to the White House with Mr Biden, who was President at the time.

Biography

Mr Netanyahu, often known by his nickname "Bibi", was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1949. He grew up partly in the US, spending his teenage years attending a high school on the outskirts of Philadelphia.

He served in the Israeli army, in an elite special forces unit, until the early 1970s. In the 1980s he took on the role of Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Washington followed by Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations.

During his time in Washington, he frequently appeared on US media as a commentator, as a strong English-speaking advocate for Israel.

He was elected prime minister for the first time in 1996. At age 46, he was the youngest Prime Minister in Israel's history. He heads the Likud party, a position he has held with some interruptions, since 1993.

Mr Netanyahu was elected prime minister for a second time in 2009, a title he held until 2021, it is the longest contiguous tenure in his nation's history.

He was elected once again in November 2022, and heads a right-wing, religiously conservative coalition.

Netanyahu fun fact

Before politics, he seriously considered becoming an architect. At MIT, his first degree was in architecture before he shifted into management studies.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know.

Foreign pool report #2: arrival

Greetings,

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the White House at 11:18pm in a black vehicle.

President Donald Trump shook Mr Netanyahu's and the two leaders exchanged brief words, your pooler could not hear.

A video taken by another journalist and shared by your pooler has Mr Trump saying: "I am, I am very confident," in response to shouted questions on whether there would be peace in Gaza. He also gave a thumbs up before entering the West Wing.

Foreign pool report #3: Press conference

Good afternoon,

US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the State Dining Room at 2:24pm. The press briefing was carried live. Mr Trump spoke first for about 30 mins, Mr Netanyahu followed for about 10 minutes. The two leaders did not take any questions.

Here are the top quotes from Mr Netanyahu: "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our warnings, it will bring back to Israel all our hostages, expand on Hamas' military capabilities, end its political rule and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel."

"Hamas will be disarmed. Gaza will be demilitarized. Israel will retain security responsibility, including the security perimeter for the foreseeable future. And lastly, Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority."

"If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the release of all our hostages within 72 hours. The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza."

On the Israeli team, ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer among other dignitaries were in attendance. On the US team, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Chief of staff Susie Wiles, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Mr Trump's son in law Jared Kushner were seated in the press briefing room.

Before the press briefing's start, the White House released a readout of a trilateral call between Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to apologize for the strike on Qatar targeting Hamas leadership earlier this month. Please refer to the readout.

One minute later, the White House released a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, please refer to the document.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.