Pool Reports of April 15, 2025

In-town pool report No. 1. Briefing starts at 1:28 pm

Hi all. I'm your pooler for today. Two events on POTUS's schedule, only one of them scheduled to be open. Schedule is below.

Karoline Leavitt started briefing the press at 1:28 pm.

An audible groan echoed through the briefing room at 1:11 pm when the WH announced that "the briefing will begin in 10 minutes." For those keeping score, the briefing started 17 minutes later.

Schedule:
12:30 PM THE PRESIDENT and the Vice President have lunch
Private Dining Room
Closed Press

2:30 PM THE PRESIDENT signs Executive Orders
Oval Office
Closed Press

3:30 PM THE PRESIDENT participates in a Commander-in-Chief Trophy Presentation to the Navy Midshipmen - the United States Naval Academy

Briefing Schedule
1:00 PM Press Briefing by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
On Camera

Pool report No. 2. Briefing ends at 2:00 pm

The briefing ended at 2:00 pm. exactly.

Pool report No. 3 — color from trophy ceremony

POTUS is participating in a Commander-in-Chief Trophy Presentation to the Navy Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy.

In December, Navy beat Army 31-13 during a game that POTUS (then President-elect) attended.

The East room is packed with guests, most in suits and dresses but some in formal military dress. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine is seated next to SECDEF Pete Hegseth. The three-sided commander's cup gleams on a table beside the lectern. It is 170 pounds and 2.5 feet tall according to some cursory Internet research. Three rows of bleachers are behind the stage.

The Midshipmen filed in at 4:10 pm. POTUS entered the East room at 4:13 p.m.

The marine corps band played a jazzy rendition of popular songs, including Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed" and Bruno Mars's "Locked out of heaven" and "Here comes the Sun" by the Beatles in the entrance hall outside.

Found a link to today's event on C-span for those following along at home but will try to flag news or newsy quotes: http://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/president-trump-presents-commander-in-chiefs-trophy-to-navy-midshipmen/432495

Pool report No. 4 — presentation ends

POTUS remarks ended at 4:31 pm. Then Navy's coach and a pair of players presented POTUS with gifts.

During remarks, POTUS called a few of the players up after highlighting their individual accolades. He also said Navy recruitment had increased during his tenure. As always, please check quotes against the transcript.

"In February, the US navy had its best recruiting year since 2002."

He said seven months ago "they were having numbers that were a disaster" but that in the last two years, recruiting numbers had gone "through the roof."

"We have the largest — I shouldn't say this — we have the largest budget we've ever had. We're buying gorgeous new ships … we're gong to get a lot of ships a lot of planes for all the armed services."

POTUS walked out as the band played "We are the champions."

Here's the link again: http://www.c-span.org/event/white-house-event/president-trump-presents-commander-in-chiefs-trophy-to-navy-midshipmen/432495

Pool report No. 5 — Lid

The White House called a travel and photo lid at 6:24 pm.