Pool Reports of April 26, 2025

Travel pool report #1 — Motorcade rolling to the Vatican

Good morning from Rome on this cool but sunny morning. The motorcade is rolling from POTUS RON as of 9:12 a.m. CEST toward the Vatican for Pope Francis's funeral, which starts at 10 a.m. CEST. 

Had brief eyes on POTUS as he rolled by the pool van in the Beast.

Pool is hoping to have eyes on POTUS during the ceremony but will know more when we get there. Will endeavor to send as many pool reports as possible — especially with any notable movements or reactions from POTUS — but we are anticipating cell service could be a challenge given the number of attendees expected.

No word of potential meetings with any foreign dignitaries. Among the others in attendance: A delegation from Argentina, Francis's home country, led by Argentinian President Javier Milei; Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer; French President Emmanuel Macron; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prince William.

You can find the 87-page order of the service (in English, Italian and Latin) here: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20250426-libr...

Travel pool note #2 — Arrival at Vatican

We arrived at the Vatican at 9:32 a.m. CEST.

Lots of onlookers -- including at one point a contingent of restaurant employees and several groups of medics -- lined up taking videos of the motorcade along the route as we wove through the streets of Rome. Crowds got particularly dense as we crossed the Tiber and neared Vatican City.

Travel pool note #3 — Meets and greets with leaders

POTUS arrived moments ago here in St. Peter's Square. He's in a navy suit and dark blue tie. FLOTUS is with him, in a black dress and black veil. 

So far we've seen him speak with the prime minister of Portugal, Ursula von der Leyen, and a man who we believe to be Olaf Scholz, all spied through binoculars.

President Zelenskyy is here but he has not spoken with POTUS.

Travel pool note #4 — More color

To POTUS's right, our left, across the aisle is Macron. President Joe Biden and Jill Biden are in attendance as well, four rows essentially directly behind POTUS and FLOTUS.

Travel pool report #5 — Program beginning

There was a brief processional and the program is underway.

POTUS and FLOTUS were spotted holding hands at one point. They are in the front row.

Travel pool report #6 — Service color

Now that we're past the flurry of dignitary arrivals, some additional color:

It is a beautiful day here in Vatican City. The sun is shining brightly down on St. Peter's Square. There are some clouds on the horizon to our right, but not a cloud in sight overhead and in pool's view, which is looking directly down at POTUS from a balcony. The sea gulls have settled down but were chirping overhead for quite a bit.

Most of the service is in Latin, but we had a brief reading from the book of Acts, in English: "Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him … To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Pool has inquired about the reports of a meeting between POTUS and Zelenskyy but no details from the White House side yet.

Travel pool report #7 — WH confirms Zelenskyy meeting

"President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion. More details about the meeting will follow." - Steven Cheung, White House communications director

Travel pool report #8 — More details / nearing the end

Alar Karis, the Estonian president, is seated next to FLOTUS. The two of them and POTUS had a short conversation during the service.

A one point it looked like Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (who was seated across the aisle from POTUS and next to Macron) offered POTUS his water. POTUS declined. It also look like POTUS ate something or put something in his mouth at one point during the service. Otherwise he and POTUS sat and stood attentively, sometimes briefly chatting, during the service.

A sunglasses-wearing Susie Wiles, Dan Scavino and Mike Waltz were in the eighth row in the dignitaries section — seven rows behind POTUS and FLOTUS.

Thanks to my eagle-eyed fellow poolers for their help here! As one noted, POTUS was surrounded here by many of his NATO allies.

Travel pool report #8b — Finnish *president*

In that last pool report, it should instead be *Finnish President Alexander Stubb.*

Travel pool report #9 — Back to motorcade

Pool departed our balcony perch at 11:30 a.m. CEST and are heading back to the motorcade.

Per fellow poolers, during the Sign of Peace, POTUS kissed FLOTUS on the cheek. He did not, however, receive a blessing.

We returned to our van at 11:39 a.m. CEST and expect to be underway shortly. Will keep you apprised.

Travel pool report #10 — Departing the Vatican

Motorcade is underway at 12:20 p.m. CEST. Departing Vatican City and heading to the airport. Bells can be heard tolling from St. Peter's Basilica as we leave.

Pool is aware of photos circulating on social media showing President Trump meeting with President Zelenskyy inside St. Peter's Basilica, the two seated on chairs and hunched over talking. Other photos show the pair with Macron and Starmer as well.

Pool was not present at this meeting but will endeavor to obtain more details about the meeting, including on our nearly 10 hour flight home.

Travel pool note #11 — Boarding AF1

The presidential motorcade arrived at Leonardo da Vinci International Airport at 12:53 p.m. CEST.

POTUS was up the AF1 steps by the time we got out of our van. Will send another note when we're wheels up. We're expecting our flight to be just under 10 hours.

Next stop: Newark.

Travel pool note #12 — Wheels up

AF1 was wheels up at 1:06 p.m. CEST.

Unclear whether White House will again stream audio from any possible gaggles we might get in flight but I'd keep an eye on the WH YouTube page just in case. 

I'll have a pool report for you on it either way, but won't be for 10ish hours.

Travel pool report #13 — Wheels down in Newark

AF1 was wheels down at Newark Liberty International Airport at 3:33 p.m. ET.

Our flight was a quick 8 hours and 27 minutes — far shorter than the 9 hours and 20 minutes originally anticipated.

The flight was very quiet after our whirlwind time in Rome. POTUS did not come back to gaggle with the pool during the flight, and we had no other visitors to our cabin.

Travel pool note #14 — M1 liftoff

Hello from a dreary, slightly muggy, slightly cool Newark.

POTUS and FLOTUS were off AF1 at 3:45 p.m. ET. He waved at the pool but did not come to take questions from us. He gave FLOTUS a kiss on the cheek (it's her birthday -- we saw a giant bouquet of some sort of pink flowers offloaded from AF1). But she got in a car and he got in M1 at 3:46 p.m. ET. We have inquired where she is going. We also have asked what POTUS and FLOTUS had on AF1 for her birthday dinner, as POTUS suggested to us yesterday.

M1 was up at 3:51 p.m. ET.

Pool is motorcading separately to Bedminster. We assume we will not be seeing POTUS again today but have been told we'll be informed once he lands.

Travel pool note #15 — M1 wheels down

M1 was wheels down in Bedminster, NJ at 4:08 p.m. ET.

Travel pool note #16 — Lid

And we have a lid as of 4:35 p.m. ET.

It was an honor being your pooler for POTUS's trip to Rome, his first foreign trip of term two. Ciao!