From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 10:00 PM AST
Transcript of gaggle below. Also according to the White House, this was the first time the Emir of Qatar has ever greeted the President aboard Air Force One. We will be wheels up to Malaysia momentarily. Q: What did you talk about? He’s a great guy and a great leader. He helped us a lot. It was very nice that he came. We were just refueling and he came. It was very very nice. Great man. Great gentleman too. We talke…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:37 PM AST
POTUS came back and gaggled again on a range of issues for 5 minutes after his meeting with the Qataris. “We talked about peace in the Middle East.” “This is an enduring peace" with 59 countries Said what's different this time around is that "everyone agrees" Confirmed they spoke about the new security agreement as they covered a lot of ground. if ceasefire doesn't hold, that would be Hamas, which won't be hard "to…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:19 PM AST
POTUS meeting with the Emir and PM just wrapped at 9:16pm. Also the White House confirms that POTUS had a call earlier with the new Japanese PM Takaichi and shares they had a nice conversation and that he looks forward to seeing her in Japan. The Japanese PM posted on X about it while we in the air: https://x.com/takaichi_sanae/status/1982089778494574921?s=46 Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Sub…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:08 PM AST
Also in the AF1 conference room with POTUS and his guests: Secretary Rubio, Susie Wiles, and Margo Martin. They were all standing. A UFC fight was playing on the TV. Thanks to Andrew Harnik for capturing. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Subscribe to West Wing Playbook
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:00 PM AST
Transcript below. Photo attached. The meeting, which started at 8:27pm local time, is still ongoing. There are two other U.S. planes parked on the tarmac to the right of AF1. One of them is Secretary Rubio's. Transcript Emir: I'm starting to because you're in my country, so I want to welcome you, Mr. President. And as soon as I found out that he's coming to refuel, I said, I'm not going to allow him to take off, unl…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 9:07 PM AST
Pool was brought into the conference room of the plane at 8:25pm. POTUS was seated in the middle with the Emir to his right and the PM to his left. Trump called the Emir "one of the great rulers of the world" who is “beloved and respected.” He added that the PM “has been my friend to the world” and that the duo play a crucial role in peace to the Middle East. Did not take questions. Pool ushered out at 8:27pm. Trans…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 8:07 PM AST
AF1 is wheels down 8:04pm local time. POTUS is expected to meet with the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar on the plane as we refuel. It is closed press. Secretary Rubio will join us at this stop. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Subscribe to West Wing Playbook
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:35 PM CEST
AF1 is wheels up at 1:35 to Qatar. Flight time is approx 6 hours. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Subscribe to West Wing Playbook
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 1:16 PM
White House shares that POTUS will meet with the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar who will board AF1 at the next refueling stop at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Secretary Rubio will join for the meeting and stay with us to Asia. The Emir and PM will leave after the meeting. The meeting is expected to be closed press but pool may see them arrive. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Subscribe to West W…
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 12:17 PM CEST
AF1 is wheels down at 6:16am local time at Ramstein for refueling. Pool did not see POTUS for the remainder of the flight. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX Subscribe to West Wing Playbook
From Sophia CaiSent Saturday, October 25, 2025, 6:10 AM
POTUS gaggled for roughly 14 minutes last night shortly after departure. Transcript below. Q: What are you expecting from your meeting with President Xi? A: We have a lot of things to discuss, including our farmers. Various trade deals that have been made in the past — some broken, some not broken. We have many many things. I think it’s going to turn out to be a good meeting. Q: Will China need to make concessions t…
From Mica SoellnerSent Friday, October 24, 2025, 11:17 PM
President Trump spoke briefly to the pool before his departure on several topics, including renovations to the ballroom, Canada relations, Xi meeting and more. POTUS on naming ballroom: "I don't have any plan to call it after myself... [we're] probably going to call it the Presidential ballroom or something like that. We haven't really thought about a name yet." On Canada: POTUS says he has no plans to speak or meet…
From Sophia CaiSent Friday, October 24, 2025, 11:16 PM
AF1 is wheels up at 11:15pm to Ramstein Air Base. Trump will gaggle on board in twenty minutes. White House will stream the audio. Your pooler will send a pool report upon arrival. Sophia Cai White House Reporter POLITICO XXX-XXX-XXXX (tel:XXX-XXX-XXXX) Subscribe to West Wing Playbook
From Sophia CaiSent Friday, October 24, 2025, 11:08 PM
Good evening from Joint Base Andrews. M1 touched down at JBA at 11:02pm. POTUS boarded AF1 at 11:06, wearing a dark overcoat. He waved twice but did not take questions. We are wheels up momentarily. AF1 Travelers on background: Susie Wiles James Blair Beau Harrison Stephen Miller Karoline Leavitt Will Scharf Ross Worthington Ambassador Monica Crowley Walt Nauta Margo Martin Secretary Marco Rubio will join us at the…
From Mica SoellnerSent Friday, October 24, 2025, 10:48 PM
POTUS stopped to talk to press on a variety of topics at 10:42 pm until about 10:47 pm. No major news, will send quotes shortly. Mica Soellner Bloomberg Government Senior White House Reporter C: XXX-XXX-XXXX @micasoellnerDC
From Mica SoellnerSent Friday, October 24, 2025, 10:11 PM
Pool is gathering in the press briefing room to prepare for POTUS departure for Asia trip. Malaysia will be the first stop on his three-nation tour. Mica Soellner Bloomberg Government Senior White House Reporter C: XXX-XXX-XXXX @micasoellnerDC
As air traffic controllers and TSA agents work without paychecks and widespread flight disruptions threaten to upend holiday travel, Democrats’ shameful refusal to end their destructive government shutdown is plunging the U.S. aviation system into chaos. Now, the aviation industry is coming together to demand Democrats cease the sick political gamesmanship and end their shutdown before the full-blown crisis grounds…