From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 4:54 PM
As you likely saw, Trump finished his remarks about the Gators season, peppered with jokes and asides, at 4:47. Then “We Are The Champions” played as guests started to exit. Shortly before wrapping, Trump quipped, “The most exciting room anywhere in the world is the Oval Office,” perhaps a statement with added oomph today, and invited the team to visit with him there after this. I haven’t received any other updates…
ICYMI: The United States of America to Honor the 250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army with a Grand Military Parade and Celebration in Washington, D.C. On June 14, 2025–the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday–the nation will honor its legacy with a grand military parade in Washington, D.C. President Donald J. Trump will join veterans, active-duty troops, wounded warriors, Gold Star Families, and Patriotic Americans from across…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 4:37 PM
The White House says the congressional meeting is still going as Trump speaks Confirming that I cannot see Trump, so I refer you to the feed for visuals. As we waited, piano music was playing. At times, chants broke out, including “orange and blue” and “Gators.” The Gators were announced and walked out at 4:28 pm to loud cheers and what I presume is the fight song. The audience has a ton of phones out taking picture…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 4:17 PM
Pool has been brought into the East Room for the Gators event. As we were led in, a jazz band was playing an up-tempo number with plenty of drumset. The room is standing room only and packed to the gills. Live stream is your best bet to see what’s happening — pool does not have a clear view of the stage. Unsure if I’ll even be able to see Trump’s head over the crowd when he enters. Perhaps some of the players. Lots…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 4:02 PM
We’re gathering now for the Florida Gators event in the East Room. Tal Kopan Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief, The Boston Globe [EMAIL ADDRESS] (mailto:[EMAIL ADDRESS]) Twitter: @talkopan
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 3:47 PM
The president’s meeting with congressional leaders is ongoing (your pooler observed them arriving around 3 pm on camera feeds from helpful peers on the TV side), and we do not have an updated time to gather for his event in the East Room. I have not been given any details about the meeting from the White House, including participants. Also another mea culpa — I mixed up my White House entrance terminology earlier. T…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 3:05 PM
Just before 3 pm, President Ramaphosa left through the North Portico. He was asked how the meeting went. “Very well” he said. Asked how whether he thinks Trump “heard” him, Ramaphosa said “Yes he did, it went very well." The delegation had been trickling out and into their vehicle for several minutes before Ramaphosa himself. Last to leave at the same time as Ramaphosa were the two golfers — Ernie Els and Retief Goo…
From CRISTINA OLEA FERNANDEZSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 3:04 PM
President Ramaphosa left the White House at 2.58PM. He said the meeting “went very weel”. When asked if President Trump had heard him, he answered “yes, he did. It went very well”.
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 2:30 PM
The White House announced a lunch lid until 3:30 Tal Kopan Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief, The Boston Globe [EMAIL ADDRESS] (mailto:[EMAIL ADDRESS]) Twitter: @talkopan
From Cristina Olea FernandezSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 2:14 PM
Seated next to President Trump in the Oval, President Ramaphosa said that he came to the White House “to reset the relationship” between the two countries. He brought a golf book as a gift for President Trump, he thanked him for the respirators sent to South Africa during the COVID 19 pandemic, and during the pool spray he invited some members of his delegation to talk to President Trump in front of the cameras: pro…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1:36 PM
I did not note the exact time we were ushered out of the Oval. My recording of the meeting which I stopped and started roughly at the beginning and end lasted 1 hour and 2 minutes. Again, you should have been able to watch all the back-and-forth on the live stream if you wanted exact quotes. I tried to make note of things that perhaps you wouldn’t be able to see on the camera feed. Here they all are: (If anyone was…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1:06 PM
You should be able to be watching the meeting live. I will send some color and details later. This is from the White House, the link to the video Trump showed in the room: https://x.com/whitehouse/status/1925232291220951370?s=46
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:39 PM
Asked by South African press about the international court case against Israel, Trump said: “I don’t expect anything to be honest … a lot of anger there, I don’t expect anything … we’ll have a ruling” South African press asked about what it would take to convince him there’s no white genocide in the country, the South African president jumped in as Trump cracked a joke about not wanting him to. “It will take preside…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:32 PM
After complimentary intros, Trump took questions: On why he’s accepting white refugees from Sotuh Africa, Trump disparaged NBC news for asking the question and then noted the southern border He said they accept people if there’s something like genocide going on He said: White farmers are fleeing South Africa, I hope we can have a conversation about that Brian Glenn asked about Letitia James and her statement the all…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:08 PM
Pool got into the Oval at 12:16 pm There are video screens set up Behind staff but unclear if they’ll be aired. I’m told the meeting is being streamed at White House channels so I will be focused more on color and less on exact quotes. Trump has kicked it off by saying the President of South Africa is really respected in some circles, not others. He is noting the golfers in attendance. Pool sees Pete Hegseth, JD Van…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 12:07 PM
The South African delegation pulled up to the North Portico at 12:03 and Trump stepped out seconds beforehand. He answered two shouted questions as he welcomed the South African president. He said his big beautiful bill is doing “Very well … it’s very close”. As for the Pope’s brother, he’s a “Fantastic guy” They walked inside the West Wing at 12:04. Tal Kopan Deputy D.C. Bureau Chief, The Boston Globe [EMAIL ADDRES…
It’s another attempt by a far-left activist judge to dictate the foreign policy of the United States — and protect the violent criminal illegal immigrants President Donald J. Trump and his administration have removed from our streets. “We conducted a deportation flight from Texas to remove some of the most barbaric, violent individuals illegally in the United States. No country on earth wanted to accept them because…
From Tal KopanSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 11:58 AM
Good morning, I’m your print pooler on this rainy, gray day. I have seen press reports of possible additions to today’s schedule related to happenings on the Hill, but so far have not been advised of any. Watch your inboxes. We are awaiting the South African delegation arrival at the North Portico. One of the flag bearers awaiting the arrival seemed to faint backwards into the grass just a few moments ago, he has be…
From Cristina Olea FernandezSent Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 10:11 AM
Good morning, I am your foreign pooler for the visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the White House. Please reach out if you have any questions. The purpose of this visit is to reset the bilateral relations between the two countries. Schedule: President Ramaphosa arrived in Washington, D.C., late Monday. Today, Ramaphosa’s arrival at the White House is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.…