From Emily GoodinSent Friday, May 15, 2026 10:57 AM CST
The motorcade arrived at Zhongnanhai at 10:56 am. Again pool did not see POTUS. From the White House: Upon arrival, President Trump will be met by His Excellency Xi Jinping President of the Peoples Republic of China They will participate in a Friendship photo. Roads were cleared for the drive and civilians on the sidewalks filmed on their phones as the motorcade rolled by. Noted only a small restricted pool - which…
From Emily GoodinSent Friday, May 15, 2026 10:45 AM CST
The motorcade is rolling from the president’s hotel to Zhongnanhai at 10:44 am local time. Pool did not lay eyes on POTUS. As your supplemental pool waited at the hotel before departure, Eric and Lara Trump walked through the lobby with their security detail. Stephen Miller was with them. They did not respond to questions about how the trip was going. Also seen in the lobby were James Blair, Robert Gabriel and Margo…
From Danny KEMPSent Friday, May 15, 2026 9:25 AM CST
Good morning from an overcast and cooler Beijing. A restricted pool has reached Zhongnanhai, the Chinese central leadership compound next to Beijing's Forbidden City, in whose gardens Presidents Trump and Xi are set to have a friendship photo (open to pool), tea (open to pool) and lunch (closed). Restricted pool is photo, video, and print pool. We’re told it’s unclear if there will be cell/internet service inside so…
From Irie SentnerSent Thursday, May 14, 2026, 3:39 PM
AF2 was wheels up at 1:44 and wheels down at JBA at 3:22 after an uneventful flight with no visitors to the pool. The VP walked off AF2 at 3:33 and did not approach the pool. He boarded M2 at 3:34 and it was wheels up at 3:39. That's it from me today. Thanks to my co-poolers! Subscribe to Playbook
From Irie SentnerSent Thursday, May 14, 2026, 1:30 PM
Apologies for the error in report 3. The VP took the stage at 12:39. His remarks concluded at 1:28. Please check quotes against the livestream. Vance shouted out former Gov. Paul LePage, calling him “the biggest advocate for your tax dollars and the biggest threat to fraudsters that ever existed in the state of Maine.” He said “fraud has festered in Maine because this guy is no longer the governor.” On Sen. Susan Co…
From Irie SentnerSent Thursday, May 14, 2026, 12:41 PM
The VP took the stage at TK following remarks by Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. He is speaking in an airport hangar with an audience of about 200 people. Large signs on and near the stage read "PROTECTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS" and "FIGHTING FRAUDSTERS." He walked out to a standing ovation, and someone in the audience shouted "2028." Vance began his speech by saying he would bring lobster rolls back with him on…
From Irie SentnerSent Thursday, May 14, 2026, 2:16 PM
AF2 was wheels up at 10:45 and wheels down at Bangor Airport at 11:57 after an uneventful flight, during which the pool received no visitors. The VP exited AF2 at 12:09 and greeted former Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who is running for Congress here, his wife Ann LePage, and Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. They spoke for a few moments before walking to the hangar at 12:13. Pool was ushered into the hangar at 12:…
From Irie SentnerSent Thursday, May 14, 2026, 10:37 PM
Good morning from Joint Base Andrews. I'll be your print pooler for VP JD Vance's trip today to Bangor, Maine, where he's expected to speak about the administration's efforts to combat fraud. Vance will be joined by Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, according to an OVP official. M2 touched down at 10:29. Vance walked off at 10:33 and boarded AF2 at 10:34. He did not approach the pool. Consider this your wheel…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 9:16 PM CST
The motorcade arrived back at the RON and the White House called a lid at 9.05pm. Many thanks to dehydrated fellow poolers, especially co-pooler Emily Goodin and supplementary pooler Isaac Arnsdorf. Let’s do it all again tomorrow. Danny Kemp AFP White House Correspondent
From Isaac ArnsdorfSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 8:46 PM CST
Elon Musk was seen leaving the Great Hall of the People around 7:15 p.m. White House staff left around 8:39. The president returned to his limo at 8:43. The motorcade started moving at 8:45.
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 6:37 PM CST
Top Trump line is inviting Xi to WH on September 24. “Thank you again, President Xi, for this beautiful welcome, and tonight, it is my honor to extend an invitation to you, Madam Peng, to visit us at the White House this September 24 and we look forward to it, and I'd now like to raise your glass and propose a toast to the rich and enduring ties between the American and Chinese people. It's a very special relationsh…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 6:20 PM CST
Presidents Trump and Xi walked into the state banquet at 6.13pm, to strains of stirring music from a Chinese military band. Very hard to see POTUS from the side of the banquet where pool is located. Xi is giving opening remarks from podium, praising MAGA. Via translation: “The people of China and the United States are both great peoples, which people achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and making…
From Arnsdorf, IsaacSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 5:54 PM CST
The motorcade arrived at the Great Hall of the People at 5:50 p.m. President Trump and ascended the red carpeted front steps and entered the building at 5:53.
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 5:53 PM CST
Pool was led into the huge hall in the Great Hall of the People where the state banquet is being held. There are giant chandeliers, blue and gold balconies and a large orange backdrop with pagoda-style roofs saying ‘welcoming banquet’ with US and China flags. US officials and delegation are arriving. Secretaries Hegseth and Bessent and WH Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller were talking, as were Secretary Rubio and…
From Danny KEMPSent Thursday, May 14, 2026 4:30 PM CST
On background from WH official: READOUT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BILATERAL MEETING WITH PRESIDENT XI OF CHINA: “President Trump had a good meeting with President Xi of China. The two sides discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between our two countries, including expanding market access for American businesses into China and increasing Chinese investment into our industries. Leaders from many of the United St…