In Town Pool Report #8 Back from Rose Garden

More from our trip to the Rose Garden, huge thanks to co-pooler Charlie Spiering for help with the quotes.

The president emerged from the Oval Office briefly and pumped his fist as his familiar playlist music was playing, pointing out to the press. He was with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Songs included Pavarotti's "Nessun dorma," Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and "You Are So Beautiful." Daniel Baldwin of OANN caught POTUS's brief appearance on video. (https://x.com/baldwin_daniel_/status/1957899738767921636)

POTUS did not talk to the press. Only a partial pool — without some TV cameras and photographers — made the trip.

Leavitt said the president hinted that the first White House party on the new patio would be for the press.

"He said 'Maybe we'll do that,'" she said.

"They are literally the umbrellas from Mar-a-Lago," she said of the yellow and white striped umbrellas on the patio.

"The roses remain untouched," she added.

When asked if the First Lady was pleased with the renovation, Leavitt said: "I believe so."

Leavitt confirmed the president's plans in Bedminster for August had been canceled due to the Ukraine/Russia talks.

"This is normally the time when the president goes on vacation but not this president," she said. "There discussions about him working from Bedminster for a couple of weeks but he decided against it."

"He's a man on a mission. He wants to move. Get things done quickly."

"He wants to strike when the iron is hot."

On timing of trilateral meeting:

"It's hard to judge. I think he wants to see how the bilat goes," she said.

Leavitt also tried to assist the pool in identifying some of the songs by opening the AI chatbot Grok. She said she believes the Rose Garden construction is completed.

Cat Zakrzewski

Washington Post

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