Travel pool report #8 - Wheels down and gaggle

Wheels down at JBA at 5:29 after a somewhat bumpy flight

The President gaggled for roughly 13 minutes and took questions on immigration, Venezuela,

strikes on boats in the Caribbean, Ukraine and his MRI.

A couple of rough quotes here, as always please check against tape. I will share an audio as soon as possible.

On Ukraine

“Ukraine has got some difficult problems”

“We have a corruption situation going on which is not helpful”

There is a “good chance” to make a deal

“I don’t have a deadline”

On Venezuela Potus was asked whether his recent warning about the “closed” airspace means that strikes are imminent

“Don’t read anything into it”

He confirmed he had a phone call with Maduro but would not comment further

On the Washington Post reporting that Secretary Hegseth gave an order to leave no survivors after a strike on a boat in the Caribbean

“I don’t know anything about it. He said he did not say that and I believe him”

“We’ll look into it”

Asked more specifically about the reported second strike that killed survivors: “I wouldn’t have wanted that”

“Pete said that did not happen”

On immigration

Potus said he intends to pause asylum “for a long time”

He did not elaborate on how many countries would be targeted

On calling Tom Walz “retarded” the President said he stood by that comment

“I think there is something wrong with him”

About the attack on two members of the National Guard

“Andrew is fighting for his life”

Potus added that he intends to honor both of them at the White House

On his MRI

“If they want to release it it’s ok with me to release it”

He said he had no idea what part of the body was being looked at

“It was not the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it, I got a perfect mark which you would be incapable of doing” the President added, pointing at a reporter. “You too” he added before leaving the press cabin, pointing at another reporter.

Adding a list of AF1 Travelers, per the WH

The President

The First Lady

Steven Cheung

Robert Gabriel

Will Scharf

Walt Nauta

Natalie Harp

Aurelia End

AFP White House Correspondent

Cell/Signal/Whatsapp: XXX-XXX-XXXX (tel:XXX-XXX-XXXX)

@aureliaendAFP