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He asked around about Cuba, said not too many people interested in Cuba there, he said. “Cuba will be failing….Cuba is really a nation that’s close to failing.”
On polling and his base….the question was interrupted by clapping.
“The base is with us….but think of it, if I were to run again if I run again,” he said, teasing the audience, which clapped him on. But he said, he
Off camera, he was asked about Greg Abbott saying he had to recalibrate his response. What did you make of that?
It sounded like POTUS said, “No, I didn’t hear that, did you?”
At 3:38 pm pool is still holding in vans in the parking lot of machine shed.
Francesca Chambers
@fran_chambers
usatoday
Tue. Jan 27, 4:50 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2016268383625302468
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Travel Pool Report #8: venue arrival
The motorcade left the diner at 4:01 pm and arrived at the venue at 4:04 pm.
Leaving the restaurant, and earlier entering it, there were protesters along the motorcade route. On the way there, they shouted "f--k Trump" and held signs that included, "Abolish ICE."
At the venue a much larger crowd of protesters was assembled. It was a similar vibe.
A note from earlier:
Editorial was penned in while POTUS worked the diner but pooler was able to talk to one man, near the staging area:
David Payer, retired, of Des Moines.
What brings him today?
He said it was a "great honor" to meet with the president.
"I do want him to know that there are people who support many of the things he does, and we want to encourage him, because we think it's important that we encourage our president to do the best he can possibly do."
Did he know he was coming, did he come specifically to see him?
He said that there were many organizations who want to support Trump who informed diners that POTUS was coming.
"We took advantage of it. It was quite cold. You know how cold it is right now. We had to stand outside for the better part of an hour, just before we could get in. They had to prepare this place. It was worth it, though, because it's a good chance to connect and to show that we care about what's going on in our country."
He said he didn't get to shake the president's hand.
"I would have put it out there, but I was just fearful of the Secret Service," he said.
Francesca Chambers
USA TODAY
Tue. Jan. 27, 4:13 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2016274536488993081
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Travel Pool Report #9: POTUS on stage, about to start
At 4:24 pm, the rally is beginning. Shouts of USA as Lee Greenwood's song ends.
Francesca Chambers
USA TODAY
Tue. Jan. 27, 5:25 PM CST
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2016278203241758966
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Travel Pool Report #10: protesters
The event is open press. But here’s some color:
In response to a question, the rally is being held at the Horizon Event Center. Pooler doesn’t have a crowd count at this time, but notes that the layout is: rows of seated chairs in the front, pool in a cutaway spot to POTUS’ left, several rows of standing attendees, followed by a back area with the riser and non-traveling press.
At about 4:40 pm the president encountered a protester. He referred to the person, who pooler didn’t see, and protesters in general who show up to his rallies as “lunatics.”
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