>>/176204/, >>/176205/, >>/176206/, >>/176207/, >>/176208/, >>/176209/, >>/176210/, >>/176211/, >>/176212/, >>/176213/, >>/176214/, >>/176215/, >>/176216/, >>/176217/, >>/176218/, >>/176219/, >>/176220/, >>/176221/, >>/176222/, >>/176223/, >>/176224/, >>/176225/, >>/176226/, >>/176227/, >>/176228/, >>/176229/, >>/176230/, >>/176231/, >>/176232/, >>/176233/, >>/176234/
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Out-of-town pool report #3 - family photo
POTUS, VPOTUS, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and representatives posed first for a family photo.
POTUS jokingly said to everyone, “I think we should smile” and asked if everyone liked the music.
Pool is now waiting for event to start.
Mallory Wilson
The Washington Times
Thu. Feb. 19, 9:22 AM https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2024491071913292195
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Out-of-town pool report #4 - event begins
POTUS walked out and started speaking at 9:34 am. Witkoff, Kushner, VPOTUS and Rubio took their seats. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Mike Waltz were also present among the leaders.
Event is being live-streamed here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/vaPfxaSIc0w?si=GZlZXAZbsgkGooU3
Mallory Wilson
The Washington Times
Thu. Feb. 19, 9:41 AM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2024495940158046496
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Out-of-town pool report #5 - POTUS finishes speaking
POTUS spoke for almost an hour.
He joked that he had nothing to do with the Institute of Peace being named after him.
He thanked various leaders for their generosity. The president said the countries present have been “very generous with money” including the United States.
“There’s nothing more important than peace and there’s nothing more expensive than peace,” he said.
He said the U.S. will be contributing $10 billion to the Board of Peace.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait have pledged $7 billion towards Gaza relief.
On Gaza:
“The war in Gaza is over, it’s over. There are little flames, little flames.”
He said Hamas would be “harshly met” if they did not give up their weapons.
“We're committed to achieving a Gaza that is properly governed.”
He said besides money, some countries are “also pledging personnel to help preserve ceasefire and secure their very enduring peace.”
POTUS said the last hostage was brought home last week.
“The ceasefire was held, and every last remaining hostage, both living and dead, has been returned back home. Think of that. That was an impossibility.”
On United Nations:
“The Board of Peace is going to almost be looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly. But we're going to strengthen up the United Nations. We're going to make sure it's facilities are good if they need help, and they need help, money wise, we can help them money wise. And we're going to make sure the United Nations is viable.”
VPOTUS spoke briefly after about the Board of Peace and how it’s meant to make peace “stick.”
Karoline Leavitt went on to introduce the next speakers of the meeting, including Rubio and Witkoff.
Event is ongoing.
Mallory Wilson
The Washington Times
Thu. Feb. 19, 10:37 AM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2024509302048796916
White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Out-of-town pool report #6 - event concludes
Event concluded at 11:54 am.
Various speakers shared their vision for the Board of Peace and Gaza revitalization.
Attendees watched a short video about the framework of “Gaza’s rebirth.”
At the end, FIFA President Gianni Infantino spoke about the partnership between FIFA and the Board of Peace. A video was shown outlining the role FIFA will play.
32