Washington D.C. (Special to ZennieReport.com) – The in-town pool has gathered at 7:12 p.m. by the Palm Room doors for President Biden’s departure to the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ (APAICS) 30th Annual Gala, which will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. POTUS is scheduled to speak at 7:35 p.m.
President Biden boarded The Beast, his limousine, at 7:30 p.m. We are rolling from the South Lawn in the motorcade, led by a Washington Metropolitan Police Department SUV, at 7:32 p.m.
From the White House:
Traveling with President Biden via motorcade en route to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center:
Vinay Reddy, Assistant to the President & Director of Speechwriting
Ryan Montoya, Assistant to the President & Director of Scheduling & Advance
Stephen Benjamin, Assistant to the President & Senior Advisor to the President & Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Neera Tanden, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
Richard Ruffner, Assistant to the President & Director of Oval Office Operations
Dennis Cheng, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Political Strategy & Outreach
Jacob Spreyer, Special Assistant to the President & Personal Aide to the President
Jim Cho, Special Assistant to the President and House Legislative Affairs Liaison
Motorcade arrived at the Washington Convention Center at 7:37 p.m. Pool did not see POTUS enter the facility. There were some on-lookers along the way, including a few holding up smart phones in light drizzle.
President Biden entered the ballroom at 8:02 p.m. to applause and a standing ovation as “Hail to the Chief” played. He stood behind the blue presidential lectern in a black tuxedo and white shirt. Live-streaming info is below. Biden shouted-out House Democratic leaders at the top of his remarks.
He was introduced by Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She praised Biden’s record on issues important to the AAPI community, saying Biden has shown “respect” via business, health care and other policies. “President Biden has been there for us. And President Biden … sees us,” Chu said. She criticized the Trump administration’s record on AAPI issues.
Attendees at the black-tie affair chatted and mingled before his arrival, some took pictures
Motorcade was rolling for the White House at 8:28 p.m. We did not see POTUS exit the Convention Center. The Beast wizzed past the press vans as we joined the tail end of the convoy.
After a speedy ride over The District’s bumpy streets, the President’s motorcade entered the White House campus at 8:31. The pool did not see POTUS enter the White House.
Six minutes into his remarks, POTUS referred to former President Trump as “that loser.”
“I think he’s having trouble,” Biden said of Trump, without using the former president’s name. There was laughter in the ballroom.
He also criticized Trump on COVID and taxes & spending.
“I wonder if he did it. Might explain some things,” Biden said of Trump’s COVID-era advice that Americans inject disinfectant into their bodies to fight the virus.
The President said Trump and congressional Republicans “added more to the federal debt than in any other presidential term.” He contended “my predecessor wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. … Not on my watch.”
The President also criticized Trump for pusing Senate Republicans to nix a package of immigration policy reforms, and criticized Trump for how he often describes migrants.
The President wrapped up at 8:15 p.m. to a standing ovation.
There was one failed attempt at a “four more years” chant. It did not catch on and fizzled quickly.
From the White House:
Participating in a photoline with the President:
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08)
Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05)
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33)
Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36)
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28)
Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03)
Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07)
Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06)
Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39)
Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Rep. Ed Case (HI-01)
Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03)
Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13)
Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
The White House called a travel/photo lid at 8:34 p.m. Have a good evening, folks.