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White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - In-town pool report #6: dinner
Pool is assembled in the back of the State Dining Room for the President’s remarks before a dinner with Japan’s PM Takaichi. The event is live streamed.
There are seven round tables decorated with gold cutlery and gold tablecloths. On the menu is carrot ginger velouté, Maine lobster au gratin with corn puree and asparagus, and strawberry and vanilla cream gateau. Photo of the menu attached.
A podium is set up in the front of the room.
Several Cabinet members and senior Admin officials are seated at each table along with members of the Japanese delegation. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Rubio are seated at the table that Trump and Takaichi will soon join. Palantir CEO Alex Karp is at a table with Bessent and Senator Risch. Vance is seated at a table with Stephen Miller. Also spotted: Hegseth, Bondi, Lutnick, Bessent, Greer, Rollins, McMahon, Turner, Loeffler, Wright, Burgum, and Blair.
Nik Popli
TIME
Thu. Mar. 19, 7:17 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2034779303905239467

White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - Foreign Pool Report #12 Dinner scene
Pool was held in the East Room while we listened to melodies come through the door such as, Kawa no Nagare no Youni “Like the Flow of the River” a famous 1989 Japanese song by Misora Hibari followed by a jaunty rendition of My Neighbor Totoro.
(Your pooler is an avid Ghibli fan and could not contain her excitement.)
Pool was escorted into the State Dining Room at 7pm. We were brought into a display of about 7 round tables filled with Japanese delegation and U.S. administration, elected officials and ambassadors and industry giants.
One of PM Takaichi’s favorite songs X Japan’s Rusty Nail played in the background while guests enjoyed lively conversations.
METI minister Akazawa sat at Secretary Bessent’s table, where Palantir’s Alex Karp stood up and bowed to him. At another table, VP Vance clinked glasses with Foreign Minister Motegi. Google’s Sundar Pinchai was also in attendance.