The Obama Diary

3:50 EDT: The President and First Lady Host Poet Laureate Elizabeth Alexander

11:50 EDT: The President and Prime Minister Renzi hold a press conference

On This Day: President Obama visits with children following the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride on the South Lawn of the White House, April 17, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today (all times Eastern)

10:30: The President meets with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy

11:50: Holds a press conference with PM Renzi, East Room

12:55: Holds a working lunch with PM Renzi

3:50: Delivers opening remarks at a poetry reading featuring poet laureate Elizabeth Alexander

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The bottom Pete Souza photo is from yesterday - are they the same kids??

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On This Day

President Obama greets Costa Rica President Oscar Arias during a reception at the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad, April 17, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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First Lady Michelle Obama smiles as she greets several members of the 911th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command and the 171st Air Refueling Wing at their base near Pittsburgh on April 17, 2025

…. embracing one of the female members of the 911th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command and the 171st Air Refueling Wing

President Obama looks at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship trophy as he approaches Tony Stewart’s car during an event on the South Lawn of the White House, April 17, 2012. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Tony Stewart, center, Kyle Busch, and Ryan Newman, right, watch nearby (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama walks into the Rose Garden to deliver a statement on the Senate’s failure to pass a measure to expanded gun background checks, April 17, 2025

President Obama puts his arm around former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords before he speaks in the Rose Garden, April 17

Vice President Joe Biden embraces Mark Barden, father of Daniel who died at Sandy Hook

President Obama embraces Nicole Hockley, who lost a son in the Sandy Hook shootings, after delivering a statement on the Senate’s failure to pass a measure to expanded gun background checks, April 17, 2025

President Obama and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki applaud participants in the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride on the South Lawn driveway at the White House, April 17, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)

First Lady Michelle Obama has lunch with midshipmen in King Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., April 17, 2025 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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President Obama, Vice President Biden and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki encourage participants during the Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride on the South Lawn of the White House, April 17, 2025 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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MoooOOOooorning!