The White House is facing criticism for changing the official transcript of a recent remark by President Joe Biden, in which he called Trump supporters “garbage.”
Internal emails and government officials confirmed the edit, sparking concerns about protocol and raising questions from federal stenographers responsible for accurate records.
The controversy began after Biden’s comments during a virtual event with Latino activists.
Responding to disparaging remarks about Puerto Rico made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, Biden remarked, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
However, the White House press office released a modified transcript, changing “supporters” to “supporter’s,” shifting Biden’s critique from all Trump supporters to the comedian alone.
Emails obtained by Fox News Digital and the Associated Press reveal the discontent within the White House stenography team regarding this change.
A supervisor from the Stenography Office, responsible for the official transcript, warned that altering the record without approval breaches protocol, stating, “If there is a difference in interpretation, the Press Office may choose to withhold the transcript but cannot edit it independently.” The supervisor noted the change affects the authenticity of records preserved for the National Archives.
Amy Sands, Director of White House Stenography, also rebuked the press office’s approach, cautioning against sharing preliminary transcripts that hadn’t undergone final review, warning it could “create confusion among staff, media, and the public.”
As the backlash mounted, Biden took to social media to clarify that he was referring specifically to the “hateful rhetoric” of the Trump rally, rather than all Trump supporters.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates echoed this, asserting that Biden’s tweet aligned with the edited transcript. However, he avoided addressing the White House’s alteration of the original words in the official record.
The Trump campaign, seizing the opportunity, responded with a new tactic.
Former President Trump humorously staged a photo op in a garbage truck in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to underscore Biden’s remark, wearing a neon safety vest while rallying his supporters.
Vice President Kamala Harris distanced herself from Biden’s comment during a speech at the Ellipse outside the White House, stating her commitment to represent “all Americans, whether they support [her] or not.”
Harris’s stance marked her most significant public divergence from Biden, reiterating her opposition to divisive rhetoric based on political affiliation.
Republicans in Congress, led by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), have called for an investigation into the White House’s actions, accusing staff of “releasing a false transcript” in potential violation of the Presidential Records Act.
In a letter to White House counsel Ed Siskel, they demanded preserving all documents and communications related to the incident.
As questions continue to surround the White House’s handling of the transcript, the controversy has exposed deeper issues in the Biden administration’s transparency with the public.
With House Republicans signaling possible further investigation, the debate over integrity in official White House records is far from over.