November 1, 2024
In a controversial move, the White House press office reportedly altered the transcript of President Biden’s “garbage” comment during a recent virtual campaign call for Vice President Kamala Harris, despite pushback from White House stenographers. According to Fox News Digital, the alteration of the transcript has sparked internal tension, with senior stenographers raising concerns about transparency and protocol.
An internal email viewed by Fox News Digital reveals that a supervisor from the White House Stenography Office expressed alarm over what they termed a “breach of protocol and spoilation of transcript integrity.” The supervisor emphasized that while the press office may decide to withhold a transcript, it cannot unilaterally edit it.
The disagreement traces back to a virtual call Biden participated in with Voto Latino, during which he commented on a controversial joke made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” at a Trump rally. Biden stated, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” condemning what he described as “unconscionable” rhetoric.
The initial stenographer-prepared transcript recorded the phrase as “supporters,” implying Biden was referring to Trump supporters broadly. However, the press office’s edited version added an apostrophe, rendering it “supporter’s,” suggesting Biden meant a specific individual rather than all supporters of the former president. The Associated Press reports that this modification was implemented after the press office “conferred with the president.”
White House Stenography Director Amy Sands also rebuked the press office, stating in an email that preliminary drafts shared by her office are not for public release and should undergo a final review. She cautioned that releasing unapproved excerpts can create “confusion among staff, media, and the public.” This internal pushback suggests broader concerns about the accuracy and integrity of official communications.
When approached for comment, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated that Biden clarified his intent in a tweet, attributing his remarks to “hateful rhetoric from the comedian” rather than Trump supporters at large. However, Bates did not specify whether the released transcript aligned with the version filed with the National Archives.
Biden’s comments stirred strong reactions online and came just as Harris was delivering her final campaign speech at the Ellipse, just outside the White House. In a bid to clarify, Biden posted on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that his “garbage” remark referred specifically to the rhetoric about Puerto Rico, not to Trump’s base.
The issue has also revived comparisons to Hillary Clinton’s “deplorables” comment during the 2016 election, a statement widely criticized by Republicans. Former President Trump reacted to Biden’s remarks during a rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, quipping, “Remember Hillary? She said ‘deplorables.’ That didn’t work out. ‘Garbage’ might be worse.” Trump, who has leveraged the comment in campaign appearances, even made a theatrical arrival in a garbage truck at a Green Bay, Wisconsin, rally, donning an orange safety vest.
Harris, meanwhile, distanced herself from Biden’s words. Fielding questions from reporters, she stated, “I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for,” reiterating her commitment to representing all Americans, regardless of political affiliation.
With growing scrutiny over transparency in the administration’s communications, the White House now faces calls for accountability regarding the editing of official records. The incident also underscores heightened political sensitivity as the 2024 election nears, with both parties responding to the fallout from Biden’s latest gaffe.
Sources:
- Fox News Digital – White House transcript controversy
- Associated Press – Internal email on White House transcript editing
