Controversy erupts as White House officials modify President Joe Biden's remarks about Trump supporters, sparking concerns from federal stenographers responsible for documenting presidential communications.
According to AP News, White House press officials altered the official transcript of Biden's video call with Latino activists, changing the word "supporters" to "supporter's" in an attempt to redirect criticism away from Trump's base and toward a specific comedian's comments about Puerto Rico.
The modification occurred after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made controversial remarks at a Trump rally, describing Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage." Biden's response during the Tuesday evening video call sparked immediate controversy when he appeared to criticize Trump supporters broadly.
The stenography office supervisor expressed strong objections to the transcript modification in an internal email to White House communications officials. The email, obtained by AP, revealed serious concerns about protocol breaches and transcript integrity.
The head stenographer outlined specific procedures for transcript modifications, emphasizing that while the Press Office could withhold transcripts, they lacked the authority to make independent edits. This created a discrepancy between the version sent to the National Archives and the one released to the public.
White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates defended the changes, stating that Biden's social media clarification supported their interpretation of his remarks targeting the comedian's rhetoric rather than Trump supporters generally.
Vice President Kamala Harris took an unprecedented step by publicly disagreeing with the president's remarks. Her response marked the most significant break from Biden's position since joining the Democratic ticket.
The Trump campaign seized the opportunity, organizing a photo opportunity with Trump posing in a garbage truck. Campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a statement criticizing the White House's handling of the transcript.
White House stenographer supervisor sent an email to communications director Ben LaBolt and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, stating:
Regardless of urgency, it is essential to our transcripts' authenticity and legitimacy that we adhere to consistent protocol for requesting edits, approval, and release
House Republicans, led by Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Oversight Chairman James Comer, are considering launching an investigation into the transcript alterations. They expressed their concerns in a letter to White House counsel Ed Siskel.
The lawmakers warned of potential violations of the Presidential Records Act of 1978. They demanded the preservation of all documents and internal communications related to Biden's remarks and the transcript's release.
House Republican leadership stated:
White House staff cannot rewrite the words of the President of the United States to be more politically on message
The controversy centers on the White House's decision to modify official presidential records without proper authorization from the stenography office. This action has raised questions about transparency and accuracy in presidential communications. The incident highlights the delicate balance between political messaging and maintaining accurate historical records. The White House is being criticized by opposition leaders and internal staff over its handling of presidential communications.
