On Tuesday evening, a comment made by President Joe Biden, in which he labeled some of Donald Trump’s supporters as “garbage,” sparked significant controversy and prompted unusual actions within the White House communications team. This incident occurred during a call with Latino leaders and was triggered by the derogatory remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a recent Trump rally, where he characterized Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage.” The situation escalated quickly, leading to the White House’s decision to amend the official transcript of Biden’s remarks without following the usual approval process. This edit, though seemingly minor—merely the addition of an apostrophe to clarify possession—carried substantial political implications as it sought to contain the potential fallout from the president’s comments.
Biden’s original remark stated, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters,” suggesting a broader critique of Trump’s base. Ultimately, White House officials believed it was important to clarify that Biden intended the comment to target Hinchcliffe rather than disparaging all Trump supporters. In an effort to mitigate the repercussions of the remark, the president’s aides made the decision to revise the transcript to reflect this intent more clearly by changing “supporters” to “supporter’s.” Following this internal deliberation, Biden personally approved a clarification tweet issued from his account to further reinforce his intended message and distance the administration from the fallout.
The aftermath of Biden’s comment raised concerns about its potential impact on Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign efforts, especially as she was making her own closing arguments to voters just a short distance away on the Ellipse during the same timeframe. The White House was apprehensive about how the situation could overshadow Harris’ message as Election Day approached. Republican members of Congress, fueled by the administration’s transcription changes, initiated inquiries about the circumstances surrounding the alteration, raising the specter of a deeper investigation into the matter. This response from Republican lawmakers indicated the extent to which Biden’s comment and the subsequent editing could not only distract, but potentially harm the Democratic campaign apparatus.
Internal communications that followed the incident highlighted the tensions between the White House communications team and the stenography office, which traditionally has the responsibility of ensuring an accurate historical record of official remarks. The director of the stenography office, Amy Sands, later described the communications team’s decision to independently edit the transcript as a breach of established protocols. Sands noted that the alterations made by the communications staff occurred without her approval and contradicted the usual procedures that grant her office final say over official records. This created a significant point of contention within the White House, emphasizing the importance of adhering to established practices, especially in politically sensitive circumstances like this one.
Sands detailed in her communication that the press team attempted to contact her for approval of the changes but ultimately decided to bypass the standard protocol when they did not receive immediate feedback. Her recollection indicated that while the press office may have had good intentions in their efforts to clarify Biden’s remark, their actions undermined the integrity of the official record. Sands highlighted that her office exists to create a reliable and impartial document for historical reference, regardless of interpretations of a given comment, and stressed the necessity for adherence to protocol in the release and editing of official transcripts.
In the wake of Biden’s statement and the subsequent controversy, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates stepped forward to reaffirm the official stance on the president’s intent. He characterized the alteration as a necessary step to maintain the accuracy of the transcript, reiterating that Biden’s remarks were aimed at addressing the negative rhetoric stemming from Hinchcliffe’s performance at the rally. This situation amplified existing tensions within the White House, illustrating the complexities and challenges of managing communications in the current political climate as the administration seeks to navigate the fallout from controversial statements while ensuring that the integrity of the official record remains intact. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between messaging and transparency in political discourse, especially as the electorate nears a critical decision-making juncture.
