House Republicans Demand Docs on Biden’s ‘Garbage’ Comment

2 Nov at 11:12 am

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Biden garbage comment/ House Republicans request/ Biden Trump supporters/ transcript alteration/ White House communications/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top House Republicans have requested all documents and communications related to President Biden’s recent “garbage” comment, which they say appeared directed at Trump supporters. They are also concerned about alleged changes made to the official transcript by White House press officials.

FILE – House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair Rep. James Comer R-Ky., speaks, Jan. 10, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Bipartisan legislation introduced in the House would require presidents and vice presidents to publicly disclose tax returns before, during and after their time in the White House. The proposal — led by the unusual pairing of Republican Rep. James Comer and progressive Democratic Rep. Katie Porter — is the latest effort to deliver congressional oversight over presidential ethics as both parties grapple with ongoing congressional probes into their leading candidates for president. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

House Republicans Request Documents on Biden’s ‘Garbage’ Comment: Quick Looks

GOP Concerns: House Republicans request documents on President Biden’s remarks about Trump supporters.
Transcript Alteration: White House allegedly adjusted the official transcript, sparking objections.
Alleged Violation: GOP questions if altering the transcript for the National Archives breaks federal law.
Requested Records: Rep. James Comer and Rep. Elise Stefanik demand briefing on the alterations.
Context: Biden’s remarks addressed comments by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe regarding Puerto Rico.

Deep Look

House Republicans are calling on the White House to release all records and internal communications related to President Joe Biden’s recent “garbage” comment, which they believe was a jab at supporters of Donald Trump. Representatives James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, and Elise Stefanik, chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, have also requested a briefing with the head of the White House Stenography’s Office, alleging that the transcript was altered to minimize the impact of Biden’s remark.

This demand comes after White House press officials reportedly edited the official transcript of Biden’s statements, a move that drew objections from federal employees tasked with preserving presidential remarks accurately for the National Archives. GOP leaders argue that any decision to “manipulate or alter the accurate transcript” may violate federal law.

The controversy centers on remarks Biden made earlier this week during a video call with Latino activists, where he responded to recent offensive comments from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a Trump rally. In a transcript prepared by official White House stenographers, Biden was quoted as saying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”

However, the transcript released by the White House press office made a subtle adjustment, changing “supporters” to “supporter’s,” which the White House claimed shifted Biden’s criticism toward Hinchcliffe specifically, rather than toward Trump supporters broadly. Biden aides argue that this alteration accurately reflects the president’s intended focus on Hinchcliffe’s statements, rather than the millions of Trump supporters.

In a statement, Comer and Stefanik criticized the White House’s apparent decision to “rewrite President Biden’s rhetoric,” describing it as a “political decision to protect the Biden-Harris Administration.” They emphasized the importance of accurate record-keeping, particularly given Biden’s comments on issues sensitive to the Latino community and the broader political climate. The GOP leaders contend that the administration should adhere to established protocols rather than making selective adjustments.

The White House has not publicly responded to the document request or the House Republicans’ assertion that altering the transcript may have breached federal record-keeping laws. However, White House aides maintain that the transcript’s apostrophe adjustment aimed to clarify Biden’s intention, insisting it was meant to criticize Hinchcliffe, not the Trump base.

This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the Biden administration and House Republicans, who continue to scrutinize the administration’s communications as both parties mobilize for the final stages of the 2024 election. Republicans view Biden’s “garbage” comment as emblematic of a divisive tone they say Democrats have adopted toward conservative voters, and they are using this incident to emphasize what they view as partisanship in the administration’s approach to communications and record-keeping.

This inquiry may prompt further debate on how presidential remarks are documented and interpreted in official records, particularly when they touch on politically charged subjects. As the election season intensifies, any shifts in public-facing documentation and official statements are likely to be closely watched by both parties.