close
close

Biden’s press team “intervened” to change the meaning of “junk” remarks

Biden’s press team “intervened” to change the meaning of “junk” remarks

The White House press team allegedly redacted the transcript Joe Biden’s ‘garbage’ remarks change its meaning.

Biden was later accused of insulting the former president’s supporters with his remarks he was asked about the comedian’s comments during Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, during which Puerto Rico was dubbed a “floating garbage island.”

official record, prepared by government stenographersHe rewrote the sentence as follows: “The only trash I see are his supporters,” according to the Associated Press.

But an internal email obtained by the AP shows the press office “consulted with the president” and edited the stenographers’ transcript to add an apostrophe in “fan handwriting,” suggesting Biden was only talking about the rally comedian.

The change prompted a backlash from one member of the official White House transcription team, who complained that the move was a “breach of protocol” and noted that the redacted transcript would be included in the National Archives.

Biden’s comments came after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe compared Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean.”

Responding to a call with the campaign group Voto Latino, Biden said: “The only garbage I see there is his supporters – his – his demonization of Latinos is unwise and un-American.”

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Vote for Latino | votolatino.org

His intervention was quickly taken up by the Trump campaign, which accused him of insulting voters, and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared to distance herself from her former running mate’s comments.

Responding to the insertion of the apostrophe in an internal email, the head of the White House shorthand office accused the press office of “violating protocol and compromising the integrity of the transcript.”

“In the event of a difference in interpretation, the Press Office may decide to withhold the transcript, but cannot edit it itself,” they wrote.

“The transcript from our Stenographic Office – made available to our distribution, which includes the National Archives – now differs from the version edited and made available to the public by Press Office staff.

“Regardless of the urgency, it is essential to the authenticity and legality of our transcripts that we follow a consistent protocol for requests for changes, approval and publication.”

The person declined to comment when approached by The Associated Press, although two government officials reportedly confirmed the email’s authenticity.

When asked for comment, Andrew Bates, senior deputy White House press secretary, did not comment on his office’s alleged redactions.

“The president confirmed in a tweet Tuesday night that he addressed the comedian’s hateful rhetoric during Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden,” he said. “This was reflected in the transcript.”

The news is likely to infuriate House Republicans, who this week debated opening an investigation into the scandal.

On Wednesday, senior officials wrote to a White House aide demanding that the administration preserve documents and internal communications regarding Biden’s remarks and release the transcripts.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.