The White House is scrambling, and House Republicans smell blood in the water. After President Biden’s comment calling Trump supporters “garbage” went viral, GOP leaders Elise Stefanik and James Comer have launched an investigation into the White House’s handling of Biden’s remarks.
In a letter to White House Counsel Edward Siskel, Stefanik and Comer laid out concerns that the Biden administration not only released a “false transcript” of Biden’s comments but potentially violated federal law in doing so. They’re demanding answers and calling out what they see as a blatant attempt to clean up Biden’s “divisive and erratic” rhetoric.
The controversy started with Biden’s call with Latino voters, where he riffed on an insult comedian’s jab at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Biden took it further, saying, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.” The comment was hardly a slip of the tongue; there’s clear video evidence of Biden’s words. But instead of owning up, the White House put out a transcript that rephrased Biden’s remark to downplay the insult, changing “supporters” to “supporter’s” in a bizarre attempt to soften the blow.
Republicans, naturally, aren’t letting this one slide. Stefanik and Comer argue that rewriting Biden’s words isn’t just misleading but also illegal under the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which mandates that official documents and transcripts can’t be altered to fit a political narrative. In a statement that likely resonates with anyone fed up with political doublespeak, they pointed out, “White House staff cannot rewrite the words of the President of the United States to be more politically on message.”
🚨BREAKING: Biden-Harris White House may have violated the law by altering President Biden’s “garbage” remarks in official transcript.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) and Oversight Chairman James Comer (@RepJamesComer) are raising concerns… pic.twitter.com/52z6J7EO7q
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) October 30, 2024
Commentators haven’t held back either. Journalist Michael Shellenberger noted the blatant violation, calling out the administration for a nonsensical cover-up that only worsens Biden’s already strained relationship with millions of Americans. Biden’s own attempt at clarification wasn’t much better; he posted that he was referring to “the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter” as “garbage,” a claim that doesn’t quite line up with his original comment.
Meanwhile, Trump took full advantage of the situation in classic Trump style, addressing reporters from a garbage truck in Wisconsin, where he denounced Biden’s comments as a “disgrace.” The imagery couldn’t be more striking—Trump standing with working-class Americans while Biden’s words and spin continue to distance him from blue-collar voters.
No one else can do it like Trump 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/VdnEO5P0ma
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 31, 2024
First, he campaigns in McDonald’s drive-thru, and now a garbage truck. Trump is the master at trolling. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/JZTXsvLnhb
— Don’t Give Meghan The Mic🎤 (@PrayForIsrael26) October 30, 2024
With the 2024 election just around the corner, Republicans are seizing on Biden’s “garbage” comment as a major unforced error. At a time when Biden’s polling in critical swing states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania is already shaky, this latest episode doesn’t exactly help his cause. Instead, it may just be another sign that, despite the White House’s efforts to “clarify” his comments, Biden’s words and actions keep speaking for themselves.
