In a moment that shocked many, President Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage” during a campaign event on Tuesday evening, sending his communication team scrambling to do damage control.

In a move that felt straight out of a propaganda playbook, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates swiftly issued a transcript of Biden’s remarks, adding an apostrophe to imply the President was referring to a specific Trump-supporting comedian rather than the entire group of Trump supporters.

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This attempt to reframe Biden’s words as narrowly focused met with raised eyebrows and skepticism from both political analysts and even some Democrats, as the cleanup efforts seemed more like spin than clarification.

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As reported by Townhall, the remark came while Biden was discussing the rhetoric at a Trump rally held in Madison Square Garden, where a comedian allegedly made disparaging comments about Puerto Rico.

Biden’s statement took a harsh turn when he declared, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”

 

White House press team doubled down, posting a clarifying message on his X account, where Biden claimed he was only condemning the “hateful rhetoric” from the rally, not Trump’s supporters as a whole.

“The comments don’t reflect who we are as a nation,” Biden’s post stated, urging a reframe of his words as a critique of divisive language.

Unsurprisingly, the Biden team’s cleanup effort was bolstered by friendly media allies, but not without backlash. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins was among the first to question the White House’s damage control strategy, pointing out the obvious discrepancy in Biden’s words versus the spin, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

“It’s hard to really look at that when you can listen to it for yourself,” Collins remarked, summarizing the public sentiment.

Meanwhile, Trump seized the opportunity to call out Biden’s divisive tone. Emphasizing his commitment to represent “all Americans,” Trump responded by showcasing his cross-sectional appeal, which he argues is rooted in serving every community across the country.

Trump’s response subtly highlighted Biden’s polarizing approach, stressing his own track record of inclusivity.

Some Democrats were also left unsettled. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, for instance, voiced concerns over Biden’s derogatory comments, remarking that he would “never insult Americans” in such a way.

Biden’s jab has left him fending off criticism from all angles, with his press team’s spin only drawing more attention to the gaffe.

As Biden’s team tries to move past this latest stumble, Trump’s base seems all the more energized, and the White House faces renewed pressure to maintain control of the President’s messaging as the campaign heats up.