The White House has quietly scrubbed most official transcripts of Donald Trump's public remarks from its website, replacing them with selected video clips to present what aides say is a "full and complete representation" of the president's communication style.
Historically, U.S. presidents have relied on publicly accessible transcripts to document their speeches, press briefings, and off-the-cuff remarks — a tool often used by journalists, historians, and political allies to clarify or defend a president's words.
During Trump's previous term, hundreds of transcripts were published. But following a policy change in May 2025, the White House removed nearly all but his inaugural address from the official site, citing a desire for "consistency" and stronger engagement with visual media.
According to White House officials, government stenographers are still documenting Trump's statements, but the administration now favors video and audio as more accurate reflections of his tone and delivery. The Trump team argues that transcripts fail to capture the president's spontaneity and "weave," his signature style of jumping between topics.
Critics note that the majority of Trump's public appearances, especially unscripted Q&As and controversial moments, have not been uploaded to the site, limiting access to crucial information.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance's office continues to distribute transcripts of his own remarks, drawing a sharp contrast in transparency styles within the administration. Historians and former White House officials have criticized the decision, saying it undermines the historical record and makes it harder for the public to fact-check or verify the president's words.
As of late May, only a fraction of Trump's April and May 2025 appearances are archived on the official site in any form.
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