SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
President Donald Trump rails against journalists asking questions about an impeachment inquiry during a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in the East Room of the White House October 02, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday afternoon that the White House last month released an "exact transcript" of his July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising more questions about the still-unfolding scandal.
When the White House released on September 25 a readout of the conversation, it called the document a "memo," and many observers said it likely did not capture the full conversation. The whistleblower has also asserted that, in a break from the norm, the official transcript was put in a classified system.
Trump, speaking to press alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto Wednesday, said the transcription was done "by very, very talented people, word for word, comma for comma."
\u201cLet\u2019s get the whole transcript! RT @atrupar: Trump says the Ukraine call memo released by the White House is "exact" and "word for word" -- even though it says on the very first page that it is not in fact a transcript\u201d— N Wyre (@N Wyre) 1570044179
Journalist Natasha Bertrand, on Twitter, said that if it was in fact a "transcript" the White House released, it is "unclear why the White House wouldn't characterize it as such."
Lawyer Neal Katya said the president's comments prompted questions including, "Where are the stenographer notes?"
\u201cSo much wrong here, but note he\u2019s now saying there were \u201cstenographers\u201d on July 25 Ukraine call who took it down word for word. That\u2019s hugely significant.The memo they released was not a transcript. Where is it? Where are the stenographer notes?\nCong can subpoena stenographers...\u201d— Neal Katyal (@Neal Katyal) 1570037232
A day before the "off the rails" press conference, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) suggested parts of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky were not released.
"I had two staff members from my office the other day read it aloud. And we timed it," King told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "They read it in normal speaking pace. It took them 10 minutes and 40 seconds. The phone call was 30 minutes," he said, acknowledging that a translator may have accounted for some of the time.
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday afternoon that the White House last month released an "exact transcript" of his July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising more questions about the still-unfolding scandal.
When the White House released on September 25 a readout of the conversation, it called the document a "memo," and many observers said it likely did not capture the full conversation. The whistleblower has also asserted that, in a break from the norm, the official transcript was put in a classified system.
Trump, speaking to press alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto Wednesday, said the transcription was done "by very, very talented people, word for word, comma for comma."
\u201cLet\u2019s get the whole transcript! RT @atrupar: Trump says the Ukraine call memo released by the White House is "exact" and "word for word" -- even though it says on the very first page that it is not in fact a transcript\u201d— N Wyre (@N Wyre) 1570044179
Journalist Natasha Bertrand, on Twitter, said that if it was in fact a "transcript" the White House released, it is "unclear why the White House wouldn't characterize it as such."
Lawyer Neal Katya said the president's comments prompted questions including, "Where are the stenographer notes?"
\u201cSo much wrong here, but note he\u2019s now saying there were \u201cstenographers\u201d on July 25 Ukraine call who took it down word for word. That\u2019s hugely significant.The memo they released was not a transcript. Where is it? Where are the stenographer notes?\nCong can subpoena stenographers...\u201d— Neal Katyal (@Neal Katyal) 1570037232
A day before the "off the rails" press conference, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) suggested parts of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky were not released.
"I had two staff members from my office the other day read it aloud. And we timed it," King told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "They read it in normal speaking pace. It took them 10 minutes and 40 seconds. The phone call was 30 minutes," he said, acknowledging that a translator may have accounted for some of the time.
President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday afternoon that the White House last month released an "exact transcript" of his July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, raising more questions about the still-unfolding scandal.
When the White House released on September 25 a readout of the conversation, it called the document a "memo," and many observers said it likely did not capture the full conversation. The whistleblower has also asserted that, in a break from the norm, the official transcript was put in a classified system.
Trump, speaking to press alongside Finnish President Sauli Niinisto Wednesday, said the transcription was done "by very, very talented people, word for word, comma for comma."
\u201cLet\u2019s get the whole transcript! RT @atrupar: Trump says the Ukraine call memo released by the White House is "exact" and "word for word" -- even though it says on the very first page that it is not in fact a transcript\u201d— N Wyre (@N Wyre) 1570044179
Journalist Natasha Bertrand, on Twitter, said that if it was in fact a "transcript" the White House released, it is "unclear why the White House wouldn't characterize it as such."
Lawyer Neal Katya said the president's comments prompted questions including, "Where are the stenographer notes?"
\u201cSo much wrong here, but note he\u2019s now saying there were \u201cstenographers\u201d on July 25 Ukraine call who took it down word for word. That\u2019s hugely significant.The memo they released was not a transcript. Where is it? Where are the stenographer notes?\nCong can subpoena stenographers...\u201d— Neal Katyal (@Neal Katyal) 1570037232
A day before the "off the rails" press conference, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) suggested parts of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky were not released.
"I had two staff members from my office the other day read it aloud. And we timed it," King told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "They read it in normal speaking pace. It took them 10 minutes and 40 seconds. The phone call was 30 minutes," he said, acknowledging that a translator may have accounted for some of the time.