Over 22,000 words/day: Why White House stenographers are struggling to keep pace with Donald Trump

White House stenographers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with President Donald Trump's rapid and frequent remarks, as his extensive public speaking schedule far surpasses that of his predecessor Joe Biden.
On a single day, stenographers transcribed over 22,000 words when Trump made multiple appearances, followed by another 17,000 words during his visits to disaster-hit areas in North Carolina and California.
The workload has grown so overwhelming that discussions are underway to hire additional staff, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Trump’s return to the presidency has been marked by a relentless stream of commentary, overshadowing his opponents and shaping the news cycle on his own terms. Unlike Biden, who maintained a more restrained approach, Trump thrives on constant media attention, viewing it as a tool of political power.
A striking example occurred during a recent bill-signing event. Trump not only celebrated his administration’s deportation policies but also made claims about Hamas using US-funded condoms to create bombs, criticised California’s water management policies, and declared that Guantánamo Bay would be used as a detention facility for undocumented migrants. His remarks often include controversial or misleading statements, such as allegations of voter fraud or geopolitical proposals like relocating Palestinians while Gaza is rebuilt.
His non-stop talking extends beyond formal speeches. On a single Friday, he engaged with reporters at the White House, during his flight to North Carolina, at a hurricane recovery briefing, while meeting storm victims, in Los Angeles to discuss wildfires, and again on the tarmac before departing. By the weekend, he had spoken to the press at the back of Air Force One twice—matching Biden’s total for his entire presidency.
The sheer volume of Trump's remarks is staggering. In his first week back in office, he spoke for nearly eight hours and used 81,235 words—more than three times the amount Biden spoke in the same period. The scale even surpasses Trump’s first term, when he initially spoke for just under four hours in his opening week.
While some aides hail this as a return to "transparency," experts argue that more words do not necessarily equate to more clarity. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, warns that such an overwhelming flow of information could fatigue the public, leading many to disengage.
For now, the stenographers remain hard at work, scrambling to document every word as Trump dominates the airwaves once again.