Hard News

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT FROM THE MORNING WXBC NEWS, PITTSBURGH 11, WITH GEORGE GREENLY, AS PART OF AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Good morning and thank you once again for tuning into WXBC, Pittsburgh 11 news. I’m George Greenly, and this morning we have the important task of bringing you some controversial news from the White House’s east courtyard. Our political correspondent, Miranda Solo, will be convening with us this morning to bring you all the answers. Miranda, to you.

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: Thanks, George. I stand here today on the East courtyard where, as you can see behind me, a plethora of news reporters, both foreign and domestic, have gathered in light of today’s news. As news outlets begin to scatter among the White House grounds, confusion seems to encompass all who were present for the President’s briefing just moments ago.

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Thanks Miranda. Not to get ahead of myself, but are we seeing police presence in the vicinity? It looks to be they are setting up some type of boundary around the White House itself.

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: Yes, George you’re seeing things correctly. The President and his team have instructed local police to set up a perimeter around the entirety of the house as a means to keep reporters and other non-essential staff at a distance. As you can see, traffic cones line the pavement to my left while police caution tape is already lining the Northern exterior walls. Construction crews have already begun assembling the scaffolding as the men you see behind me prepare for this new change.

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Again, thank you Miranda. What seems to be the tone there? The President’s announcement this morning was met with audible gasps from both parties within the press briefing room, as journalists like yourself jumped in to quickly ask the President follow-up questions of which he ignored. I imagine there are some differing opinions there.

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: You couldn’t be more right, George. The tone is overall one of shock and disbelief. Reporters and staff around the premises are scrambling either to get some answers or cover this story as quickly as possible before the changes begin. As most of us know, the President is allotted a certain budget for reconstruction and decoration for and within the White House. While past presidents have taken this to mean a change in furniture or maybe new carpets, it seems the President has taken this opportunity to change not only a historical marking in this country, but a symbol recognized around the world. Logos, t-shirts - I mean you name it. This change is going to shift everything.

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: [Greenly laughs]. You can bet on that, Miranda. I’m sure it will take some time for our foreign allies and enemies alike to refer to this change aptly. [Greenly laughs]. I myself may take some time to get it right!

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: Right. I just want to take a moment, George, to hold space for the seriousness which this change brings. At a time when Americans need to feel stable and safe, the President has instead enacted this major, and dare I say unnecessary, change. Let us not forget the historical factor for which the-

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Yes, yes, the historical factor. Let’s give our viewers some credit, Miranda. And unnecessary? Sure. But wouldn’t you say the President has every authority to make this change? Surely the man half the country chose as their leader has their needs in mind. You bring up safety and stability - but wouldn’t you agree that nothing says “safety and stability” like a President who works within his means to get things done, whether that be seen as necessary or not?

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: Just to complete my previous thought, George, the historical factor can be traced back to President Theordore Roosevelt, who first coined the term, “The Wh-

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Miranda, viewers and myself can see the workers begin the project just behind you. It looks as though once again efficiency is of the President’s highest priority. I can see several workers have begun and we should see results possibly by tomorrow evening. Honestly it looks-

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: George the White House is being painted red. Red. Just to make that clear to you and our viewers. The White House, which has been white since its construction was completed in 1798. The White House - a symbol known around the world - is now being catastrophically changed-

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: Miranda before you get ahead of yourself, you can clearly see he is keeping the trim white.

LIVE REPORTER MIRANDA SOLO: The trim? Oh my fu-

NEWS ANCHOR GEORGE GREENLY: It seems Miranda’s feed has unfortunately cut out. While we all contemplate this historic change I hope we find comfort in the fact that with great change comes great concordance for our nation. We could see this change as something new and scary, or we could join together and see that change does not have to be frightening at all, but instead a symbol of hope and rebirth.

Thank you all for trusting your local WXBC Pittsburgh 11 news. Now before we check the weather with Chet Greenshaw, a quick word from our sponsors:** Sherwin Williams.

END OF TRANSCRIPT

Katie Lilljedahl | 31/05/2025