Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the National Council of La Raza convention at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Tuesday, July 10, 2012. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, John Locher, Pool)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is defending Vice President Joe Biden's debate statement that "we weren't told" there had been requests for more security at the U.S. consulate in Libya where four Americans were killed in a terrorist attack one month ago.

A State Department official testified before Congress on Wednesday that she had refused requests for more security in Benghazi because the department wanted to train Libyans for the task. Another U.S. official testified he had argued unsuccessfully for more security for weeks.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said that when Biden said "we weren't told," he meant the White House, President Barack Obama and himself.

Carney said such security matters are handled by the State Department.

Biden made the statement Thursday in the vice presidential debate with GOP candidate Paul Ryan.