President Biden named White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as the next press secretary, the first black woman to hold the high-profile position. Jean-Pierre, who will also be the first openly LGBTQ+ person in the role, appeared at Thursday’s press conference.
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President Biden named White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as the next press secretary, the first black woman to hold the high-profile position. Jean-Pierre, who will also be the first openly LGBTQ+ person in the role, appeared at Thursday’s press conference.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Biden named Karine Jean-Pierre as his second White House press secretary, replacing Jen Psaki later this month. Jean-Pierre, who has been Psaki’s deputy since the beginning of the administration, will make history several times over.
She will be the first black press secretary in White House history and the first openly gay person in this high-profile role, speaking on behalf of both the president and the US government at news conferences that are watched by everyone.
“Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity required for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead communication about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people,” Biden said in a statement announcing the news. “Jill and I have known and respected Karine for a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this Administration.”
“This is a historic moment, and it’s not lost on me,” Jean-Pierre said at Thursday’s news conference, where he appeared with Psaki, hugging and holding hands at times.
“I understand how important it is for so many people, for so many different communities, to stand on their shoulders and I have throughout my career,” he added.
Psaki referred to her successor as “my real partner”. He added: “One of the first conversations we had when we both found out we were getting these jobs was about how we wanted to build a drama-free workplace, on its best days, where everyone worked hard. Where we, on our best days, were rebuilding trust with the public.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is hugged by current Senior Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a White House news briefing Thursday, after it was announced that Psaki would be leaving her post on next week and would be replaced by Jean-Pierre.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is hugged by current Senior Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a White House news briefing Thursday, after it was announced that Psaki would be leaving her post on next week and would be replaced by Jean-Pierre.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Jean-Pierre came to the Biden team from the progressive organization MoveOn.org, where she was one of the best members of the communications staff. She was also a regular on MSNBC. Jean-Pierre has already led several White House press briefings, including when Psaki was away with COVID.
“It’s a real honor to be here today,” said Jean-Pierre in May 2021 during his first lap behind the famous lectern. “I appreciate the historical nature, I really do. But I think being behind this podium, being in this room, being in this building, it’s not about one person. It’s about what we do on behalf of the American people.”
Jean-Pierre has had some tough briefings, ending up in the hot seat on days when there were headlines for which the White House had no good answers. In a briefing on Air Force One, he accidentally suggested that the US was in favor of admitting Ukraine to NATO, before rushing back on landing. He is generally well-liked among reporters and will provide continuity as significant turnover in White House press operations is expected in the coming weeks.
Psaki is widely expected to take a job at MSNBC when he leaves. The last day of her is scheduled for May 13.
“Jen Psaki has set the standard for bringing decency, respect and decorum back to the White House briefing room,” Biden said in the statement. “I want to thank Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and honestly with the American people, and keeping her sense of humor in doing so.”
In addition to Jean-Pierre’s promotion, the White House announced that longtime Biden adviser Anita Dunn will return as a senior adviser and assistant to the president. She briefly left management last summer to work at the consulting firm SKDK, but she wasn’t gone for long.
Raised in New York, Jean-Pierre was born in Martinique and attended Columbia University. Throughout his career, he has moved between Democratic political campaigns and leftist organizations.
Reference-www.npr.org