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US PRESIDENT JOE Biden has named Karine Jean-Pierre as the next White House press secretary, the first Black woman to hold the high-profile post.
Jean-Pierre, who will also be the first openly LGBTQ person in the role, will replace Jen Psaki, under whom she served as deputy, from 13 May, according to a White House statement.
Born to a Haitian immigrant family, Jean-Pierre became in May last year only the second Black woman to lead a White House press briefing.
She has served in senior communication and political roles in the Biden Administration, the Biden campaign, and to then-Vice President Biden during the Obama Administration.
Previously, she was as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said: “I am proud to announce that Karine Jean-Pierre will serve as the next White House Press Secretary.”
“Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people,” Biden said.
“Jill and I have known and respected Karine a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this Administration.
“Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room. I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humor while doing so.
“I thank Jen her service to the country, and wish her the very best as she moves forward.”
Current White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is understood to be leaving the role for a television position.
Psaki had previously said she did not want to remain in the job, which made her the most visible face of Biden’s team, for more than about a year.
Psaki, 43, had been in the role since the start of Biden’s administration in January 2021.
Psaki restored the tradition of daily live briefings with White House reporters, saying she wanted to rebuild trust between the administration and the media after the tumultuous Trump years, when briefings were ultimately abandoned.
Under Barack Obama, she served in the less visible White House communications director role and also as State Department spokeswoman.
“At whatever time I leave the White House, I can promise you the first thing I’m going to do is sleep and spend time with my three- and six-year olds, who are my most important audiences,” Psaki said in April.
Additional reporting by Lauren Boland
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She was good. Fair play to her
@JusticeForJoe: Psaki, I mean. Best of luck to the newcomer
@JusticeForJoe: Yes, Jen was very smart, the Republicans couldn’t handle her.
@Al Fresco: chucky was no Kayliegh
@Al Fresco: The Republicans can’t handle anything. The “proud to be thick” mentality they have is pervasive here now too. The comments section here is awash with the anti intellectual. It’s all so f@(king depressing. Dim is in fashion.
@Vonvonic: Correct. The same formula is active in Britain and Australia. I hold Murdoch responsible for a lot of it.
@Vonvonic: all republicans dim, all democrats smart? Simple Simon stuff from Vonvonic.
Do people really swallow this box ticking nonsense.
@Moss Cotter: yes. It’s a sign of “progress” by people whom obsess over and measure everything through the lens of colour. I.e racists
@Moss Cotter: cmere moss one has to start somewhere.Every little helps. But I do see yer point.
@Moss Cotter: Yes. Empower the underprivileged. You don’t buy it because you’re sad.
@Paul Gorry: He doesn’t have a point. It’s just misery.
@Vonvonic: very true.
@Moss Cotter: the rationale your using is making the assumption that she has got the job because she is black and openly LGBT, is it not possible that she was the best person for the job who happens to be black and openly LGBT?
To assume the latter says a fair amount about your point of view and been honest doesn’t paint you in a great light.
@Colm O’ Shea: sorry to assume the former…
@Moss Cotter: it’s hardly justbox ticking when she worked in the roll of Deputy and has years of experience. Representation does matter however, and it is a positive that she was selected for this role as an underrepresented minority who was also an excellent candidate for the role. I think it’s very easy to get tired of these ‘box ticking’ exercises when most people you see in positions of power/public facing look like you. But when they don’t?
@Jensen Bhroin: Representation matters but the sanctimonious fanfair around it doesn’t.
have your say