White House Statement
May 05, 2022

Karine Jean-Pierre will become the new White House press secretary when Jen Psaki departs her role next week, President Joe Biden announced in a statement Thursday, becoming the first Black and out LGBTQ person to hold the position.

Jean-Pierre currently serves as the White House's principal deputy 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 in a statement, adding that "Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally begin following Psaki's last day, which will be May 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki was planning on leaving her role for one at MSNBC.

Last May, Jean-Pierre became the second Black woman in history to hold the daily press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications team since Biden took office and before that was an adviser to his campaign and chief of staff to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's family includes her partner, CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

Jean-Pierre is familiar with her new role. She is often in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has filled in for her for at the lectern and has also gaggled with reporters traveling with Biden on Air Force One. Recently, she replaced Psaki at the last minute for Biden's four-day trip to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki tested positive for Covid-19 the day before Biden was scheduled to leave.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to leave after one year on the job. Several names had been under consideration to replace her, including Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has become a visible face of the administration in briefings and on cable television since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

Psaki on Twitter said she was "grateful" to Biden and first lady Jill Biden, and described Jean-Pierre as a "remarkable woman."

"Representation matters and she will give a voice to many, but also make many dream big about what is truly possible," Psaki wrote.

Psaki added, "I can't wait to see her shine as she brings her own style, brilliance and grace to the podium."

The staffing shakeup in the press office comes as the White House is making several other personnel moves in preparation for a potential Republican takeover on Capitol Hill in the midterm elections. One of Biden's closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as his team also shores up the White House counsel's office, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations if they retake the majority.

This story has been updated with additional developments on Thursday.

Remember the November, 2019 televised Democrat presidential candidate debate when then Rep. Tulsi Gabbard attacked Kamala Harris's entire political record? Gabbard tore into Kamala Harris' record as an attorney general and as district attorney, and as senator, and on screen at least, virtually destroyed her.

Instead of getting rid of Kamala, as common sense would dictate, it was Tulsi Gabbard the Democrats found unacceptable.

Somehow, the fix was always in for Joe Biden, and for Kamala Harris, although with the public, they routinely polled at the bottom of the Democrat's long list of potential candidates...

I believe Obama hand selected them, and it makes sense that he would also select Jean-Pierre now, as she meets what has always been his number one priority/requirement/doctrine: furthering the rights and well being of all that is LGBTQ. That has always driven him.

You might almost think it is "personal."