Karine Jean-Pierre has been promoted to be Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary, replacing Jen Psaki, who will depart from the White House on May 13, U.S. President Joe Biden announced Thursday.
“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, 79, 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.”
In his statement, the president offered well-wishes as well for Psaki; a longtime Democratic spokeswoman who has served in the role since the first day of the administration last year and who embodied Biden’S push; to have a less combative relationship with journalists than predecessor Donald Trump.
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Born in Haiti, Jean-Pierre previously worked as a campaign organizer and as the national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org before joining the Biden administration.
Her partner, journalist Suzanne Malveaux, works for CNN.
In addition to being the first Black woman to serve as press secretary; Pierre will be the first openly gay woman to do so.
In 2015, Eric Schultz — who served as a deputy White House press secretary under President Barack Obama; — became the first openly gay person to conduct an on-camera White House news briefing.
