Karine Jean-Pierre is introduced as the next White House press secretary
(Picture: REUTERS)Karine Jean-Pierre is the first black and openly gay person to take on the top role of White House press secretary.
She will step into the highest profile public-facing staff job in the White House when Jen Psaki leaves her post on May 13 next week.
Previously, Ms Jean-Pierre has served as deputy press secretary since the beginning of President Joe Biden’s term.
Also she had worked on Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, in President Barack Obama’s White House and she held the role of chief public affairs officer for progressive advocacy group MoveOn.org.
Biden said: “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.”
The President has vowed to name top officials, cabinet members and judges who reflect the diversity of America.
Ms Jean-Pierre said: “This is a historic moment, and it’s not lost on me... It is an honour and a privilege to be behind this podium.”
Psaki said Biden offered Jean-Pierre the job during an Oval Office meeting on Thursday afternoon.
“She comes to this job with decades of experience, even though she looks very young,” Psaki said.
Her appointment will give a “voice to so many and allow and show what is truly possible when you work hard and dream big”, she added.
Dee Dee Meyers became the first woman to have the job in the 1990s under former President Bill Clinton.
