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Karine Jean-Pierre at a press conference in the White House: Already worked for Obama
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ALMOND NGAN / AFP
US President Joe Biden's spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, is leaving the White House in the middle of the month.
The successor will be her previous deputy Karine Jean-Pierre, as the White House announced on Thursday in Washington.
It is no surprise that Psaki is giving up her post: According to media reports, the 43-year-old is planning a move to the television station MSNBC.
Psaki did not confirm the reports, but did not deny them either.
As spokeswoman for the president, Psaki has answered extensive questions from the press almost daily in the White House since Biden took office in January last year.
That is why she is one of the prominent faces of the US government.
Her previous deputy Jean-Pierre worked for the administration of former President Barack Obama.
The 44-year-old was born in the French overseas territory of Martinique and grew up in New York.
There she studied at the elite Columbia University.
She's always stood in for Psaki at press conferences and regularly accompanies Biden on his travels.
Pierre not only becomes the first black woman to hold office, but also the first openly gay woman.
Biden praised his future spokeswoman for "experience, talent and integrity" on Thursday.
"She will be a strong voice speaking for me and this government."
Psaki also paid tribute to her successor.
"She will be the first Black woman and the first person openly from the LGBTQ+ community to serve as White House press secretary," Psaki wrote on Twitter.
»It will give a voice to many, but also enable many to dream big about what is really possible.«
Biden had always promised that his administration should reflect the diversity of the US population in terms of gender, race and sexual orientation.
sol/dpa/AFP
