Karine Jean-Pierre was selected the new White House press secretary by US President Joe Biden on Thursday, making her the first Black woman to occupy the position.From May 13, Jean-Pierre will take over for Jen Psaki, who she served as deputy under.
Biden said he was "glad" to announce Jean-appointment Pierre's because of her "experience, talent, and integrity.
Bringing Jean-Pierre behind the podium for the usual briefing of accredited journalists at the White House on Thursday, the outgoing spokeswoman lauded her deputy, whom she hugged numerous times, in a voice sometimes choked with emotion.Jean-Pierre "will be the first Black woman, the first out LGBTQ+ person to serve in this post," according to Psaki, who has stated that she will not serve during Biden's term.
Jean-promotion Pierre's is "great because representation counts, and she is going to provide a voice to so many people and show them what is truly possible when you work hard and dream big," Psaki continued, declining to comment on media claims that she may leave the White House to join MSNBC.The future press secretary, who was visibly touched, added: "It is not lost on me that this is a historic occasion. I recognize how critical it is to so many people."Jean-Pierre, 44, has a daughter with her CNN journalist partner and has already taken the famous James S. Brady Press Briefing Room podium as Psaki's deputy.
She'll be the center of attention at the daily White House news briefing, which is televised live and closely watched, beginning in May.
Only one other Black woman had served as deputy White House press secretary before her: Judy Smith during George H.W. Bush's presidency in 1991.
-'The American dream'
Before joining Biden's team in the White House, Jean-Pierre worked on both former President Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns, as well as Biden's 2020 campaign.
During Biden's time as Obama's vice president, she also worked with him.
According to the White House announcement, Jean-Pierre formerly served as the top public affairs officer of liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org and as a political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.
Jean-Pierre was born in Martinique to Haitian parents who immigrated to the United States, where her father worked as a cab driver and her mother worked as a home health aide.
She began her political career in New York, and after graduating from Columbia University, she went on to become a prominent figure in the non-profit sector.
Jean-Pierre has stated several times that her family's "American dream" background was a deciding factor in her career.
However, in a book published in 2019, she spoke of "the strain of growing up in an immigrant household to succeed."
The new White House spokeswoman has recounted her own story of sexual assault as a kid, depression, and attempted suicide.
"If you are enthusiastic about what you want to be, where you want to go, and you work really hard towards that objective, it will happen," she remarked on Thursday when asked what message she wants to give to American kids.
"You'll be knocked down and go through some difficult moments, and it won't always be simple, but the benefits are fairly incredible, especially if you stay true to yourself."
[zombify_post]
0 Comments