White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is officially leaving the podium following an 18-month stint with the Biden administration.
According to ABC News, her current deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre will serve as her replacement making her the first openly gay and Black person to hold that position.
“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,” President Biden said in a statement.
Speculation has been building about Psaki’s next move. Two weeks ago, she appeared on CNN+ and told host Chris Wallace that she had nothing to announce regarding her future and that she planned to spend more time at home with her family.
“Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect, and decorum to the White House Briefing Room,” Biden said. “I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humor while doing so.”
Psaki tweeted about her replacement, calling her smart and a good mom and human. “Plus, she has a great sense of humor,” she added. “I can’t wait to see her shine as she brings her own style, brilliance and grace to the podium.”
