Karine
On May 5, President Joe Biden announced that Karine Jean-Pierre will be taking over for Jen Psaki as White House press secretary, making her the first Black woman and open member of the LGBTQ+ community to hold the position. She will step into the role on May 13.
“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 said in a statement, per CNN.
Psaki, who previously said she would only serve as press secretary for one year, praised the decision on Twitter. “She is passionate. She is smart and she has a moral core that makes her not just a great colleague, but an amazing Mom and human,” Psaki said of her colleague, in part. “I can’t wait to see her shine as she brings her own style, brilliance, and grace to the podium.”
Of course, Karine Jean-Pierre has significant experience as the principal deputy press secretary on the White House’s communications team. But who is Karine Jean-Pierre? Here’s everything to know.
She has a LOT of experience.
Prior to her position on the communications team, the future White House press secretary already built up a notable career. During the 2020 election, Jean-Pierre served as a senior adviser to candidate Biden as well as chief of staff to current Vice President Kamala Harris. Before that she held a position in the Obama-Biden administration and served as a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.
She’s also done this job before.
Back in May 2021, Jean-Pierre became the first openly gay woman to lead a White House press briefing. “It’s a real honor to just be standing here today,” she said at the time. “I appreciate the historic nature, I really do. But I believe that being behind this podium, being in this room, being in this building, is not about one person; it’s about what we do on behalf of the American people. Clearly, the president believes in representation matters, and I appreciate him giving me this opportunity.”
She grew up in Queens, New York.
Jean-Pierre was born in the French Caribbean to Haitian parents. She was raised in the borough of Queens in New York City and attended the New York Institute of Technology. She later received her MPA from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. She was briefly a lecturer at the School of International affairs beginning in 2014.
She’s a mom.
Jean-Pierre and her partner, journalist Suzanne Malveaux, share an eight-year-old daughter.
