Karine Jean-Pierre will become the White House press secretary, the first black and LGBTQ person in the position

First black and gay woman to be White House press secretary 1:40 (CNN) — Karine Jean-Pierre will become the new White House press secretary when Jen Psaki leaves her post next week, the President Joe Biden in a statement Thursday, becoming the first black and LGBTQ person to hold the office. Jean-Pierre currently serves as the White House’s Senior Deputy Press Secretary. “Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity necessary to this difficult job, but she will continue to lead communication on the work of the Biden-Harris administration on behalf of the American people,” Biden said in a statement, adding that ” Jen Psaki has set the standard for bringing decency, respect and decorum back to the White House Briefing Room.” Jean-Pierre will formally start after the last day of Psaki, which will be on May 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki planned to leave her position for one of hers at MSNBC. Last May, Jean-Pierre became the second black woman in history to hold the daily press conference. She has worked on the senior White House communications team since Biden took office and before that she was an adviser to his campaign and chief of staff to now-Vice President Kamala Harris. Jean-Pierre’s family includes her partner, CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and her daughter. “I’m still processing it because, as Jen said, this is a historic moment and it’s not lost on me. I understand how important this is to so many people,” Jean-Pierre said. “It is an honor and a privilege to stand behind this podium,” she added. Jean-Pierre also took a moment to thank Psaki. “She’s just been a wonderful colleague, a friend, a mentor, for this last year and a half and I don’t think I’d be here without so many people, but including her, she’s just a really solid and amazing person,” said Jean- Pierre. Jean-Pierre is familiar with her new role. She is often in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has filled in for her at the lectern, and has also hung out with reporters traveling with Biden on Air Force One. Recently, she filled in for Psaki at the last minute for the trip to Biden’s four days to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki tested positive for covid-19 the day before Biden was scheduled to leave. Psaki’s departure is not surprising, given that she had made public her plan to leave after a year on the job. Several names had been considered to replace her, including Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has become a visible face of the government at briefings and on television since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. At the White House briefing on Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre to the podium with her and the two women embraced as Psaki discussed Jean-Pierre’s qualifications and the importance of him accepting the position. “I just want to take the opportunity to celebrate and congratulate my friend, my colleague, my real partner, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White House press secretary,” Psaki told reporters at the White House. He added: “She will be the first black woman, the first LGBTQ+ person to play this role, which is amazing because representation matters and will, and will give a voice to so many and enable and show so many what is truly possible when you work hard and you dream big and that matters, and… we should celebrate it.” Psaki also touched on Jean-Pierre’s career, describing her as a “remarkable” person with “decades of experience”. “I just can’t wait to see her shine on the podium. So congratulations, and I can’t wait to see you bring your own style and brilliance to this job,” said Psaki. A close Biden adviser returns to the White House Anita Dunn The staffing shakeup at the press office comes as the White House is making several other staffing moves in preparation for a possible Republican takeover of the Capitol in the midterm elections . One of Biden’s closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as her team also bolsters the White House counsel’s office, given that Republicans have promised to launch a series of investigations if they regain control. most. Dunn will permanently leave her consulting firm, SKDK, people familiar with the matter told CNN. She will no longer be a partner in the firm or be listed on the company’s website, people familiar with the matter said. While Dunn no longer owns a piece of the company after it was sold in 2015, her role as chief strategist for Biden, former President Barack Obama and many other Democratic elected officials has given SKDK significant prominence in Washington. and beyond. During the presidential campaign and the first months of the Biden administration, Dunn was absent from the firm. But given her new White House role, she will sever ties with the firm, people familiar with the matter say. An official says Dunn will now be a full-time staff member and, as with any other full-time staff member, will sign the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be bound by all ethics and conflict rules. of interests from the White House, including “rigorous advice” on their ethical obligations. CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.