(DailyChive.com) – Karine Jean-Pierre, the current White House press secretary, was promoted to senior adviser to President Biden on Monday. She will continue her role as press secretary while taking on this new responsibility. This marks the first time in decades that someone has held both positions at once.
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients spoke highly of Jean-Pierre’s new role, saying, “Karine has been a trusted advisor to the President and all of us here at the White House since day one. Her counsel will be critical to getting as much done as possible for the American people in the coming months.” According to Zients, this promotion highlights her value within the administration.
An unnamed White House official also commented on how the move reflects Biden’s faith in Jean-Pierre and his dedication to having a diverse team guide his decisions.
However, not everyone in Washington has been so complimentary. Earlier this year, rumors circulated that there were efforts inside the White House to push Jean-Pierre out of her position as press secretary. Reports suggested that some senior advisers, including Zients and Anita Dunn, were looking for someone else to take her place.
Critics claimed that Jean-Pierre relied too much on notes during her briefings and didn’t always seem fully prepared to answer challenging questions. One anonymous source said, “She doesn’t have an understanding of the issues,” despite Jean-Pierre believing she was doing a good job.
However, Deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates strongly denied these claims. He said the rumors were “wildly false” and that both Zients and Dunn have been completely supportive of Jean-Pierre. Bates added that it’s normal for press secretaries to use notes, and it’s unfair to single her out for doing so.
Since taking the job in May 2022, Jean-Pierre has had some difficult interactions with the press, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like President Biden’s age and health. Despite this, her role in the administration has only grown.
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