Biden names first black press secretary

US PRESIDENT Joe Biden has named Karine Jean-pierre as the next White House press secretary, making her the first black woman and openly LGBT person to serve in the role.

The incumbent Jen Psaki is set to leave the post next Friday.

The press secretary is responsible for holding daily briefings with the news media and leading a department of more than a dozen staff who help address queries from the press.

Ms Jean-pierre takes on the role as the White House faces an uphill battle to help the Democrats hold on to the US House and Senate in this autumn’s mid-term elections, with the Biden administration struggling to address Americans’ concerns about soaring inflation and the state of the economy.

She also comes into the job as Mr Biden faces foreign policy challenges, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s escalating nuclear testing programme.

Ms Jean-pierre has served as his principal deputy press secretary since Inauguration Day.

Taking the lectern briefly while Ms Psaki briefed the press on Thursday, Ms Jean-pierre said she was “still processing” the significance of her appointment, calling it “an honour and privilege to be behind this podium”.

Before joining the Biden presidential campaign, Ms Jeanpierre was the chief public affairs officer of the progressive group Moveon.org and an ex-political analyst for NBC and MSNBC. She also worked in political affairs in the Obama White House and on his re-election campaign.