■ Karine Jean-pierre became the first openly gay woman to deliver the White House media briefing.
Jean-pierre is first openly gay woman to take lectern
WASHINGTON — Karine Jeanpierre on Wednesday became the first openly gay woman to deliver the White House media briefing and only the second Black woman in history to take on the role.
Jean-pierre, the White House principal deputy press secretary, had briefed reporters aboard Air Force One, but Wednesday marked her first time before the lectern for a televised briefing.
“It’s a real honor to be standing here today,” Jean-pierre told reporters when asked about her historic turn. “Clearly the president believes that representation matters, and I appreciate him giving me this opportunity.”
Judy Smith, who served as deputy press secretary to President George H.W. Bush in 1991, was the first Black woman to take on the role.
Jean-pierre is seen as a potential successor to current White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who has publicly said she intends to serve in the role for only about a year, and Wednesday’s appearance was seen as an audition of sorts for the job.
Jean-pierre fields media requests and makes frequent appearances for the Biden administration on cable news.
“Today is a big day in the press office and White House. My partner in truth—kjp46 is doing her first full briefing from the podium today making history in her own right. But doing her real justice means also recognizing her talent, her brilliance and her wonderful spirit,” Psaki tweeted.
On Wednesday, like Psaki and generations of White House spokespeople before her, Jean-pierre leaned heavily on a binder full of prepared notes and statements, as she fielded questions on topics including the Tokyo Olympics and the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.