Karine Jean-Pierre to become White House press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ particular person within the function

Jean-Pierre currently serves as the White House's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not only brings the experience, expertise and integrity wanted for this tough job, however she is going to proceed to prepared the ground in communicating in regards to the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American individuals," Biden said in a press release, adding that "Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally start following Psaki's final day, which will probably be Might 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki was planning on leaving her function for one at MSNBC.

Last May, Jean-Pierre turned the second Black girl in historical past to hold the every day press briefing. She has served on the White Home's senior communications crew since Biden took workplace and earlier than that was an adviser to his campaign and chief of employees to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's family contains her companion, CNN nationwide correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I am nonetheless processing it as a result of, as Jen mentioned, at the prime this is a historic second and it is not misplaced on me. I perceive how essential it's for so many people on the market. So many various communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre stated.

She added: "It is an honor and a privilege to be behind this podium."

Jean-Pierre additionally took a second to thank Psaki.

"She has been just a wonderful colleague, a buddy, a mentor, during this previous year and a half and I do not assume I would be right here without so many individuals, however including her and he or she is just only a true stable, superb particular person," Jean-Pierre stated.

Jean-Pierre is aware of her new function. She is commonly in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has filled in for her for at the lectern and has additionally gaggled with reporters touring with Biden on Air Force One. Not too long ago, she replaced Psaki at the final minute for Biden's four-day trip to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki examined positive for Covid-19 the day before Biden was scheduled to go away.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to leave after one 12 months on the job. Several names had been under consideration to switch her, including Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has change into a visual face of the administration in briefings and on cable tv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

At the White House briefing Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre as much as the podium together with her and the 2 women embraced as Psaki went via Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the significance of her taking the job.

"I simply want to take the opportunity to have fun and congratulate my buddy, my colleague, my partner in reality, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White Home press secretary," Psaki informed reporters at the White Home.

She added: "She will be the first black girl, the first out LGBTQ+ individual to serve in this role, which is wonderful as a result of representation matters and she or he is going to, she's going to give a voice to so many and allow and show so many what is really attainable if you work exhausting, and dream big and that issues, and ... we should always have fun that."

Psaki additionally elaborated on Jean-Pierre's profession up, describing her as a "remarkable" person with "a long time of experience."

"I simply cannot wait to see her shine on the podium. So congratulations, and I can't wait to see you carry your personal type, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki mentioned.

Close Biden adviser returns to White House

The staffing shakeup in the press office comes because the White House is making several other personnel strikes in preparation for a possible Republican takeover on Capitol Hill within the midterm elections. One of Biden's closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as his workforce also shores up the White Home counsel's workplace, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations if they retake the bulk.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting firm, SKDK, folks familiar with the matter tell CNN. She is going to now not be a companion in the agency or listed on the company's website, people conversant in the matter say.

Whereas Dunn no longer owns a chunk of the agency, after it was sold in 2015, her role as a prime strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and many different elected Democratic officials has given SKDK vital prominence in Washington and beyond. Through the presidential marketing campaign and the primary several months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a leave of absence from the agency. But given the brand new role at the White Home, people familiar with the matter say, she is severing ties with the agency.

An official says Dunn will now be a full-time staff member, and -- as with any different full-time staff member -- will sign the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be topic to all White House ethics and battle of curiosity guidelines, together with "rigorous counseling" on her ethics obligations.

This story has been updated with further developments on Thursday.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.