Karine Jean-Pierre held her first briefing as White House press secretary on Monday, observing that her ascension to the role of President Joe Biden’s chief spokesperson broke race and sexual-orientation barriers.
“I am obviously acutely aware that my presence at this podium represents a few firsts,” Jean-Pierre told reporters. “I am a Black gay immigrant woman, the first of all three of those to hold this position.”
Jean-Pierre, 47, is both the first Black person and openly LGBTQ person to hold the position. The daughter of Haitian parents, she was born in Martinique and raised in New York.
Jean-Pierre served as former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s principal deputy until Psaki’s resignation on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}Jean-Pierre served as former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s principal deputy until Psaki’s resignation on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}“I would not be here today if it were not for generations of barrier-breaking people before me. I stand on their shoulders,” she said, adding, “representation does matter.”
Jean-Pierre will be the seventh woman to hold the post. Dee Dee Myers, President Bill Clinton’s first press secretary, was the first woman to serve in the job.