Karine Jean-Pierre Holds First WH Briefing As New WH Press Secy

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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during her first press briefing as press secretary at the White House in Washington, Monday, May 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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History was made on Monday as Karine Jean-Pierre assumed the role of White House press secretary, taking over for Jen Psaki who announced she was stepping down earlier this month. Jean-Pierre took the opportunity to acknowledge the historic moment.

I am obviously acutely aware that my presence at this podium represents a few firsts. I am a Black, gay, immigrant woman–the first of all three of those to hold this position.

Karine Jean-Pierre

“How honored I am to be here with all of you today, in this role, in this room, standing behind this podium. I am obviously acutely aware that my presence at this podium represents a few firsts. I am a Black, gay, immigrant woman–the first of all three of those to hold this position,” stated Jean-Pierre.

“I would not be here today if it were not for generations of barrier-breaking people before me. Representation does matter. You hear us say this often in this administration and no one understands this better than President Biden. Which is why his administration is not only the most diverse in history, it is filled with barrier-breaking women and men from the vice-president, to the cabinet secretaries, to his Supreme Court nominee, to senior staff throughout this administration.”

Click ▶️ to listen to AURN Washington Correspondent Ebony McMorris’s report: 

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