Karine Jean-Pierre to change into White House press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ individual within the function

Jean-Pierre at the moment serves because the White House's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not solely brings the expertise, expertise and integrity wanted for this troublesome job, but she's going to continue to lead the way in speaking concerning the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American individuals," Biden stated in a statement, including that "Jen Psaki has set the usual for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White Home Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally begin following Psaki's last day, which might 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 woman in history to carry the daily press briefing. She has served on the White Home's senior communications workforce since Biden took workplace and before that was an adviser to his marketing campaign and chief of workers to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's household contains her partner, CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I am nonetheless processing it as a result of, as Jen said, at the top it is a historic second and it's not lost on me. I perceive how necessary it's for therefore many people on the market. So many various communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre said.

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

Jean-Pierre also took a moment to thank Psaki.

"She has been only a wonderful colleague, a pal, a mentor, throughout this previous yr and a half and I do not assume I might be right here without so many individuals, however together with her and she is simply only a true solid, superb individual," Jean-Pierre mentioned.

Jean-Pierre is accustomed to her new role. She is often in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has filled in for her for on the lectern and has also gaggled with reporters touring with Biden on Air Power One. Not too long ago, she changed Psaki at the final minute for Biden's four-day trip to Europe amid the Russian invasion after Psaki tested positive for Covid-19 the day earlier than Biden was scheduled to leave.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to leave after one yr on the job. Several names had been into account to replace her, together with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has turn into a visible face of the administration in briefings and on cable television since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

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

"I simply wish to take the chance to have a good time and congratulate my friend, my colleague, my associate in truth, Karine Jean-Pierre, the subsequent White Home press secretary," Psaki instructed reporters at the White House.

She added: "She would be the first black woman, the primary out LGBTQ+ particular person to serve on this position, which is amazing as a result of illustration issues and she or he is going to, she's going to give a voice to so many and allow and present so many what is truly attainable whenever you work hard, and dream big and that matters, and ... we should rejoice that."

Psaki also elaborated on Jean-Pierre's profession up, describing her as a "remarkable" person with "many years of expertise."

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

Shut Biden adviser returns to White Home

The staffing shakeup in the press office comes because the White House is making a number of other personnel moves in preparation for a possible Republican takeover on Capitol Hill in the midterm elections. One in every of Biden's closest advisers, Anita Dunn, will return to the West Wing as a senior adviser, as his group additionally shores up the White House counsel's workplace, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations in the event that they retake the majority.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting agency, SKDK, folks accustomed to the matter inform CNN. She is going to not be a associate in the agency or listed on the corporate's website, folks familiar with the matter say.

While Dunn not owns a bit of the agency, after it was bought in 2015, her position as a high strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and many different elected Democratic officers has given SKDK vital prominence in Washington and beyond. During the presidential marketing campaign and the primary several months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a go away of absence from the agency. However given the new role on the White Home, folks conversant in 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 all 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 additional developments on Thursday.

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