Biden Team Hold Their Last Press Briefing
On Thursday, Karine Jean-Pierre wrapped up her tenure as press secretary under the Biden administration, marking the final of 537 press briefings conducted during the past four years. Jean-Pierre, who personally led 306 of these briefings, delivered a heartfelt farewell from the podium, acknowledging both the significance of the press and the role it plays in the preservation of democracy.
In her emotional remarks, Jean-Pierre reflected on the Biden White House’s commitment to transparency, highlighting that the first press briefing took place on Inauguration Day, a move that underscored President Biden’s pledge to keep the American people informed. “We had the first briefing on Inauguration Day because President Joe Biden wanted to make clear the importance of daily briefings and the vital role that the press plays in our democracy,” she said, reinforcing the administration’s desire for consistent and open communication.
Her tenure has been marked by a significant shift in White House press dynamics. The Biden administration restored the daily press briefing routine, something largely absent during the Trump administration. Under former President Donald Trump, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, press briefings were often irregular, and Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s first press secretary, famously did not hold a single on-camera briefing. Kayleigh McEnany, who succeeded her, held sporadic briefings, but they became less frequent as the pandemic wore on.
With Jean-Pierre stepping down, the Biden White House is preparing for the transition to the next generation of communications leadership. Karoline Leavitt, the incoming press secretary for the Trump campaign, is poised to make history as the youngest person ever to serve in the role. Leavitt has already expressed a desire to shake up the traditional structure of the briefing room and give more access to non-traditional media outlets, indicating a potential shift back toward a more accessible and diverse approach.
Jean-Pierre’s departure signifies the closing of a chapter for Biden’s press operations and sets the stage for the future under a potential second term.
