US President in distress - The Biden cleaner: The thankless job of spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre
The next swing in military aid has brought the US government closer to introducing new overtime regulations for workers, as well as some adjustments in gas prices. Regarding Caribbean Hurricane "Beryl," the President, of course, is on standby. A court ruling on liquid gas is not pleasant either.
Karine Jean-Pierre is working courageously on these current issues, topics of success, and concerns – only to then have to speak about the elephant in the room a few minutes later: Joe Biden's botched TV debate. His age. His performance. His future as a presidential candidate.
Her tone shifts from casual to slightly irritated
Within a few days, the waging US President has become a presidential campaign problem. The Press Secretary of the White House doesn't mind admitting this. Her otherwise casual and focused tone shifts into a slightly irritated sing-song whenever the first question of the daily press briefing comes up again about Biden's botched TV debate. About his age. His performance. His future as a presidential candidate.
Jean-Pierre, 49 and in office for two years, takes a deep breath, leans on the podium, and begins her statements. With each day that the discussions become more heated, she provides more detailed explanations.
Even as the nation watched in disbelief as their President froze on live TV during a debate with Donald Trump, losing focus and appearing anything but leadership material, the White House spoke of an illness that weakened the President. Later, Biden himself admitted to feeling tired.
And now it was Jean-Pierre's turn to explain how it all came to this. The Press Secretary named various flights over different time zones at certain intervals, conferences, interviews, and pleaded for understanding that the 81-year-old Biden might not function optimally under this workload in a "critical moment." "I'm just giving explanations," she said on a Wednesday. Anyone who wanted could hear in her tone a hint of agreement with all the outrage over her boss and the demands that he step aside for someone else.
Karine Jean-Pierre, the second Black woman in the position
Of course, nothing about this would ever come from her lips, Jean-Pierre is a professional. "She brings the experience, talent, and integrity required for this challenging task," Joe Biden said about her when he appointed her his Press Secretary in the spring of 2022. She is the second Black woman to lead the Journalist Briefing at the White House. Thirty years ago, it was Judy Smith who supported the then US President George Bush senior as his deputy Press Secretary.
Although their job is public, press secretaries and spokespersons in the non-American world rarely play a role. An exception was the tenure of Donald Trump, who forced his representatives to sell blatant nonsense to the public. Sean Spicer, for example, became known for exaggerating the size of the crowd at Trump's inauguration. And the last Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, had no qualms about defending the most absurd untruths of the ex-President with a straight face.
Just as with previous incidents, it is important for Karine Jean-Pierre to emphasize "Sincerity and Transparency." This is the way I believe the President wants to communicate with the American people, she said a few years ago.
Unusually openly, Jean-Pierre also deals with her homosexuality – in political Washington, still a major exception in 2024. Few American politicians, male or female, come out as lesbian or gay. Among them is Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is a cabinet member.
Moreover, Jean-Pierre adds another significant diversity criterion. She is an immigrant child who made it all the way to the top: Born on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, the daughter of Haitians, she grew up in New York City and worked for Vice President Kamala Harris and Barack Obama.
She denied ever having doubts in her life about getting a position like the current one. "I simply worked hard for it," she said once succinctly.
- Despite the ongoing discussions about gas prices and military aid regulations, President Biden is prepared to address any issues related to Caribbean Hurricane "Beryl."
- Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, has shifted her tone from casual to slightly irritated when addressing questions about Joe Biden's botched TV debate, focusing on his age, performance, and future as a presidential candidate.
- In response to criticism, Jean-Pierre explained Biden's reported struggles during the TV debate, citing factors such as his age, health issues, and demanding campaign schedule.
- As the second Black woman to lead the Journalist Briefing at the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, a lesbian immigrant from Martinique, has highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the political sphere.
- Despite the challenges and criticisms, Jean-Pierre remains dedicated to her role as White House Press Secretary, advocating for "Sincerity and Transparency" in the communication between the President and the American people.
