Karine Jean-Pierre to become White House press secretary, the primary Black and out LGBTQ individual in the position

Jean-Pierre presently serves as the White House's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not only brings the expertise, expertise and integrity needed for this troublesome job, however she will continue to cleared the path in speaking about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American folks," Biden mentioned in a statement, adding that "Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White Home Briefing Room."

Jean-Pierre will formally start following Psaki's final day, which can be Might 13. CNN reported in April that Psaki was planning on leaving her function for one at MSNBC.

Last Might, Jean-Pierre grew to become the second Black woman in historical past to hold the day by day press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications crew since Biden took office and earlier than that was an adviser to his marketing campaign and chief of employees to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

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

"I am nonetheless processing it as a result of, as Jen mentioned, at the prime this is a historic second and it's not misplaced on me. I perceive how necessary it is for so many individuals out there. So many various communities that I stand on their shoulders," Jean-Pierre mentioned.

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

Jean-Pierre also took a second to thank Psaki.

"She has been only a great colleague, a buddy, a mentor, during this past yr and a half and I do not assume I would be right here with out so many individuals, but together with her and he or she is simply only a true strong, superb particular person," Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre is acquainted with her new function. She is usually in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has stuffed in for her for on the lectern and has additionally gaggled with reporters traveling 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 constructive for Covid-19 the day before Biden was scheduled to depart.

Psaki's departure is unsurprising, given she had been public about her plan to go away after one year on the job. Several names had been into consideration to exchange her, together with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has develop into a visible face of the administration in briefings and on cable tv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

At the White Home briefing Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre up to the rostrum along with her and the two women embraced as Psaki went by way of Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the importance of her taking the job.

"I simply want to take the opportunity to rejoice and congratulate my buddy, my colleague, my partner in fact, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White House press secretary," Psaki advised reporters on the White Home.

She added: "She will be the first black woman, the primary out LGBTQ+ person to serve on this role, which is amazing as a result of representation issues and he or she is going to, she will give a voice to so many and allow and show so many what is actually potential once you work laborious, and dream large and that matters, and ... we should always celebrate that."

Psaki additionally elaborated on Jean-Pierre's profession up, describing her as a "remarkable" individual with "many years of experience."

"I just can't wait to see her shine on the podium. So congratulations, and I can not wait to see you deliver your own model, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki stated.

Close Biden adviser returns to White Home

The staffing shakeup in the press workplace comes as the White Home is making several different personnel strikes in preparation for a potential Republican takeover on Capitol Hill within 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 workforce also shores up the White House counsel's workplace, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations if they retake the bulk.

Dunn is completely leaving her consulting firm, SKDK, individuals familiar with the matter tell CNN. She will no longer be a companion within the agency or listed on the corporate's website, folks conversant in the matter say.

Whereas Dunn no longer owns a piece of the firm, after it was offered in 2015, her function as a prime strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and lots of different elected Democratic officials has given SKDK significant prominence in Washington and beyond. In the course of the presidential campaign and the first a number of months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a go away of absence from the firm. But given the brand new role on the White House, people conversant in the matter say, she is severing ties with the agency.

An official says Dunn will now be a full-time workers member, and -- as with every other full-time staff member -- will signal the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be topic to all White House ethics and conflict of interest rules, including "rigorous counseling" on her ethics obligations.

This story has been up to date with further developments on Thursday.

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