Karine Jean-Pierre to change into White Home press secretary, the first Black and out LGBTQ person within the position

Jean-Pierre at present serves as the White Home's principal deputy press secretary.

"Karine not solely brings the experience, expertise and integrity needed for this difficult job, however she will proceed to cleared the path in communicating in regards to the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people," Biden said in a statement, adding that "Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House Briefing Room."

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

Last Might, Jean-Pierre became the second Black girl in history to hold the each day press briefing. She has served on the White House's senior communications team since Biden took office and before that was an adviser to his marketing campaign and chief of employees to now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jean-Pierre's family consists of her companion, CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, and their daughter.

"I'm nonetheless processing it as a result of, as Jen said, on the top this is a historic second and it is not lost on me. I understand how necessary it is for so many individuals out there. So many alternative 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 additionally took a moment to thank Psaki.

"She has been just a wonderful colleague, a buddy, a mentor, during this previous yr and a half and I don't suppose I would be right here without so many individuals, however including her and she or he is just only a true stable, superb individual," Jean-Pierre said.

Jean-Pierre is conversant in her new function. She is usually in the room when Psaki briefs reporters, has crammed in for her for on the lectern and has also gaggled with reporters traveling with Biden on Air Drive One. Just lately, she changed Psaki on the last minute for Biden's four-day journey 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 year on the job. A number of names had been into account to interchange her, together with Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who has turn into a visual face of the administration in briefings and on cable tv since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

On the White House briefing Thursday, a visibly moved Psaki invited Jean-Pierre up to the podium with her and the two ladies embraced as Psaki went by Jean-Pierre's qualifications and the importance of her taking the job.

"I just wish to take the opportunity to have a good time and congratulate my friend, my colleague, my partner in fact, Karine Jean-Pierre, the next White Home press secretary," Psaki instructed reporters on the White Home.

She added: "She would be the first black woman, the first out LGBTQ+ particular person to serve in this role, which is wonderful as a result of representation issues and she goes to, she's going to give a voice to so many and allow and show so many what is truly possible whenever you work exhausting, and dream large and that issues, and ... we must always rejoice that."

Psaki additionally elaborated on Jean-Pierre's career up, describing her as a "exceptional" particular person with "many years of experience."

"I simply can't wait to see her shine at the podium. So congratulations, and I am unable to wait to see you bring your own style, and brilliance, to this job, " Psaki mentioned.

Shut Biden adviser returns to White House

The staffing shakeup in the press office comes because the White House is making a number of different personnel moves in preparation for a possible Republican takeover on Capitol Hill within the midterm elections. One among 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 office, given Republicans have promised to launch a slew of investigations if they retake the majority.

Dunn is permanently leaving her consulting agency, SKDK, people acquainted with the matter tell CNN. She is going to now not be a partner in the agency or listed on the company's web site, individuals aware of the matter say.

While Dunn no longer owns a bit of the firm, after it was bought in 2015, her function as a prime strategist to Biden, former President Barack Obama and plenty of other elected Democratic officials has given SKDK significant prominence in Washington and past. Through the presidential marketing campaign and the first a number of months of the Biden administration, Dunn took a depart of absence from the agency. But given the brand new position on the White Home, people aware of 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 any other full-time employees member -- will signal the ethics pledge, file an OGE 278 and be topic to all White Home ethics and conflict of interest guidelines, together with "rigorous counseling" on her ethics obligations.

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

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