New White House press secretary is first black and openly LGBT woman in role

US President Joe Biden has named Karine Jean-Pierre as the next White House press secretary – the first black woman and openly LGBT person to serve in the role.

The incumbent Jen Psaki is set to leave the post next week.

Ms Jean-Pierre takes on the role as the White House faces an uphill battle to help the Democrats hold onto the US House and Senate in this autumn’s mid-term elections, with the Biden administration struggling to address Americans’ concerns about soaring inflation and the state of the economy.

She also comes into the job as Mr Biden faces a daunting array of foreign policy challenges, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s escalating nuclear testing programme.

Mr Biden is set to visit South Korea and Japan later this month and Europe in June.

He is also bringing back long-time Democratic strategist Anita Dunn as his senior adviser.

She had served in the White House last year for several months after Mr Biden was sworn into office.

Ms Psaki, who leaves the White House on May 13, praised her successor as a “partner in truth”, noting the significance of the history-making appointment.

“Representation matters and she is going to give a voice to so many and show so many what is truly possible when you work hard and dream big,” Ms Psaki said.

Taking the lectern briefly while Ms Psaki briefed the press on Thursday, Ms Jean-Pierre said she was “still processing” the significance of her appointment, calling it “an honour and privilege to be behind this podium”.

Ms Psaki said Mr Biden offered the job to Ms Jean-Pierre on Thursday in the Oval Office.

White House staffers were gathered after the offer and greeted Ms Jean-Pierre with applause and champagne, an official said.

She travelled with Mr Biden to Europe last fall and in March instead of Ms Psaki, who had tested positive for Covid-19 before both trips.

Before joining the Biden presidential campaign, Ms Jean-Pierre was the chief public affairs officer of the progressive group MoveOn.org and a former political analyst for NBC and MSNBC.

She also worked in political affairs in the Obama White House and on his re-election campaign.

The press secretary is responsible for holding daily briefings with the news media and leading a department of more than a dozen staff who help address queries from the press.

When she took the job, Ms Psaki, who has two young children, said publicly she aimed to remain in the job for about a year.

Mr Biden said Ms Psaki “has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House briefing room”.

He said: “I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humour while doing so.

“I thank Jen for her service to the country, and wish her the very best as she moves forward.”