White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been elevated to the position of senior adviser.
Washington DC [US], October 8: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has been elevated to the role of senior adviser to the President, as announced by the administration on Monday.
"Karine has been a trusted advisor to the President and all of us here at the White House since day one. Her guidance will be essential in achieving as much as possible for the American people in the coming months," stated Jeff Zients, the president's chief of staff.
Zients emphasized that Jean-Pierre's insights will be vital in maximizing progress for the American people in the near future.
Jean-Pierre made history in 2022 when she was appointed as the press secretary, becoming the first Black woman and the first openly gay individual to hold the position.
During a White House press briefing on Tuesday (local time), Jean-Pierre condemned Hamas' "heinous" attack on Israel, marking the one-year anniversary of the event on October 7.
"One year ago, on October 7th, Hamas launched a heinous attack against Israel. On a day that should have been filled with joy during a Jewish holiday, Hamas terrorists crossed the border from Gaza into Israel and murdered over 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, at a music festival," she stated.
"They committed horrific acts of sexual violence. In many instances, these terrorists recorded their acts of brutality and violence, chillingly documenting the unspeakable atrocities they perpetrated for others to witness," she added.
Jean-Pierre took over as the Biden administration's lead spokesperson for Jen Psaki in May 2022 after Psaki transitioned to a television network position. Prior to this, Jean-Pierre served as the principal deputy press secretary and as a deputy assistant to Biden. She was also chief of staff for then-Senator Kamala Harris during her 2020 vice presidential campaign.
Jean-Pierre, 50, will assume her new responsibilities immediately while continuing her duties as press secretary for the remainder of Biden's administration, marking her as the first press secretary in decades to also hold the title of senior adviser.