White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Symbolizes a Return to Respect
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki addressed the press for the first time with a promise to bring “truth and transparency,” returning the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to its former glory.
A part of President Joe Biden’s transition team, Psaki is the 34th White House Press Secretary. She follows a divisive and hostile run of former press secretaries from the Trump Administration – Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany.
Where the former press secretaries would lie about inauguration crowd size or deflect from negative attention towards the president, Psaki did the complete opposite.
Props to Jen Psaki.
— Liz C., bka “Bama” #BLM #BidenHarris (@bamableu) January 22, 2021
She. Is. On. Point.
She did not lie. She did not exaggerate. She let almost every reported in the room ask a question. She thanked the reporters for doing their job.
She was respectful – she commanded the room but treated reporters with a respect not seen in four years. Not only did Psaki talk to the reporters in the room with decency, but she made sure to address the Americans who were watching at home.
WH Briefings with Jen Psaki are calm, friendly, responsible and informative. A welcome reflection of our new President.
— Michael Grossman (@MichaelArt123) January 22, 2021
This is not something that Psaki learned overnight, but by working alongside Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as part of their transition team. Before this role, Psaki worked on campaigns for former Senator Tom Hawkins and former Secretary of Agriculture (and Biden’s current nominee) Tom Vilsack. She was also former Secretary of State John Kerry’s deputy press secretary when he ran for president.
I love this. Everyone has must feel the difference #WHPressBriefing environment compare to previous one.
— Shafayat Hossain (@Shuvo17) January 22, 2021
It is so much better!! We can hope and believe. @WHPressSec@jrpsaki #believeinyou
Former President Barack Obama hired Psaki as his traveling press secretary during his presidential campaign. When he won, Psaki became Deputy Press Secretary and later Deputy Communications Director. After leaving the White House to join a public relations firm, Global Strategy Group, Psaki reunited with Obama on his second presidential campaign as his press secretary. She then became the spokesperson for the United States Department of State before returning to the White House as the communications director.
After former President Donald Trump took office, Psaki worked at CNN appearing as one of the cable company’s political commentators. Psaki’s non-combative style echoes, what should be normal – the press is not the enemy of the state. She seeks to regain the trust of the reporters in the room and around the country, as well as the millions of Americans across the nation, not with force, but by doing her job well.
Writer | Tweet me @Emily_N_Wolfe
