White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby of the National Security Council often share the spotlight during media briefings, but things are reportedly far from ideal.
A Growing Divide
According to White House insiders speaking to Axios, there’s an underlying discord between Press Secretary Jean-Pierre and John Kirby. This situation gains significance as President Biden prepares for a demanding re-election campaign, with his principal spokespersons divided.
Dual Roles, Singular Discord
The setup, effectively creating two press secretaries – one for domestic policy and another for international matters – is partly the root of their conflict, especially regarding their respective time at the podium.
Rising Star in Biden’s Team
Kirby, a key figure in the Biden administration, has expressed his aspirations to be White House Press Secretary one day. Conversely, Jean-Pierre, committed to her current role, intends to stay on through the election and beyond, especially since President Biden has urged her to stay.
Tension or Teamwork?
A White House official, however, contradicts the notion of Kirby openly seeking the press secretary role. The sharing of the podium in the White House press room between Jean-Pierre and Kirby has become more frequent since the onset of the Middle East war in October, intensifying existing tensions that have been simmering since the spring of 2022 following Jen Psaki’s departure.
Why Kirby?
Their shared appearances at the podium are driven by President Biden’s preference. Kirby’s growing influence, both in the public eye and behind the scenes, is partly due to his deepening connection with the president. Reports say Biden often seeks Kirby out for personal briefings.
A Rare Occurrence
In a notable shift, senior adviser Anita Dunn has extended Kirby’s travel to include domestic trips on Air Force One beyond his international duties. Since the Oct. 7 attack, out of more than 30 press events, Jean-Pierre has only led a single solo briefing – a gaggle.
Kirby was present almost everywhere
Except for three instances where she was accompanied by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (once due to Kirby’s illness), Kirby has been present at all other briefings she conducted.
Mega MAGA Mention
Adding to the complexity is Jean-Pierre’s track record of stirring up issues for the White House. In June, the Office of Special Counsel concluded that Jean-Pierre’s repeated mention of “mega MAGA Republicans” in anticipation of the 2022 midterms violated the Hatch Act, which curbs federal employees’ involvement in political activities influencing elections.
Nevertheless, the agency took no further action, citing that White House lawyers contended her comments were not violating the act.
Backlash Hits
Jean-Pierre faced significant backlash for her response in an Oct. 23 press briefing about the increase of antisemitism in the US. She initially stated the White House hadn’t seen “any credible threats” against Jews, quickly shifting focus to hate crimes against Muslims and Arab Americans.
She later clarified to Fox News Digital that she misunderstood the question and firmly denounced the “repulsive increase in antisemitic rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and hate crimes in our nation,” labeling it “a rising threat.”
Frustration Grows
This has led some White House aides to perceive Jean-Pierre’s approach as an indication of her feeling insecure. Notably, when present at briefings, Sullivan takes the initiative to call on reporters himself, a practice that started during Psaki’s time as press secretary.
Are Klain and Dunn to Blame?
Looking at the broader picture, a significant number of current and former Biden officials lay the blame for the tension on Klain and Dunn. They suggest that the unusual organizational structure is detrimental to both Jean-Pierre and Kirby, fostering the prevailing tension.
“They talk all the time”
Speaking to The Post, a White House official with close ties to Jean-Pierre and Kirby dismissed the notion of any friction between them. “As someone who spends more time ‘behind closed doors’ with both of them than just about any other person, I don’t recognize this description of their relationship at all, ”the official remarked.
They further emphasized that the reality is quite the contrary, noting, “They talk all the time and have a collegial and collaborative rapport.”
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