By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-jen-psaki-holds-final-news-briefing-as-white-house-press-secretary Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Psaki says farewell as press secretary in last briefing Politics Updated on May 13, 2022 5:50 PM EDT — Published on May 13, 2022 11:24 AM EDT White House press secretary Jen Psaki bid an emotional farewell to the White House and the press corps Friday on her last day as President Joe Biden’s spokesperson. Watch the White House press briefing stream live in the player above Psaki is leaving the White House after having answered reporters’ questions nearly every weekday of the almost 500 days that Biden has been in office. That makes her a top White House communicator and perhaps the administration’s most public face after only Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Her briefings have come to be seen as professional and typically congenial, though they could turn pointed in a hurry. Psaki told reporters Friday that when she took the job, she and Biden discussed the “importance of returning integrity, respect and civility to the White House.” “That does not mean that we haven’t let our Irish side show, mine and the president’s, as well from time to time. I recognize that. But on my best days and as I look back, I hope I followed the example of integrity and grace that they have set for all of us and do that for all of us every day,” she said. Psaki also thanked the press corps for working to ensure the nation’s democracy is alive and well. “I want to thank all of you in this room. You have challenged me. You have pushed me. You have debated me. And at times we have disagreed. That is democracy in action. That is it working. Without accountability, without debate, government is not as strong,” she said. Succeeding Psaki is her deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre. She’ll be the first Black woman and openly LGBTQ person to be White House press secretary. Psaki hasn’t denied reports she’s heading to MSBNC. By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press
White House press secretary Jen Psaki bid an emotional farewell to the White House and the press corps Friday on her last day as President Joe Biden’s spokesperson. Watch the White House press briefing stream live in the player above Psaki is leaving the White House after having answered reporters’ questions nearly every weekday of the almost 500 days that Biden has been in office. That makes her a top White House communicator and perhaps the administration’s most public face after only Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Her briefings have come to be seen as professional and typically congenial, though they could turn pointed in a hurry. Psaki told reporters Friday that when she took the job, she and Biden discussed the “importance of returning integrity, respect and civility to the White House.” “That does not mean that we haven’t let our Irish side show, mine and the president’s, as well from time to time. I recognize that. But on my best days and as I look back, I hope I followed the example of integrity and grace that they have set for all of us and do that for all of us every day,” she said. Psaki also thanked the press corps for working to ensure the nation’s democracy is alive and well. “I want to thank all of you in this room. You have challenged me. You have pushed me. You have debated me. And at times we have disagreed. That is democracy in action. That is it working. Without accountability, without debate, government is not as strong,” she said. Succeeding Psaki is her deputy, Karine Jean-Pierre. She’ll be the first Black woman and openly LGBTQ person to be White House press secretary. Psaki hasn’t denied reports she’s heading to MSBNC.