For the first time in history the senior communications roles in the White House will be filled entirely by women in efforts towards diversity
President-elect of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Sunday announced they has selected an all-female communications team to serve in their administration.
The selected seven women include Jennifer Psaki, who worked as President Barack Obama’s White House communications director – will serve as Biden’s White House press secretary, Kate Bedingfield who served as Biden’s campaign communications director and will take on the same role in the White House, Symone Sanders, a senior advisor on Biden’s presidential campaign, will be senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Pili Tobar, who was communications director for coalitions on the campaign, has been named deputy White House communications director. Karine Jean-Pierre, who also served as chief of staff to Harris, will serve as principal deputy press secretary.
Ashley Etienne will serve as communications director for the vice president. Elizabeth Alexander takes on the role of communications director for first lady Jill Biden.
According to Harris who is set to become the first female vice president, the newly-announced team is decribed as “experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering.”
They bring a wealth of experience in Washington and close ties to Biden.
“Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House,” Biden said in a statement.
“These qualified, experienced communicators bring diverse perspectives to their work and a shared commitment to building this country back better,” he added.
“Our country is facing unprecedented challenges — from the coronavirus pandemic to the economic crisis, to the climate crisis, and a long-overdue reckoning over racial injustice,” Harris said in a statement. “To overcome these challenges, we need to communicate clearly, honestly, and transparently with the American people, and this experienced, talented, and barrier-shattering team will help us do that.”
The incoming Biden administration plans to bring back the daily press briefing, which the Trump White House did away with amid a contentious relationship with the media, reports say.
