In the wake of reports of tension between the two White House officials and John Kirby’s dissatisfaction with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s approach to calling on reporters during his press briefings, John Kirby is reportedly frustrated.
Kirby has appeared alongside Jean-Pierre on a regular basis since the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7.
“Mr. Kirby had privately acknowledged, when asked, that he would one day like to be named press secretary, and he has expressed frustration that Ms. Jean-Pierre picked the reporters who ask him questions at briefings,” a report from the New York Times stated.
On Sunday, Kirby was formally elevated to a position requiring him to coordinate communications among multiple agencies.
Kirby will now hold the position of White House national security advisor, up from deputy assistant to assistant to the president, according to a U.S. official.
Kirby will oversee a small staff operating independently from the press office of the National Security Council in his new position.
“He evinces a clarity and comfort at the lectern that can sometimes elude Ms. Jean-Pierre, 49, a more rote public speaker with less experience tussling with an adversarial press,” the Times report continued.
According to the New York Times, Jean-Pierre occupied the press briefing lectern for approximately “half the time” on Friday, following White House Counsel Ian Sams’ address to reporters and responses to inquiries regarding Biden’s memory.
January saw ongoing tensions between Jean-Pierre and Kirby, according to Axios.
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