Pierre Blocks John Kirby from Podium
- Karine Jean-Pierre has been limiting John Kirby's participation in White House press briefings.
- Reported tensions exist between them regarding speaking time, with Jean-Pierre expressing frustration over her lack of control.
- The decrease in Kirby's podium presence has drawn criticism of Jean-Pierre's communication abilities.
In the United States, newly appointed White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has reportedly been preventing national security spokesperson John Kirby from joining her at press briefings. This situation has arisen amid reported tensions between the two regarding their speaking time during briefings. Jean-Pierre, who is also a senior adviser to President Biden, has expressed frustration over not having control over Kirby's participation, despite the president's desire for both to be present. Following the departure of Anita Dunn, the White House's top communications aide, Jean-Pierre's allowance of Kirby at the podium has significantly decreased, from 55% to just 15%. This shift has drawn criticism from the press, which has labeled Jean-Pierre as a poor communicator, raising questions about her effectiveness in the role. The dynamics between Jean-Pierre and Kirby highlight the complexities of communication within the Biden administration, particularly as Jean-Pierre is the first black woman and openly gay person to serve as press secretary.