There is reported tension and infighting between White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council’s John Kirby regarding their roles and control during press briefings.
The situation escalated after terror attacks against Israel, with disagreements over who calls on reporters and selects questioners.
Some believe Jean-Pierre’s control is due to insecurity, while others see it as undermining her.
“Jean-Pierre’s defenders say the arrangement undermined her from the beginning and made a difficult job harder. Some Black Democrats in the administration and on Capitol Hill say the situation was insulting because it suggested that the first Black press secretary to represent the president needed supervision,” Axios wrote.
President Biden mandated Kirby to join Jean-Pierre’s team, causing frustration.
“Ron Klain, then the White House chief of staff, met with Jean-Pierre to try to smooth things over and reassure her that she was the press secretary,” the report added.
