In yet another refreshing return to normalcy and decency in the White House, President Joe Biden’s White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki put all of former President Donald Trump’s press secretaries to absolute shame.
Trump told over 30,000 lies during his time in office and his press secretaries may have combined for more during a four year stretch that saw them lie repeatedly to the American people, push propaganda, and turn the briefing room into a hostile environment, which is why Forbes is warning companies not to hire them.
As soon as Psaki stepped into the room for her first press conference on Wednesday after the inauguration ceremony, it was immediately clear that those days are over.
“There will be times when we see things differently in this room…That’s okay. That’s part of our democracy, and rebuilding trust with the American people will be central to our focus in the press office,” Psaki announced in her opening remarks.
Psaki brings experience to the podium she now stands behind. She served as White House communications director and as a State Department spokesperson, making her more qualified for the position than all of the four previous press secretaries combined.
After speaking briefly, Psaki took several questions from members of the press. She was kind, patient, truthful, and respectful. She did not criticize the press or talk down to anyone. She didn’t go out of her way to heap praise on her boss either. She simply answered questions the best she could and welcomed reporters to return five days a week Monday-Friday for daily press briefings, something that hasn’t happened regularly in four years. It was a refreshing briefing that only lasted for 30 minutes due to evening Inauguration Day events, but it enough to convey the message that change is here.
Here’s the video via C-SPAN:
Twitter users certainly enjoyed the desperately needed change.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says she plans to hold daily White House briefings Monday through Friday.
What a change.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 21, 2021
Jen Psaki is a REAL Press Secretary.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) January 21, 2021
Jen Psaki is the perfect person for this role at this moment. Deeply experienced, instinctively kind, and able to make government accessible and understandable
— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) January 21, 2021
Jen Psaki has undone 4 years of media terror in 5 minutes. pic.twitter.com/c9WAXp0yAc
— ReallyAmerican.com 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) January 21, 2021
I can tell you from experience it’s not an easy job to stand at that podium especially your first time. @jrpsaki made it look easy.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) January 21, 2021
.@jrpsaki respectfully and directly answering journalists’ questions as @PressSec is the democracy Americans need to see.
— Connie Schultz (@ConnieSchultz) January 21, 2021
And @jrpsaki didn’t even need a binder of lies.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 21, 2021
It was definitely a complete 180 from the way Kaleigh McEnany performed as press secretary. Speaking of McEnany, she announced she left notes to Biden’s incoming communications team, as if they need any notes from her (They don’t.).
Wishing all the best to President @JoeBiden’s incoming press & communications team.
Left these notes for @PressSec, @K_JeanPierre, @SymoneDSanders & @KBeds — sending my prayers as you begin your service to the American People! pic.twitter.com/CFsVGSRDiC
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) January 20, 2021
Americans made their feelings about McEnany and her notes explicitly clear.
Seek redemption if it is still attainable for you.
— Joshua MG 🏴☠️ (@jmgeller95) January 20, 2021
Good luck living the rest of your life with intense, crippling shame
— David Cook (@davidcookmusic) January 20, 2021
Fuck — and I cannot stress this enough — all the way off.
— McDaryl Mateo (@McDaryl) January 20, 2021
Are these real notes or props? One never knows with you.
— Kara The Democrat (@KaraDemocrat) January 20, 2021
Transparency and respect are back in the White House and the White House Press Room. And more importantly, Biden and his team will actually be doing their jobs. It’s what Americans deserve from their government officials.
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