Karine Jean-Pierre Blocks Hostage-Deal Expert from Her White House Briefing

Washington: So, there was quite a stir at the White House recently. Karine Jean-Pierre, the press secretary, held her last briefing, and it didn’t go as smoothly as one might hope. Journalists were pretty upset because she wouldn’t let a national security expert talk about the Israel-Hamas cease-fire. Instead, she turned the whole thing into her “goodbye party.”

People were left waiting for an hour to hear about American hostages being released, but Karine didn’t share any new info. She just kept referring everyone to a background call that was happening while she was up there. It was a bit of a mess, honestly.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan wanted John Kirby, a former press secretary, to step in and share the news right after President Biden announced the deal. But Karine said no, claiming she had her own plans for the briefing. It felt like she was more focused on celebrating herself than on the important news.

She spent nearly an hour dodging questions about the war in Gaza while reporters were eager to learn the names of two U.S. citizens set to be released soon. A few former aides were there, making it feel like a reunion, but it was frustrating for everyone else.

Some folks thought she might let Kirby speak at the start and then take over, but she really wanted to own the moment. It seemed like a personal win for her, even if it made her look a bit silly.

There’s been some tension between Karine and Kirby, especially since he’s been seen as a strong candidate for her job. Some insiders even said she’s had some temper tantrums about it. It’s a tough spot for the White House, and it sounds like things have been pretty chaotic behind the scenes.

In the end, it was a pretty disappointing farewell for Karine, and many are left wondering how this will affect the administration moving forward.