Press conferences called by "KJP," as she's known, are highly scripted affairs, with her nose stuck in her binder of prepared statements, starting every answer with some form of "look," and peppering her answers with multiple uses of the phrase "as you know." It exasperates the Washington press corps and, at times, has gotten a bit testy with the press secretary shutting down some reporters' questions with responses such as "I'm done with you, right now."
The New York Post reported Friday that the White House is dissatisfied with KJP as well. Top aides to the president hatched a plan, according to the Post, to nudge her out the door by getting her an offer to head EMILY's List, a pro-abortion political action committee, but she declined. They can't move her out because, again from the Post, there's a "huge diversity issue."
Don Irvine of Accuracy in Media points out KJP is the first black and openly gay press secretary – and the liberal mantra "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) trumps all.
"Being a black woman, being gay – there isn't anybody who wants to try to go and remove her because of repercussions," Irvine tells AFN.
And her shortcomings as the WH press secretary, he says, constitute a major obstacle for the Biden campaign heading into an election. "They're coming up on election here, and you need a strong spokesperson for the White House to defend all these things that are going on – and she can't do it," Irvine argues.
The Post quotes an unnamed WH source who contends Jean-Pierre doesn't spend the time or effort needed to "have a grasp" key issues or memorize the talking points. Irvine agrees with that assessment.
"People in this position should be better prepared. They should really know their job," he says. "They should really study the issues and everything like this and know exactly what the talking points really should be."
The White House has denied any "secret plot" to remove KJP, saying they expect her to stick to her plan to remain in the position through the election.
