White House reporter has predictable reaction to criticism of Karine Jean-Pierre: 'Disrespect toward black women'

Journalist April Ryan suggested recently that criticism of White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is rooted in racism.

The New York Times reported this week on a behind-the-scenes power struggle between Jean-Pierre and John Kirby, which Axios first highlighted last month.

From the Times:

Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, Ms. Jean-Pierre has yielded the spotlight to a lower-ranking official, John F. Kirby. For months, Mr. Kirby has regularly co-hosted her daily briefings, often fielding more questions from journalists than she does, and appeared more frequently on major political news programs as the administration’s spokesperson.

The New York Times framed the struggle as one about race and gender. Jean-Pierre is a black, gay woman, while Kirby is a white, straight man. The Times claimed the "perception" in Washington is that Biden has "allowed" Kirby to "upstage" Jean-Pierre.

As evidence to support that assertion, the Times cited the fact that Kirby now travels with President Joe Biden on domestic and international trips, whereas he previously only accompanied the president internationally. The outlet also highlighted Kirby's recent promotion to assistant to the president (with the title of "White House national security communications adviser"), the most-senior job grade in the West Wing.

Still, the Times noted the problems with Jean-Pierre's "growing pains."

Not only is Jean-Pierre "reliant on talking points from her briefing binder," but the Times highlighted her credibility issues. Additionally, she is criticized for her rambling answers in the briefing room, her lack of transparency, and her inability to answer direct questions with substantive answers.

Kirby, on the other hand, is more "illuminating and accessible behind the scenes," according to the Times.

Despite all of the evidence suggesting that Kirby is more capable of dealing with the press in a public-facing role, Ryan, a longtime White House correspondent, denounced what the Times described as "gossip" about tension between Kirby and Jean-Pierre.

Ryan's comments, moreover, suggested that criticism of Jean-Pierre is akin to disrespecting black women.

"That's a white male-dominated space, and I've had my share of foolishness from that building," Ryan told the newspaper. "I'm hypersensitive to disrespect toward black women, because I know what that feels like and smells like."

Jean-Pierre and Kirby responded to the story by issuing statements praising each other.

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