White House press secretary Jen Psaki described how her media briefings can become like 'wrestling alligators' in a profile with Vogue magazine, where she revealed how long she'll stay on the job and why she doesn't like to be called nice.
Photographed by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, the 3,500-word article is featured in the September issue of the fashion magazine, a month after first lady Jill Biden graced the cover.
Psaki, 42, said that President Joe Biden emphasized with her the importance of 'tone' when she took the job as most public face of his administration.
'The first thing he said to me was 'We need to be aligned on tone,' or, really, he needs me to be aligned with him,' she told Vogue. 'He said, 'We are healing a country whose nerves have been frayed. It's just a little bit frantic. We need to be projecting calm, openness to engagement, governing for all people.'
But, she adds: 'It doesn't mean you don't have moments where you are tough or firm or make clear to people when they've crossed a line. He does that, too.'
Press secretary Jen Psaki in her office at the White House; photographed by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, the 3,500-word profile of Psaki is featured in the September issue of the fashion magazine
The Biden administration came into office as the country struggled to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
Early press briefings focused on that work but Psaki often deals with a range of topics in back-and-forths with the media, getting queries on everything from the economy, foreign policy and when the president is going to get a cat.
She comes prepared with a binder of color-coded tabs, organized by topic, to help her with talking points as she calls on members of the White House press corps.
She describes unplanned moments from her briefing that go viral - such as some of her quips on former President Donald Trump - 'wrestling with alligators.'
Psaki noted the administration thinks it can make inroads not by 'wrestling with alligators - or former alligators, or the people around them - but by delivering results.' She goes on, 'That's what we're betting on. We'll see if we're right.'
White House press secretary Jen Psaki describes unplanned moments from her briefing that go viral - such as some of her quips on former President Donald Trump - 'wrestling with alligators'
Jen Psaki in the Oval Office with President Biden and other administration staff
Psaki, who served as
