TV Psaki said goodbye to Biden and the press at the last briefing

White House Undersecretary Jen Psaki burst into tears at her final briefing on Friday, thanking President Biden for the opportunity to serve. “I promised myself I wouldn’t feel emotional,” she said.

Driving the News: Psaki said her first conversation with Biden and First Lady Jill Biden was after the November 2020 presidential election.

• “I was very nervous when I went to see them in Delaware. “Indeed, what we talked about for most of our conversation was the importance of bringing integrity, respect and civilization back to the White House,” she said.
• “In my best days and looking back, I hope that I have followed the example of honesty and grace that they have given to all of us and give to all of us every day. I am incredibly grateful to them.

Other highlights from Psaki’s last briefing:

• Psaki also thanked the “Biden family, which is expanding and expanding far beyond the Biden family,” including administration officials.
• She also thanked reporters in the press room of James C. Brady for their “key role.”
• “Sometimes we have diverged. This is democracy in action. This is work. Without accountability, without debate, the government is not so strong,” she said.
• “Thank you for what you are doing, thank you for making me better. And most importantly, thank you for the work you do every day to make this country stronger.”

Psaki also advised the new spokeswoman, Karin Jean-Pierre, who was the White House’s chief deputy spokeswoman.

• “The more you know about political issues and the more you can go into depth … the better you will be at answering difficult questions … and hopefully providing information to the public,” she said.
• “The last thing I would say is that it can happen here from time to time,” Psaki said.
• “In the age of social media, always provide context and all the details, because you never want to be a one-line meme.”

Background: Psaki has held 224 press briefings during his approximately 16-month term, CNN reports.

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