Karine Jean-Pierre’s most memorable moments from first year as White House press secretary

Karine Jean-Pierre replaced Jen Psaki as White House press secretary one year ago on Saturday, bringing a new spokesperson to the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room during an unsteady time for the Biden administration.

Over the past year, Jean-Pierre has taken heat for spouting White House talking points, sparred with reporters and defended her boss at all costs. She has developed a reputation for giving non-answers or saying outright that the White House has no comment on the news of the day.

Reporters have experienced times of great frustration, such as when deflections and obfuscations over questions about Biden's handling of classified documents wore thin. She has also drawn scorn for stating the trans community was "under attack" following a trans shooter attacking a Nashville Christian school, mistakenly referred to Kamala Harris as "the president," denied that anyone "walks over" the southern border, accidently called Biden "President Obama," called people who support the "MAGA agenda" a threat to democracy and "extreme" and squeezed in a dig at since-fired CNN host Don Lemon. 

The role of press secretary puts Jean-Pierre firmly in the spotlight on a near-daily basis, so gaffes and mishaps are both expected and frequent. Here are some of Jean-Pierre's most memorable moments: 

During a particularly memorable press conference in November, Jean-Pierre shouted down reporters attempting to ask Dr. Anthony Fauci questions regarding the origins of the coronavirus.

"We have a process here. I'm not calling out on people who yell. And you're being disrespectful to your colleagues, and you're being disrespectful to our guest," Jean-Pierre said. "I will not call on you if you yell, and also you're taking time off the clock because Dr. Fauci has to leave in a couple of minutes."

Other reporters defended the target of the press secretary, which led to Jean-Pierre continuing to yell that she was "done" answering their questions. Social media users quickly condemned Jean-Pierre’s behavior as "unprofessional" and an attack on the press.

Prior to this exchange, Jean-Pierre was also criticized by White House reporters for not taking questions from members of the press often seated in the back. One instance in August had a reporter insisting that she had been attempting to ask a question for "more than a week" only for Jean-Pierre to respond "respect your colleagues." 

Jean-Pierre says 'voter suppression' and 'high turnout' can take place 'at the same time'

Jean-Pierre raised eyebrows in October by declaring that "voter suppression" and "high turnout" can take place at the same time when asked about election turnout in Georgia. She made the comments during a press briefing when a reporter asked her about President Biden's suggestion that Georgia's voting laws were akin to "Jim Crow 2.0," given that the state saw record early voting turnout.

"And speaking generally of course, more broadly, of course, high turnout and voter suppression can take place at the same time," Jean-Pierre said. "They don't have to be, one doesn't have to happen on its own. They could be happening at the same time."

Jean-Pierre defended the Biden administration's response to the border crisis during a December press briefing. 

"What Americans should know is that the president has done the work to deal with what we're seeing at the border since day one," she said before criticizing Republicans for executing "political stunts." 

Many scolded Jean-Pierre for defending Biden's record on the border despite a record influx of illegal immigrants under his watch. Republican National Committee rapid response staffer Jake Schneider tweeted, "This might be the most egregious lie I've heard from this pathetic administration. Anyone with eyeballs can see Democrats haven't done jack to secure the border."

In January, Jean-Pierre said that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, R., wants to "block" the study of Black Americans after his administration rejected the College Board’s Advanced Placement African American Studies course.

"If you think about the study of Black Americans, that is what he wants to block," Jean Pierre said. "These types of actions aren't new. They are not new from what we're seeing, especially from Florida. Sadly, Florida currently bans teachers from talking about who they are and who they love."

She continued: "They didn't block AP European history. They didn't block our music history. They didn't block our art history. But the state chooses to block a course that is meant for high-achieving high school students to learn about their history of arts and culture. It is incomprehensible."

Bryan Griffin, DeSantis' press secretary, said in a statement that the Florida Department of Education rejected the course because it "lacks educational value and historical accuracy." He told Fox News Digital that Jean Pierre's comments are "demonstrably incorrect."

"The study of African American history is not only permitted in Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis but required by law. In fact, the teaching of African American History has been expanded in Florida since Governor Ron DeSantis took office," Griffin said at the time. 

Griffin pointed to a Florida statute which requires the teaching of African American history K-12 education throughout the state. He also provided a list of concerns that the state's department of education found within the course, which includes the courses "Reparations Movement," "Movements for Black Lives," and "Black Queer Studies."

"The White House press corps is incredibly frustrated with Jean-Pierre for refusing to answer any questions about this issue at the briefing room," a White House reporter told Fox News Digital in January. "It's very insulting to reporters especially when she repeatedly says she has answered a question when she very clearly has not. But overall, it's clear the White House is challenging the fundamental purpose of the briefing room, which is why reporters continue to be aggressive."

Fox News' White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich said at the time that reporters were being referred to a "black hole" while seeking answers from the White House, the White House Counsel and the Department of Justice (DOJ).  

"It is frustrating to the press corps here at the White House… we formally asked for the press secretary to bring to the briefing room the attorneys for the president, so that we can ask people these questions, the very people that we’re being directed to and where we’re getting our questions ignored or unanswered or referred elsewhere. And she, again, when posed that question right there in the briefing room today, said well, you’ll have to ask them," Heinrich told Neil Cavuto. 

Jean-Pierre claimed she'd been "forthcoming" about the classified documents despite continuously referring reporters to the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel. She previously told reporters that the search for documents was "completed" before more documents were discovered two days later at the Delaware home. 

The press secretary stumbled in April while trying to respond to reporters pressing her over President Biden's decision not to attend the coronation of King Charles III.

When asked on three separate occasions about Biden's planned absence at the event, Jean-Pierre fumbled her words and gave a rambling answer repeatedly touting the president's "good relationship" with the king while avoiding directly answering why he decided not to attend.

New York Times reporter Michael Shear had a heated clash with Jean-Pierre in April over what he suggested was the Biden administration's selective silence when it comes to responding to legal matters involving former President Trump.

Jean-Pierre repeatedly deflected questions about the 34 felony charges Trump was facing from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg involving the 2016 hush-money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

However, Shear grilled her what "the difference" was between commenting on the Trump indictment versus the White House's outspokenness about Jan. 6, which involved hundreds of criminal probes. Jean-Pierre responded by referring to Jan. 6 as a "devastating day" that led to law enforcement being "attacked" and called the events an "attack on democracy."

Shear pushed back on her initial response, saying "500 cases" were brought by those who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, but Jean-Pierre doubled down, stressing "people died" as a result of those events.

"Karine, I don't need a lecture on the fact that people died," Shear swiped the White House press secretary.

"Karine, I don't need a lecture on the fact that people died," Shear swiped the White House press secretary.