Megyn Kelly slams fawning Vogue profile of ‘banal’ Karine Jean-Pierre and labels her ‘the worst White House press secretary ever’: ‘You would think she were like the first lady … the way they gave her the royal treatment’
Megyn Kelly described Karine Jean-Pierre as the “worst White House press secretary ever,” ridiculed her “banal answers” and mocked a fawning profile of Jean-Pierre in Vogue.
Jean-Pierre, 49, is the first black person to serve as White House press secretary, and also the first openly gay.
Jill Biden praised her in Vogue as “a groundbreaking White House press secretary,” adding that she “brings grace, integrity and insight to the stage,” and calling her “calm, quiet confidence” inspiring.
But Kelly used her podcast to laugh at their description of her.
“You would think she looked like the first lady or a prime minister, the way they gave her kind of a royal treatment,” Kelly said.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is profiled in the September issue of Vogue
Megyn Kelly ridiculed the magazine’s descriptions of Jean-Pierre, saying she was the worst White House press secretary in history
“And they’ve got her covered like she’s our real next leader who will rhetorically take us into the next season.
“She has to be the worst White House press secretary ever. And I include Sean Spicer.”
Jean-Pierre is criticized for relying too much on pre-prepared answers and notes, which she keeps in a folder.
Vogue’s author, Mattie Kahn, writes: ‘Some in the press corps have complained that Jean-Pierre reads too much from her folder – that she sounds rehearsed.
‘That’s because she rehearses. In preparation, she chooses the adjectives and verbs with great care.’
Jean-Pierre told the magazine that she was adamant never to speak on stage in a personal capacity.
“I signed up to speak on behalf of this president. That’s why he chose me,” she said.
Kelly disdained Jean-Pierre’s approach.
“That she’s up there rehearsing those banal answers, and reportedly choosing her adjectives and verbs with great care,” Kelly said.
Kelly said Jean-Pierre, the daughter of Haitian immigrants and a single mother of a nine-year-old adopted daughter, Soleil, was in the role solely because of her identity.
“That’s the reason she’s there, the first-ever black and lesbian White House press secretary, because we really needed those boxes checked,” Kelly said.
Karine Jean-Pierre was photographed in front of the West Wing holding her infamous briefing folder
Jean-Pierre in her office in the west wing of the White House
“She lies, they all do, but she lies about Hunter Biden every other day. She never answers the question, there is no integrity and there is certainly no insight she has given since taking over the job.
Jean-Pierre told Vogue that personal attacks were part of the job, and she didn’t take them to heart.
“I don’t take it all personally,” she said.
“I represent the president, so little things are off the menu.”
However, some Democrats told Vogue that they felt there were problems with the reporting.
Despite the Biden White House’s achievements on infrastructure, the economy, climate change and drug pricing, his approval ratings remain stubbornly low.
“A media reporter who has covered Jean-Pierre’s term tells me that Democratic officials have also been critical,” Kahn writes.
“The public needs to understand what the administration has accomplished,” the reporter insists, “and if you don’t have someone who is really able to sell your message, it hurts the White House.”
Jean-Pierre has been press secretary since May 2022. She gets up at 5 a.m. to be at her desk by 7 a.m. and makes time with her daughter whenever possible.
Jean-Pierre revealed to Vogue that she and her partner, former CNN national correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, recently split after living together for ten years.
She said she knew she wouldn’t stay in the role forever, but didn’t give any hint as to when she would leave or what she would do next.
Her predecessor, Jen Psaki, held the position for two years and then left to take a role as an anchor at MSNBC.
Karine Jean-Pierre and Suzanne Malveaux at the 2022 White House Correspondents Dinner – Jean-Pierre revealed they have broken up
Jean-Pierre and Malveaux share custody of their nine-year-old daughter Soleil
Before that, Trump’s last two press secretaries — Kayleigh McEnany and Stephanie Grisham — served for just nine months; Famously, in a historic first, Grisham refused to hold a single press conference.
Vogue gave Jean-Pierre the profile treatment in its September issue, with an article as glowing as it did for other government figures, including first lady Jill Biden and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki.
Kamala Harris appeared on the cover in 2021.
Michelle Obama appeared on the cover three times, but none of the Trump officials ever did — much to Melania Trump’s chagrin.
“They are biased, they have likes and dislikes, and it’s so obvious,” Melania told Fox News after leaving the White House.
“And I think Americans and everyone sees it, and I have much more important things to do – and I did that in the White House – than be on the cover of Vogue.”