White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Holds Final Briefing, Says “Give And Take” With Reporters “Is Part Of Our Democracy”

deadline.com:

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gave her final press briefing to reporters Wednesday afternoon, and the last of the administration.

Marking her 306th time at the briefing room lectern, Jean-Pierre took a moment from the day’s big news, the ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas, to reflect on her tenure. “As I said during my first briefing when I took over this role, we might not see eye to eyes here in this room all the time, and that is okay,” she told reporters. “The give and take that happens here is incredibly healthy, and it is part of our democracy.

I have been honored to partake in it with all of you — well, most of the time.” Her tenure at times has been contentious with reporters, and there was some back and forth today on whether Donald Trump deserved some credit for the ceasefire deal.

John Kirby, who has frequently been at briefings to talk about national security issues, did not appear today. Jean-Pierre also was again pressed on why President Joe Biden has not held more formal press conferences, including an end-of-the-year meeting with reporters as some predecessors have done.