The subversive inquiry came from Cameroonian journalist Simon Ateba – who was chosen by Jean-Pierre to ask Kirby a question, despite having previously fallen out with Kirby on a similar subject. “Sometimes you act like the second press secretary,” Ateba told Kirby — giving voice to a remark made privately by other members of the White House press corps. Ateba asked Kirby to “tell us exactly what your job is” and said he wanted to know, “What kind of questions should we ask you?” “The reason I’m asking is because almost everywhere I have black people telling me that the reason you’re in the White House is to undermine the first lady [black] press secretary,” added Atemba, of Today News Africa. John Kirby was asked if he was the “second press secretary” by a reporter Friday.Getty Images Kirby, the former Pentagon press secretary, was widely considered a candidate to replace Jen Psaki as press secretary earlier this year — and after Jean-Pierre took the job in May, Kirby quickly joined the White House and began appears next to her in the briefing room. “If anyone has any idea in their mind that I’m taking away from Karine or her work, that’s really unfortunate,” Kirby replied to Ateba. “And I’m very sorry that that’s the impression anyone would get. I just work at the National Security Council on national security communications — and in her good graces, I can come here every once in a while to talk to you about simple national security matters,” Kirby continued. Karine Jean-Pierre is the first woman of color to become a White House spokesperson. Getty Images “This is my portfolio. That’s where I limit myself. I will stay there. And I do so after her invitation and with her approval to come here.” Jean-Pierre, 48, is the first non-white, first LGBT and first immigrant to hold the position. Born in Martinique to Haitian parents, she began her political career on the New York City Council. The press secretary’s decision to invite Ateba to ask Kirby a question immediately sparked intrigue in the palace, as the reporter had fallen out with his potential rival Jean-Pierre in the past. On August 4, Kirby lectured Ateba that he needed to show more “respect” during press briefings when the African journalist tried to shout a question at Kirby about his work. Ateba asked if Kirby wanted to “undermine” Jean-Pierre. Simon Ateba/Twitter Although not heard on the White House video feed, Ateba asked Kirby during that briefing if he was “auditioning” to replace Jean-Pierre, according to several reporters in the room at the time. Jean-Pierre’s choice to replace Psaki shocked many journalists who saw either Kirby or White House communications director Kate Bedingfield as stronger candidates. While Jean-Pierre has exceeded her expectations in some ways, she’s also had embarrassing stumbles — including recently referring to the Nord Stream 1 natural gas pipeline as the “Nordstrom” pipeline, using the department store’s name.
