The White House hired Andrew Bates, the longtime rapid response director for President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, as a new deputy press secretary Thursday.
Bates will join a team that already includes White House press secretary Jen Psaki and principle deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Chris Meagher, who moved into the role after T.J. Ducklo’s public departure from the White House in February, will also continue to serve as deputy press secretary alongside Bates. (RELATED: Biden’s Deputy Press Secretary Resigns After Drama Over Allegations That He Intimidated Politico Reporter)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 24: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an Equal Pay Day event in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on March 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. Highlighting the gender pay gap, Equal Pay Day raises awareness that women in the United States earned $0.82 for every dollar men earned in 2019, according to the National Committee on Pay Equity. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“Andrew Bates is one of the smartest, most committed and most strategic media professionals in the business. He brings invaluable experience to the job of Deputy Press Secretary,” Psaki tweeted Thursday morning. “From the pivotal role on the Biden campaign team through the primary and general election to the extensive campaign and government experience he had prior, we are looking forward to having him in a senior position on the press team.
Andrew Bates is one of the smartest, most committed and most strategic media professionals in the business. He brings invaluable experience to the job of Deputy Press Secretary.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 25, 2021
From the pivotal role on the Biden campaign team through the primary and general election to the extensive campaign and government experience he had prior, we are looking forward to having him in a senior position on the press team.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) March 25, 2021
Prior to joining the Biden team, Bates served as the top spokesman for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and in multiple positions throughout former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and administration.
The White House did not respond to the Daily Caller’s inquiries on the subject by press time.
Biden himself is set to field questions from reporters at his first formal press conference as president later Thursday afternoon.
This is a developing story and will be updated with new information when available.