White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Thursday that she plans on leaving her current role within a year.
“I think it’s going to be time for somebody else to have this job in a year from now or about a year from now,” Psaki said in an interview with CNN’s David Axelrod. Psaki said she wants to spend more time with her kids.
“I don’t want to miss time with them,” Psaki, who has a five and three-year-old said. “I don’t want to miss moments. I don’t want to miss things, and I’m very mindful of that as well.”
“It’s a great job,” she said. “It will be hard, but I also never thought I’d be here, and I also love my kids a lot.” (RELATED: Jen Psaki Answers Questions About Migrant Surge During Biden Admin By Blaming Trump)
Psaki said when she joined the Biden administration she had already discussed staying in the role temporarily.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 04: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a daily briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House May 4, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“When I talked to the inner circle of the Biden orbit, we talked about coming in and doing this job for a year, which was quite appealing to me for many reasons.”
“One: What a moment in history, right, to be a part of,” Psaki said. “It’s always true in the White House, but I think following Trump, especially if you can take the temperature down a little bit, that’s a cool thing to be a part of.”
Psaki worked on former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign as traveling press secretary. Following Obama’s win, Psaki worked as the deputy press secretary at the White House and was promoted in 2009 to deputy communications director.
Psaki left the White House in 2011 to join a public relations firm before returning to the campaign trail in 2012 for Obama’s re-election campaign. In 2013, she worked as the spokesperson for the State Department. She eventually returned to the White House as communications director through the end of Obama’s term.
Prior to becoming press secretary for Biden, Psaki worked as a political commentator on CNN.