‘Whoa!’: White House Press Corps Reacts to Jay Carney’s Departure
The announcement that White House Press Secretary Jay Carney will be stepping down after three years on the job came as a surprise to most of the media world Friday, including the men and women (mostly men) who make up the White House press corps. Here’s how the people who spend the most time with Carney on a daily basis are reacting to the big news.
Fox News’ Ed Henry was short and sweet on Twitter:
President: Jay Carney leaving WH
— Ed Henry (@edhenryTV) May 30, 2014
NBC News’ Chuck Todd gave a little more detail without passing judgement:
POTUS popped into briefing room again to bid farewell and announce Jay Carney's departure as @PressSec
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) May 30, 2014
CNN’s Jim Acosta snapped a photo of new press secretary Josh Earnest watching the announcement in the briefing room:
Earnest in briefing room listening to POTUS announcement that he is new WH Press Secretary. pic.twitter.com/eHaPpa6ilI
— Jim Acosta (@JimAcostaCNN) May 30, 2014
CBS News’ Major Garrett did the same, pointing out Earnest’s “broad smile”:
Meet your new White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest – he's the one smiling broadly. pic.twitter.com/7ZuHb3vJtd
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) May 30, 2014
Frequent Carney adversary ABC News’ Jonathan Karl let out a “Whoa!”
Whoa! @BarackObama says Jay Carney is stepping down as @PressSec who he says "has become one of my closest friends" pic.twitter.com/SvgRonx1mu
— Jonathan Karl (@jonkarl) May 30, 2014
Later, Karl told TVNewser that he would, in fact, miss Carney:
“Will I miss Jay? Of course. He’s been a spirited advocate for the President who was never afraid to take the tough questions. To borrow one of Jay’s favorite phrases, ‘I appreciate that.’ And as heated as it sometimes got in the briefing room, it was never personal. Jay is a pro.”
CNN’s Jake Tapper worked in a beard joke:
Farewell to @PressSec who now goes the way of @PressSecBeard
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 30, 2014
CNN’s Brianna Keilar summed up the day that has included the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki along with that of Carney this way:
HOLY NEWS FRIDAY BATMAN.
— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) May 30, 2014
[Photo via The White House]
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