White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre praised White House chief of staff Ron Klain as “an incredible boss” without confirming reports he will step down in the coming weeks and be replaced by former COVID coordinator Jeff Zients.
Jean-Pierre underscored the “impressive legislative successes, historic successes” President Joe Biden has notched with Klain during the last two years, adding she has personally enjoyed working with him.
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“He has been an incredible leader, an incredible boss,” she told reporters.
Klain, who has been a highly visible chief of staff on television and Twitter, leaves the White House with a record that includes Biden passing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, the $550 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act, and the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act, as well as gun reform and veterans healthcare laws.
At the same time, Klain was in his post when Biden made mistakes regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, and the baby formula shortage. Klain was also blamed for the breakdown in original negotiations over Biden’s initial “Build Back Better” climate and healthcare spending proposal.
Klain, who served in the same role during Biden’s vice presidency and that of Vice President Al Gore, was additionally former President Barack Obama’s ebola czar. He started the 2020 Democratic presidential cycle out of Biden’s inner circle after publicly endorsing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 without waiting for Biden to announce his decision concerning his own possible campaign.
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Zients began his career in management consulting and investing before joining the Obama administration as the Office of Management and Budget’s chief performance officer, a new position, going on to become his National Economic Council director, among other jobs.
