WASHINGTON
— Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, is leaving his post as
the public face of the administration, stepping down after shifting from
two decades of reporting to politics at the highest levels, President
Obama said on Friday.
Mr. Obama, who announced Mr. Carney’s departure, said Mr. Carney would be replaced by the deputy press secretary, Josh Earnest.
Mr. Obama called Mr. Earnest a person of “sound judgment and great temperament.”
Mr.
Carney, who fielded questions from the press moments after Mr. Obama
left the podium, said the timing of his departure was uncertain.
“I
haven’t made any decisions yet,” Mr. Carney said. “I’m excited by some
of the possibilities. I’m sure you guys will be among the first to know
after I’ve decided what to do.”
“It’s been an amazing experience. Just so fulfilling,” Mr. Carney said.
Despite
coming from the White House press corps himself, Mr. Carney developed a
sometimes contentious relationship with the news media, who often
pressed Mr. Carney to say more than he was willing to about the
president’s policies and decision-making.
Mr.
Earnest, who has worked for Mr. Obama since the 2008 campaign, was the
obvious choice to replace Mr. Carney. He has stood in for Mr. Carney at
times in the briefing room, and Mr. Carney said Mr. Earnest would go to
Europe with the president next week.
