It has emerged that White House communications director Kate Bedingfield has decided to step down from her role in the coming weeks. Bedingfield’s reported departure from the Joe Biden administration comes just days after Jen Psaki left her role as the White House Press Secretary.
A statement by Chief Of Staff Ron Klain, according to CNN, praised Bedingfield for playing a key role behind several path-breaking appointments and other policy decisions. Klain said, “Without Kate Bedingfield’s talent and tenacity, Donald Trump might still be in the White House, the Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Law might still be unrealized goals, and Kentaji Brown Jackson might not be sitting on the Supreme Court.”
Bedingfield has been working with Biden for a significantly long time. She was responsible for helping with Biden’s campaign right from the primary stage. She worked with Biden even before he ran for the Presidential polls. Bedingfield was Biden’s deputy campaign manager and communications director during his bid for the US Presidency in 2020.
Why Is Kate Bedingfield Leaving White House?
While the White House has not commented on the reason behind Bedingfield’s planned departure this summer, she becomes the second high-profile name from the communications team of Joe Biden to leave her role.
Not too long ago, Jen Psaki stepped down from her post as the White House Press Secretary. The departure of two high-profile women from the communication team of the Biden administration points to a growing discontent within the Democrats. Aside from Psaki and Bedingfield, a number of middle and lower-level press officers have resigned in the last two months.
There have been whispers of discontent among Democrats about the Biden administration’s communication strategy in recent times. The last few weeks saw the return of Anita Dunn to the White House. A long-term Biden aide, Dunn has been busy shaping the communication strategy lately.
It’s still not clear where Bedingfield will go after leaving the White House.