U.S. President Joe Biden named Karine Jean-Pierre to be the next White House press secretary on May 5, becoming the first Black woman and the first openly LGBTQ person to serve in the role.

Jean-Pierre takes on the role as the White House faces an uphill battle to help Democrats hold onto the House and Senate in this fall's midterm elections, and as the administration struggles to address Americans' concerns about soaring inflation and the state of the economy.

She also comes into the job as Biden faces a daunting array of foreign policy challenges, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and North Korea's escalating nuclear testing program. The president is set to visit South Korea and Japan later this month and Europe in June.

Jen Psaki, who is set to leave the White House on May 13, praised her successor as a "partner in truth," noting the significance of the history-making appointment.