US Vice President Joe Biden appointed Karine Jean-Pierre as the new White House Press Secretary on Thursday, making her the first Black and openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as the public face of a US administration.

Jean-Pierre will succeed Jen Psaki, who is scheduled to resign on May 13.

Since Biden's inauguration, the 44-year-old had served as deputy press secretary.

Jean-Pierre also worked on Biden's 2020 presidential campaign and in the White House under President Barack Obama.

"Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the American people," Biden said in a statement.

Psaki, who had started from the start that she would resign during Biden's term, lauded her successor, referring to Jean-Pierre as a "true partner."

Jean-Pierre "will be the first Black woman, the first out LGBTQ+ person to serve in this role," Psaki explained.

"Representation matters and she is going to give a voice to so many and show so many what is truly possible when you work hard and dream big," Psaki added.

Jean-Pierre, who was offered the job earlier Thursday during an Oval Office meeting, said she was "still processing" the significance of being picked for the role.

"This is a historic moment, and it's not lost on me," she stated. "Today is an extremely emotional day."

When asked what message she had for the country's youth, Jean-Pierre responded, "If you are passionate about what you want to be, where you want to go, and you work very hard to that goal it will happen."

"You'll be knocked down and you'll have some tough times and it won't be easy all the time but the rewards are pretty amazing, especially if you stay true to yourself," she continued.

Before Jean-Pierre, only one other Black woman served as deputy White House press secretary during George H. W. Bush's presidency in 1991, Judy Smith.