Biden Administration Officials Leaving at 'Speed'... White House Press Secretary Also Resigns

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Kate Bedingfield, the White House Communications Director who was considered a key aide to U.S. President Joe Biden, has tendered her resignation, the New York Times (NYT) reported on the 6th (local time).

On the same day, the White House stated, "Bedingfield will leave the White House at the end of July to spend more time with her family," adding, "Although she will not hold a public office, she will play an important role in the success of the Biden administration from outside the government." White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain explained, "Bedingfield played a crucial role in securing the 2020 presidential election victory, the COVID-19 economic relief package, and the passage of the infrastructure package," and "she also helped with the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson."

Communications Director Bedingfield first entered the White House in 2015 as Communications Director for the Vice President's Office, and when Biden ran as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, she served as deputy campaign manager and communications director.

Some view the recent resignations of key officials, including Bedingfield’s departure, as connected to the decline in President Biden’s approval ratings and external criticisms. The NYT also emphasized, "(The Biden administration) is facing increasing criticism from party members," noting, "especially party members have demanded a stronger and more consistent message from President Biden regarding multiple mass shootings in recent weeks." Poll results show that President Biden’s popularity is significantly lower than that of former President Donald Trump, who is considered a leading Republican candidate ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Earlier, Press Secretary Jen Psaki left the White House to host cable news, and in recent weeks, several senior aides and many press aides have resigned.

On the other hand, there is an assessment that President Biden is recruiting longtime advisers as part of his re-election preparations. The NYT reported that Anita Dunn, a senior White House adviser who had started a communications firm, returned to the White House, and Ian Sams, who served as spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, also joined the White House staff.