Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, became emotional as she delivered her final briefing on Wednesday, thanking colleagues, family, and President Joe Biden while sparking questions about tensions with a key rival.

During her farewell briefing, Jean-Pierre showed signs of both gratitude and unresolved conflict, particularly with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who was notably absent from the event, as the Daily Mail reports.

Jean-Pierre, who had served 306 press briefings as press secretary, took a moment to reflect on her time in the role during the 537th press briefing of the Biden administration. She appeared visibly emotional as she expressed gratitude for her colleagues, her family, and President Biden.

"I just want to say thank you to all of you for your support, for your friendship," Jean-Pierre began. "It’s been an honor to serve in this role, and I hope that my journey has inspired many young girls out there."

As her voice cracked, she mentioned her daughter, Soleil, noting how she regretted missing school drop-offs and other family moments due to her demanding schedule. "To my lovely, amazing daughter, you have gone too many nights without me being around and without me being there for school drop-offs and without your mama around," she said, her emotions raw.

Jean-Pierre affectionately called her daughter "pudding," adding, "I can’t wait to spend more time with you." She also expressed her appreciation for past and present members of the press team, including former press secretary Jen Psaki, who was in attendance.

Rising Tensions Between Jean-Pierre and Kirby

While Jean-Pierre’s farewell seemed heartfelt, a notable absence raised eyebrows -- National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who typically answers questions on foreign policy, was nowhere to be found at the briefing.

A source revealed that Jean-Pierre had specifically blocked Kirby from attending, reportedly to keep the attention on herself. This decision adds another chapter to the ongoing tensions between the two, which have been visible since Jean-Pierre’s first days in the role.

Jean-Pierre, who lacked prior experience as a press secretary, often found herself at odds with Kirby, a veteran of the Pentagon and the State Department, and someone well-regarded for his foreign policy expertise. Those familiar with their dynamic suggest that Kirby’s wealth of experience often overshadowed Jean-Pierre’s more limited background.

These tensions were especially apparent when the two were forced to share time answering questions after the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, which put a spotlight on their contrasting roles. Kirby, with his extensive foreign policy knowledge, became a favorite of President Biden.

In a sign of the growing divide, Kirby was promoted to assistant to the president, effectively leveling his rank with Jean-Pierre’s. However, it was widely known that Kirby had harbored private ambitions to take on the press secretary role, making Jean-Pierre’s rise to the position even more contentious.

A Major International Question Without Kirby

The absence of Kirby at the briefing became a focal point when reporters questioned Jean-Pierre about his absence, especially in light of the important ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that was a significant accomplishment of the Biden administration.

Jean-Pierre, however, diverted the question by referring to White House envoy Brett McGurk, who would later hold a call to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire. "Brett McGurk, he is on the ground. He has all of the information," Jean-Pierre explained.

When asked directly why Kirby, who typically handles foreign affairs, was absent, Jean-Pierre noted that McGurk would be more suited to discuss the specifics of the ceasefire implementation, given his first-hand experience on the ground. "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was just here two days ago... and I think he laid out a really good framework," she added, further explaining that McGurk would provide further details later that day.

Questions After the Briefing

After Jean-Pierre concluded her final press briefing, reporters were told that they could attend a follow-up phone briefing held by the National Security Council. During this call, the official speaking to the press was introduced as a "senior administration official," avoiding any mention of Kirby or his role.

This separation of duties was seen as a deliberate attempt to focus the press on McGurk’s direct involvement with the ceasefire, while distancing the conversation from Kirby.

While Jean-Pierre’s farewell was framed as an emotional goodbye to her team and her daughter, the tensions with Kirby seemed to underscore the internal struggles that marked her tenure as press secretary. The rivalry, a combination of professional frustrations and personal ambitions, cast a shadow over what was meant to be a moment of reflection and gratitude.

A Complex Legacy

Jean-Pierre’s time in the press office will likely be remembered as a complex chapter in the Biden administration, one marked by both moments of personal triumph and professional challenges. Her final press briefing, while emotional and filled with expressions of gratitude, also served as a reminder of the competitive and at times strained relationships within the administration.

As Jean-Pierre transitions out of the role, questions remain about the future dynamics of the White House press team and how her departure might affect the communications strategy as the administration moves forward into the 2024 election year.