Obama press secretary leaving White House

WASHINGTON -- Jay Carney, President Barack Obama's spokesman and the face of his communications operation, is leaving the White House.

Obama announced Carney's departure as press secretary Friday. Josh Earnest, the principal deputy press secretary, has been promoted to replace Carney, Obama said.

"Jay has become one of my closest friends," Obama said. "I'm going to miss him a lot."

Carney, 49, the former Washington bureau chief for Time magazine, first joined the Obama administration as the communications director for Vice President Joe Biden. In 2011, Carney was selected to replace Robert Gibbs in the job that placed him in front of the media on a near daily basis at White House briefings.

"It's not always pretty. It could certainly be better," Carney said Friday. "But to be a part of it is an honor and a joy for me. And no matter how tough the briefing is, I walk out of here having been glad to stand here."

Earnest, a native of Kansas City, Mo., joined Obama's presidential campaign in March 2007 as his Iowa communications director. He is known in part for his narration of a weekly YouTube video produced by the White House about the week's events.

Carney said he approached Obama in April about leaving the administration to spend more time with his family. He plans to take time off before deciding on his next career move.

Carney said Earnest would take over in mid-June.

A Section on 05/31/2014

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