Wednesday, November 20

Joe Biden names Jeff Zients as White House chief of staff

Jeff Zients receives the title of White House chief of staff.
Jeff Zients receives the title of White House chief of staff.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Maribel Velazquez

This Friday the President of the United States Joe Biden was pleased to announce that Jeff Zients (who at the time coordinated the response to the COVID-19 and was president of the Biden transition) will be his new White House chief of staff.

“I’m sure that Jeff will continue Ron’s example of consistent and intelligent leadershipas we continue to work hard every day for the people we were sent here to serve,” Biden said in a statement.

Jeff Zients arrives to replace Ron Klaina fundamental element in the politics of this administration that has achieved great things like the passage of consequential legislation such as the massive infrastructure bill and the climate, health care and tax bill of the Democrats, as well as dozens of judges confirmed in the first two years.

Biden said that “It’s important to fill Ron’s shoes with someone who understands what it means to lead a team. and that he is so focused on doing things. I’ve seen Jeff Zients tackle some of the toughest government issues.” The following week the White House would host a formal event to “officially welcome Jeff Zient to the White House in this role.”

Rumors of a Klain departure had been running since last month. when anonymous sources told NBC News the plan was for it to be done after Biden’s State of the Union address.

Klain’s departure comes at a critical time for Biden who faces the discovery of classified documents in one of the offices he regularly occupied after finishing his term as vice president in the Obama era, as well as other packages in the garage of his Delaware home.