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Josh Earnest

  • White House Press Secretary (2014-2017)
  • Political Analyst, NBC & MSNBC
  • Voice of West Wing Week, White House's Online Video Series
  • Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary (2011-2014)

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A current political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, Josh Earnest draws on a decade of insider access working alongside President Barack Obama both on the campaign trail and in the White House to provide engaging, razor-sharp analysis on today's top issues. 

Rising to international acclaim as President Obama's Press Secretary from 2014-2017, Earnest was selected in the midst of an increasingly caustic media environment to assume the most visible job in American politics. Earnest distinguished himself as Press Secretary – not with bluster – but with a keen ability to marshal facts and construct persuasive arguments that earned him the respect of Washington insiders in both parties. 

Earnest stood before the White House press corps each day for the last two and a half years of Obama’s tenure prepared to discuss the most complex and consequential issues in the world.  Whether reacting to a legislative setback, a diplomatic breakthrough or a terror attack, Earnest earned a reputation for uncommon poise under an intense spotlight where there is no margin for error.  In fact, White House correspondents surveyed by Politico in 2015 voted Earnest the “best White House press secretary I’ve worked with.” Earnest brings the same shrewd analysis, signature wit, and engaging style he was known for as Press Secretary to the newsroom and audiences worldwide.  

 

Josh Earnest headshot
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Past Hosts Include:
  • Berkeley Forum
  • The Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Major U.S. Law Firm
  • George Washington University
  • Village Shalom
Rave Reviews About Josh Earnest
“
We’ve received nothing but positive feedback about [Earnest's] presentation. Our crowd particularly appreciated his thoughtful responses to questions – they were not canned answers but very reasoned answers. The crowd also appreciated the time he spent with us – taking almost an hour of his time for the Q&A.

”
More rave reviews

"Josh Earnest was LOVELY! He was extremely easy to work with, he was very kind and personable to our guests, his remarks were on point with what we had previously discussed and he offered insight into his personal White House experience as well as a hopeful perspective into the current political landscape. We were thoroughly pleased with his presentation."

-Village Shalom

"Everything with Josh went so well! He did a great job at the debate and everyone I spoke to at the reception couldn’t stop talking about how kind and personable he was."

-George Washington University

"The PDGC Forum was great...We had great feedback from Josh’s session and people were genuinely excited to see him at the forum...I would like to thank you and the HWA team for contributing to the success of our our event."

-The Government of Dubai Media Office

"It’s both a humbling duty and a fascinating vantage on history for Earnest who performs this complex task with eloquence and engagement and disarming grace that has lived up to President Barack Obama’s words when he introduced him for the job … 'As you know, his name describes his demeanor: Josh is an earnest guy, and you can’t find just a nicer individual, even outside of Washington.' Somehow, even in the increasingly cynical world of politics, he’s still seen that way in Washington. A 2015 Politico Magazine survey of 69 White House beat reporters, including some going back between 41 and 50 years, rated Earnest the best at his job. There are those who would go as far as to say he’s beloved."

-Kansas City Star

"The fact is, he was worthy of that admiration. He was tough and he didn't always give [the press] everything [they] wanted, but he was always prepared, he was always courteous, he always tried to make sure that he could share...as much of our thinking and our policy and our vision as possible...Of the folks that I’ve had the great joy and pleasure of working with over the last 10 years on this incredible journey...this guy ranks as high as just about anybody I’ve worked with. He is not only a great press secretary but more importantly, he is a really, really good man and I’m really, really proud of him."

-President Barack Obama
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The White House and the advent of social media - Kennedy School of Government, Harvard IOP - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Josh Earnest
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The State of the World Today

Having full access to President Obama's agenda gives Earnest complete knowledge of the most complex and pressing domestic and foreign policy issues of the day. In addition to his insider's knowledge of the issues facing America, Earnest also knows the key players in Congress who - under a new admini ...

Having full access to President Obama's agenda gives Earnest complete knowledge of the most complex and pressing domestic and foreign policy issues of the day. In addition to his insider's knowledge of the issues facing America, Earnest also knows the key players in Congress who - under a new administration - will either carry forth or overturn current policies.​    Earnest knows what's at stake.  His insider’s knowledge of the President’s agenda – what was said and what was left unsaid – makes him an invaluable, substantive voice on the state of the world today, and the future that is to come.

The Press and the Presidency

The Briefing: Today’s Headlines in Perspective

Drawing on a decade of experience working alongside President Obama on the campaign trail, in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One, former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest helped the Leader of the Free World manage and react to urgent developments in politics, business and national secur ...

Drawing on a decade of experience working alongside President Obama on the campaign trail, in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One, former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest helped the Leader of the Free World manage and react to urgent developments in politics, business and national security.  

Earnest brings an insider's knowledge to today's hottest topics with the same humor and sensibility he employed while answering tough questions at the White House Daily Briefing.  An expert on the world of Washington, Earnest knows the key players in Congress and understands how their actions - or inaction - will affect the trends shaping our world. 

He also shares entertaining and enlightening anecdotes to bring audiences inside the White House for a candid glimpse behind the curtain. 

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Press & Media
Josh Earnest Named New White House Press Secretary - ABC News
10 things about Josh Earnest - Politico
Josh Earnest: 'Deeply misguided' to question motives of intel community - Politico
In final appearance, Josh Earnest offers a two-hour ode to the White House daily briefing - The Washington Post
The Importance of Being Josh Earnest - Christian Science Monitor
President Obama surprises Josh Earnest during his last press briefing - Politico
‘Thanks, everybody.’ As Obama leaves, his spokesman steps away from spotlight. - mcclatchydc.com
Josh Earnest to Stephen Colbert: Fake news isn’t new - The Washington Post
Obama’s press secretary on Trump: “we tried a different strategy. We tried to tell the truth.” - Vox
AP Interview: Former Obama spokesman talks Trump, Russia - The Associated Press
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Biography

In the midst of an increasingly caustic media environment, Josh Earnest was selected by President Obama to assume the most visible job in American politics as White House press secretary in 2014. Earnest distinguished himself – not with bluster – but with a keen ability to marshal facts and construct persuasive arguments that earned him the respect of Washington insiders in both parties. 

Earnest stood before the White House press corps each day for the last two and a half years of Obama’s tenure prepared to discuss the most complex and consequential issues in the world.  Whether reacting to a legislative setback, a diplomatic breakthrough or a terror attack, Earnest earned a reputation for uncommon poise under an intense spotlight where there is no margin for error.  In fact, White House correspondents surveyed by Politico in 2015 voted Earnest the “best White House press secretary I’ve worked with.”

From townhall meetings on the campaign trail in Iowa to private meetings in the Oval Office, Earnest spent a decade advising and advocating for the man who would make history as the 44th President of the United States. Earnest’s role in President Obama’s orbit burst into public view in May 2014, when the President made a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room to announce that he promoted Earnest to be White House press secretary. 

In addition to defending the President in front of the cameras, Earnest played a leading role behind the scenes to help develop and implement an innovative communications strategy that took the President to unconventional venues like ESPN to talk about Cuba policy and “Running Wild with Bear Grylls” to talk about climate change. This pioneering approach was paired with a fully-integrated digital media presence that put the world’s most powerful man at the forefront of an evolving media landscape.  The successful implementation of this strategy contributed to President Obama’s ability to buck historical trends, confound the critics who were quick to label him a ‘lame duck’ and redefine the way a second-term President wields authority in Washington. 

In eight years, Earnest traveled across the country and around the world – three dozen countries – with President Obama and participated in multilateral summits including the G-20, G-7, NATO, the UN General Assembly, ASEAN and APEC.

Earnest started at the White House on “Day 1” in January 2009 as deputy press secretary, managing the White House press office and filling in for the press secretary on Air Force One and at the podium. He first joined Obama’s team in March 2007 helping steer the President to an historic victory in the Iowa caucuses that catapulted him to the White House. 

Earnest’s two-decade career in politics has taken him from Capitol Hill to some of the largest states and most competitive races in the country, including four presidential campaigns, statewide races in Texas and Florida and Mike Bloomberg’s first campaign for Mayor of New York City.

Earnest was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri and attended Rice University, where he majored in political science and policy studies. He currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and son.

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