President Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press room Tuesday to praise his press secretary, Josh Earnest, at the spokesman’s final briefing session with reporters.
“He’s never disappointed,” Mr. Obama said. “This guy ranks as high as just about anybody I’ve worked with. He is a really, really good man.”
The president joked that Mr. Earnest had “a face made for television.”
“Then the guy’s name is Josh Earnest, which, if somebody is speaking on your behalf, is a pretty good name to have,” Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Earnest, who has worked for Mr. Obama since his first campaign for the presidency, was appointed press secretary in May 2014. He is the president’s third press secretary, following Robert Gibbs and Jay Carney.
Mr. Earnest thanked the president, his staff, and his wife Natalie, saying it was “an incredible honor” to serve the president.
“It’s been an extraordinary journey,” he said.
Mr. Obama will hold his final press conference on Wednesday and leaves office at noon on Friday, when President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office. The incoming White House press secretary is Sean Spicer.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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