During the White House Press briefing yesterday, one reporter brought up the news that Press Secretary Josh Earnest’s predecessor at the podium Robert Gibbs had just taken a job with fast-food giant McDonald’s.
“Just on a completely different subject, has anybody told the First Lady about Robert Gibbs going to McDonald’s?” the reporter asked, as other White House correspondents chuckled.
“I’m not sure if she has received the news,” Earnest replied before taking the opportunity to praise Gibbs.
“Obviously I had an opportunity to work closely with Robert both on the campaign and here at the White House — and the folks at McDonald’s have just hired themselves one of the most effective and articulate communications professionals in the country,” he said.
Gibbs was Obama’s first press secretary in the White House, eventually giving up his position in 2011 to focus on the president’s re-election campaign.
He was the subject of controversy in the White House after he unleashed a profanity-laced tirade at Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and criticized First Lady Michelle Obama.
The episode was revealed in Jodi Kantor’s The Obamas book where Gibbs reportedly lashed out after Jarrett pointed out that the First Lady was displeased with his efforts to push back against an unflattering story.
“F— this, that’s not right. I’ve been killing myself on this. Where’s this coming from?” Gibbs shouted at Jarrett, telling her that she did not “know what the f— you’re talking about.”
When Jarrett replied that Michelle Obama would be upset by how he was speaking, Gibbs reported replied, “Then f— her, too!”
McDonald’s announced Gibbs’ hire yesterday as part of their effort to turn the fast food into a “modern progressive burger company.”
Gibbs was hired as the new Executive Vice President and Global Chief Communications Officer.