Fri | Nov 21, 2025

Another Biden pick with Jamaican roots, Susan Rice tapped as White House adviser

Published:Thursday | December 10, 2020 | 12:52 PM
In this February 19, 2020 file photo, former national security adviser Susan Rice takes part in a discussion on global leadership at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. President-elect Joe Biden is naming Susan Rice as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. The role will give her broad sway over his administration’s approach to immigration, health care, and racial inequality and elevates the prominence of the position in the West Wing. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Lester Hinds, Gleaner Writer

Susan Rice, former national security adviser to former United States President Barack Obama, has been tapped by President-elect Joe Biden to become the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.

Rice, whose grandparents are Jamaican, will not need Senate confirmation.

She joins another high-profile Biden administration personality with Jamaican roots.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ father is Jamaican.

Rice’s name was at one time floated as a possible vice-presidential running mate for Biden.

She had also been considered for various positions, including secretary of state, but it was deemed an unnecessary fight to have with the Republicans in the Senate to confirm her to that post.

As director of the council, she would have broad sway over the administration’s approach to immigration, healthcare, and racial inequality as well as elevating the prominence of the position in the West Wing of the White House.

Rice has wide foreign affairs credentials.

In addition to serving as national security adviser to Obama, she also served as US ambassador to the United Nations and served as undersecretary of state for African affairs in the Clinton administration.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.