Jennifer Palmieri

Jennifer Palmieri – Life, Career, and Impact

Learn about Jennifer Palmieri — her early life, political career, public service, views, writings, and legacy in American politics and communications.

Introduction

Jennifer M. Palmieri (born November 15, 1966) is an American political strategist, communications expert, author, and media figure. She is best known for serving as White House Communications Director under President Barack Obama (2013–2015) and as Director of Communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Palmieri has also worked in Democratic politics for decades, advised high-profile campaigns, held senior communications leadership roles, and in recent years has become a public commentator, television host, and writer.

Below is a comprehensive look into her life, career, philosophy, and influence.

Early Life and Family

Jennifer Palmieri was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on November 15, 1966.

Her sister, Dana, suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s and died in 2017—a loss that Palmieri has spoken about publicly, using her platform to share insights on caregiving and memory loss.

Palmieri has maintained a relatively private personal life; little public detail is available about her parents beyond her father’s naval service or about her childhood beyond the moves and schooling.

Education & Early Political Engagement

Jennifer Palmieri attended American University in Washington, D.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Her first professional political role came working for then-Congressman Leon Panetta (D–California) early in her career.

From there, she moved into higher levels of Democratic politics and communications, beginning her climb through communications and press roles in campaigns, administration, and policy organizations.

Career & Public Service

Early Roles in Campaigns & the Democratic Party

• In 2002, Palmieri was national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

• She later joined the 2004 John Edwards presidential campaign as National Press Secretary.

• She also had roles in Americans for Gun Safety early in her career.

Work in the Clinton Administration & Transition to Policy Communications

During Bill Clinton’s presidency, Palmieri served in several capacities:

• Special Assistant to White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta

• Deputy Director of Scheduling and Advance

• Deputy White House Press Secretary (in the final years of the Clinton White House)

After the Clinton era, she transitioned to influential policy and advocacy organizations:

• Senior Vice President of Communications at the Center for American Progress

• President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund

These roles solidified her reputation as a skilled communicator who could move between policy, politics, and media.

White House Communications Director (Obama Administration)

On January 25, 2013, Palmieri became White House Communications Director under President Barack Obama. She held that position until April 1, 2015, when Jen Psaki succeeded her.

In that role, she was responsible for shaping and coordinating messaging across the administration — a critical time with issues like healthcare reform, budget battles, international diplomacy, and domestic policy debates.

Role in the 2016 Hillary Clinton Campaign

After leaving the White House, Palmieri took on the role of Director of Communications for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign.

During that time, she was involved in messaging strategy, media relations, campaign communications, and crisis management. The 2016 campaign was marked by intense scrutiny, controversies, and the high-stakes nature of modern media and digital platforms.

Palmieri also was entangled in the fallout of the WikiLeaks 2016 email release, in which emails involving her and other aides discussing religious groups drew public criticism.

Media, Commentary & Recent Roles

After 2016, Palmieri shifted more visibly into public commentary and media roles:

• She co-hosted the political documentary series The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (Showtime) beginning in 2021, having appeared earlier in guest roles.

• She has been a contributing editor to Vanity Fair.

• She hosts the Just Something About Her podcast, focused on women, leadership, power, and navigating sexism in public life.

• Her book publications include Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World (2018) and She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World (2020).

In August 2024, she was named a senior adviser to Doug Emhoff in the Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign.

Additionally, she works as a senior advisor for nonprofits, advising on communications, strategy, crisis management, and donor engagement.

Philosophy, Public Voice & Influence

Palmieri’s public presence often centers on gender, power, media dynamics, and leadership. In her writings and commentary, she explores how women navigate public life, how emotions and perception play into political narratives, and the role of authenticity in leadership.

Her work in The Circus allowed her to analyze and comment on politics in real time, expanding her influence beyond behind-the-scenes operations to shaping the public discourse.

Her books, particularly Dear Madam President, are directed toward encouraging more women to run for office, and reflecting on the institutional and societal challenges they face.

Palmieri has also spoken about how her sister’s illness affected her understanding of caregiving, memory, and public responsibility, weaving personal experience into her public voice.

As a communications strategist, she is known for her crisis management skills, her ability to manage media narratives, and her experience across the executive branch, campaign environments, and nonprofit spaces.

Selected Works & Contributions

Here’s a summary of notable works, roles, and contributions: