Obama Honors White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest At Last Briefing (VIDEO)

White House press secretary Josh Earnest listens as President Barack Obama speaks at his final daily press briefing, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Mart... White House press secretary Josh Earnest listens as President Barack Obama speaks at his final daily press briefing, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) MORE LESS
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President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance Tuesday at White House press secretary Josh Earnest’s final daily briefing to honor his work.

“Number one, you know, he’s just got that all-American matinee good-looking thing going,” Obama said, starting his tribute on a light note. “That’s helpful, let’s face it. 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.”

He praised Earnest for his “his smarts and his maturity and his actual interest in the issues,” as well as his integrity.

“You know, there are people you meet who you have a pretty good inkling right off the bat are straight shooters, and were raised to be fundamentally honest, and to treat people with respect, and there are times where that first impression turns out to be wrong,” Obama said. “But then there’s others who the longer you know them, the better you know them, the more time you spend with them, the more you’re tested under tough situations, the more that initial impression is confirmed.”

Obama said that Earnest has “never disappointed” him.

“He has always been the guy you wanted him to be,” he said. “Of the folks that I’ve had the great joy and pleasure of working with over the last ten years on this incredible journey, you know, 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, so Josh, congratulations.”

Before Obama’s remarks, Earnest opened his final briefing by reviewing notable moments from his tenure and thanking his colleagues, friends and family.

“It’s been an extraordinary journey and this has been an extraordinary chapter,” he said. “Everything about this final week makes me think of all the incredible people whom I’ve been blessed to work with these past eight years.”

Earnest said that serving as White House press secretary under Obama’s administration was “an incredible honor,” and then addressed the press corps directly.

“Each of you and what you do every day is critical to the success of our democracy,” he said. “It’s made President Obama a better president and a better public servant and it’s because you persevere and you never go easy on us. So even though it’s my last day, you better not let up now.”

Watch Obama’s remarks below:

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