Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has publicly revealed her departure from the Democratic Party, attributing her decision to a profound disillusionment with how then-President Joe Biden was treated. In her newly released memoir, titled “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines,” Jean-Pierre reflects on critical moments leading to Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race.
In an excerpt shared by Newsweek, Jean-Pierre recounts a pivotal phone call in which Biden informed his team about his decision to exit the campaign. She described her feelings as a mix of shock and anger. “Biden seemed to be totally at peace with his decision, but I was stunned, my feelings a blur. I was angry and sad,” she wrote. “I was enraged and heartbroken that this man had given more than 50 years of his life to serving the American people, and in the end, he’d been treated poorly by members of his own party. It was horrible.”
Jean-Pierre has long been an advocate for Biden, having defended his leadership throughout her career. Yet, she expressed a sense of betrayal by the party that shaped her professional life. “The Democratic Party had defined my life, my career,” she stated. “Everything I’d done to make people’s lives better had been connected to it.”
Despite her extensive history with the party, which includes roles in Barack Obama’s campaign and administration, Jean-Pierre ultimately chose to register as an independent. She expressed her frustration, saying, “I don’t think I can stomach being in the Democratic Party anymore.”
Her criticism of the party intensified after Biden faced pressure to step down from the presidential ticket following a lackluster debate performance against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. This event marked the first debate of the presidential campaign that year. Jean-Pierre conveyed disbelief that Biden would concede, stating, “I never thought Biden would step down. The way the Democratic leadership was coming after him, I believed he would fight back harder.”
Jean-Pierre’s announcement of her departure from the Democratic Party coincided with the release of her memoir. The book delves into the three weeks leading to Biden’s exit from the race and the feelings of betrayal that accompanied his decision.
On September 12, 2023, Jean-Pierre testified before the House Oversight Committee, where she maintained that she had not observed any decline in Biden’s competency during their 16-year acquaintance. Her insights into the inner workings of the White House and her evolving political stance are expected to resonate widely, reflecting a significant shift in the dynamic of the Democratic Party.
