In her upcoming book, Karine Jean-Pierre, the former White House press secretary, shares that she found out about Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race during a staff Zoom call. Scheduled for release on October 21, her book, titled “Independent: Looking Beyond the Party Lines and Inside the Broken White House,” outlines her reasons for leaving the Democratic Party. Excerpts from the book were shared back in 2016.
Jean-Pierre recounts being unexpectedly invited to a senior staff call last summer, where she learned that Biden would soon announce his withdrawal. She reached out to White House communications director Ben LaBolt and others, and after about 45 minutes, she was called into an unscheduled meeting. The usual senior advisors were present, along with campaign leaders and Biden.
“My mind started racing. My heart started pounding,” she wrote. When Biden arrived, he broke the news. “Guys, this is Joe,” he said, and he delivered his decision not to seek re-election. His reasoning included the damage incurred by the party, leading him to conclude he would support Kamala Harris instead. He mentioned that a statement would be released shortly to inform the public of his decision.
Jean-Pierre described feeling “numb” after the call and noted that while Biden appeared resolute, she experienced a mix of anger and sadness. “I was furious and heartbroken,” she shared, reflecting on how someone who had dedicated decades to public service could be treated so poorly by his own party.
Despite concerns about Biden’s administration, especially leading up to his withdrawal, Jean-Pierre felt increasingly disillusioned with the Democrats. She mentioned that witnessing the treatment of Biden during the campaign prompted her decision to leave the party. Following Biden’s announcement, some White House officials expressed their disappointment with Jean-Pierre’s comments, indicating they were “regrettable.”
Ultimately, she conveyed her feelings of anxiety and the desire to act on her beliefs rather than feel tied to a party she believed was failing. She discussed with a friend her shift toward independence, stating, “You know what? I’m going to become an independent. I don’t think I can stand being a Democrat anymore.”
