Karine Jean-Pierre, the former White House press secretary under Biden, has openly criticized the Democratic Party in her new memoir, explaining her choice to declare independence after being a long-time member.
In one of the excerpts, she describes the moment when then-President Joe Biden informed his team of his decision to withdraw from the race. She recalled feeling a mix of surprise and emotional turmoil, expressing anger and sadness. “It was heartbreaking to see a man who dedicated over 50 years to serving the country being treated poorly by his own party,” Jean-Pierre noted.
In her book, she elaborates that she never anticipated Biden would step aside. While she had consistently defended Biden’s capability when speaking on behalf of the administration, his declining cognitive abilities ultimately impacted the party. Despite this, Jean-Pierre felt a sense of betrayal.
“The Democratic Party shaped my life and career,” she reflected. “Everything I’ve done to improve people’s lives has been tied to that. It was a way for me to participate in a significant historical moment, especially as the first black female and openly gay press secretary.” She added that the thought of leaving the party had never crossed her mind until now.
Jean-Pierre also mentioned her impending appearance on ABC’s “The View,” highlighting her anxiety and how she is seeking to transform her disappointment into constructive action. “I want to fight for what I believe in, but without the blind loyalty to a party that I feel no longer represents my values,” she shared.
Eventually, she came to the conclusion, “You know what? I’m going to become an independent. I can’t continue as a Democrat.”
Jean-Pierre criticized the Democrats, claiming they acted like a “firing squad” against Biden, who faced increasing pressure from his party after a tough debate performance against Republican Trump last summer.
When she released her memoir, Jean-Pierre stated her decision to exit the Democratic Party, after having previously worked on various Democratic campaigns and serving as a political analyst for MSNBC.
