Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gave Americans a look behind the podium during her speech. vanity fair works Published on Tuesday.
Jean-Pierre, who has chosen to keep his personal life private while working in the Biden-Harris administration, has opened up about his personal health battles that have taken a toll on him and his family.
Jean-Pierre recalled attending the Biden family's first state dinner in December 2022, saying, “It was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that the administration felt it was safe to hold a dinner.” said.
That night, Jean-Pierre was accompanied by his mother, who said it was “the happiest day of my life.”
This state dinner was the last time Jean-Pierre “recognized my mother as the woman I grew up with.''
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse, and just a few months later, her mother was diagnosed with Stage II colon cancer. Jean-Pierre learned of his mother's illness while visiting Poland with then-President Joe Biden.
“My mother has always been a private person. When she finally accepted reality, she said to me, 'Don't tell anyone.' Please don’t tell the president I have cancer,” the former press secretary wrote.
Biden was said to be “one of the few people in the White House” who knew about the situation Jean-Pierre's mother was going through. Jean-Pierre said Biden “showed up for me” during a difficult time.
Jean-Pierre and his siblings were cared for by their mother and drove to New York “to see her every weekend,” but stopped at night to get “a few hours of sleep” before heading to the White House. I came back late.
Despite his very public role coordinating his mother's care in the Biden-Harris administration, Jean-Pierre says that being a “private citizen” means he is He explained that this was just one of the reasons why he did not do so. Announces her mother's battle with cancer.
The former press secretary also said that he worked while feeling the “weight” of being a “first.”
“I'm the first Black press secretary. The first press secretary of color. The first openly queer press secretary. The first Haitian-American immigrant press secretary. The first press secretary who is all of the above. The first. This meant that I had responsibilities that went beyond those listed in my job description, making my workload heavier. I have certain responsibilities to the community I represent.”・Pierre wrote.
Jean-Pierre also believed that disclosing her mother's diagnosis would be seen as an 'excuse' because society does not recognize the vulnerability of women of color in the workplace.” insisted. If it's your first time, you don't get the benefit of the doubt. ”
While in the White House briefing room, Jean-Pierre faced criticism for a series of embarrassing and controversial scenes.
In one of his most infamous moments, Jean-Pierre accused the media and others of creating a “cheap fake” that made Biden appear “particularly frail or mentally disturbed.”
As Americans question whether their commander-in-chief is capable of carrying out his mission, Jean-Pierre denounces it as “misinformation” and “disinformation,” and warns the nation. It was gaslighting.
After Biden voiced opposition by labeling Georgia's voting laws “Jim Crow 2.0,” Jean-Pierre raised eyebrows by claiming that “high turnout and voter suppression can go together.” .
Jean-Pierre was also tasked with reversing the president's denial that he could pardon his son, Hunter Biden.
Despite the president's repeated vows not to pardon his son, Jean-Pierre said, “Things have changed.”
She also blamed then-President-elect Donald Trump, saying the president was trying to protect her son from Republican “retaliation.”
Jean-Pierre replaced his predecessor, Jen Psaki, in May 2022, after serving as Biden's press secretary for nearly a year and a half. In handing over the reins to Jean-Pierre, Psaki called her successor a “remarkable individual” before listing her qualifications for the position.
