Jean-Pierre’s Revelations on Biden’s Debate Struggles

In a newly released book, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attributes the decline in President Joe Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump to the stress from her son Hunter’s federal weapons trial. She describes how this tension led to a “halt” during the 2024 campaign.

Jean-Pierre, who is 51, insists that there wasn’t a noticeable decline in Biden’s mental acuity until the night of June 27, 2024. It was a heartbreaking moment as he watched his “only living son” potentially facing years behind bars. “As soon as President Biden started speaking at the debate, I felt a wave of anxiety,” she writes in her book, *The Independent*, which came out on Tuesday.

She further details the atmosphere during that pivotal time, recalling the ringing phones as observers noted something was off with the president’s health. A few days post-debate, Biden reassured Democratic governors in a private meeting that he was doing well, even joking about his mental state: “My brain.”

The book, subtitled “Beyond Party Lines and Looking Inside the Broken White House,” aims to detail the “gruelling three weeks” leading up to Biden’s campaign suspension on July 21, 2024. Jean-Pierre reflects on Biden’s taxing travel schedule to Europe during this period, remarking, “Yes, world leaders need to travel, but amid those trips, his son was facing a significant trial.”

She suggests that this emotional burden weighed heavily on Biden. “It truly must have broken his heart,” she states, citing the Justice Department’s prosecution of Hunter. Jean-Pierre hints at the notion that Hunter was politically targeted, adding another layer to the family’s turmoil.

In a July interview, Hunter defended his father’s erratic statements during a CNN forum, pointing to a newly prescribed sleeping pill as a possible culprit for his father’s lapses in clarity.

“He had responsibilities to travel and be president, ultimately facing Trump in the debate, which would rattle even the most seasoned debater,” Jean-Pierre comments. Less than 11 minutes into the debate, she recalls, Biden faltered, losing track of numbers and trailing off mid-sentence. This raised alarms among his supporters, prompting texts asking if he was sick.

Jean-Pierre admits, “I may have been so focused on how voters would perceive the contrast between Biden and Trump that I overlooked just how fatigued he was.” Surprisingly, she did not realize he was under the weather until he began to speak during the debate.

The subsequent backlash from within the Democratic Party was intense, with Jean-Pierre insisting that Biden would not resign. “That’s what I was told, and I believed it,” she explains, mentioning daily briefings where Biden’s health was a talking point.

Jean-Pierre also shares how she accused some media outlets of misleading narratives regarding Biden’s health, particularly following his unclear moments at the G7 summit and at a fundraiser where he appeared confused. The phrase “cheap fake” was notably added to her talking points, although she claims she didn’t know who contributed it.

Later in her memoir, she reflects on the concerns raised by actor George Clooney, suggesting they were “not entirely unwarranted.” She describes an unsettling atmosphere filled with whispers and messages regarding a potential campaign to push Biden out of the race, which she never expected would gain traction.

This effort, primarily led by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, she claims, would jeopardize Kamala Harris’s chances against Trump. Jean-Pierre remarks on the speculation among party insiders that Pelosi preferred California Governor Gavin Newsom as a suitable nominee instead.

Jean-Pierre concludes her book by stating her aim was to confront the Democratic establishment regarding its disconnection from voters who felt neglected. She questions the internal conflicts that led her to reconsider her party affiliation, asking if she truly wanted to be part of a party that operates in such a manner.

“Having reflected deeply on this,” she states, “I’ve realized that I can contribute more to the country as an independent than as a Democrat. I’m choosing to step outside the party now.”