In her newly released memoir, “The Independent,” former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre discusses the “campaign to oust me” during her tenure under President Biden. She specifically targets Anita Dunn, who she indicates was behind these efforts.
The allegations regarding Dunn’s supposed coup were initially reported in April 2024 but were dismissed by the White House as a “gross lie,” asserting that the two women had maintained a good relationship despite some underlying tensions related to Dunn’s push to install John Kirby as the press secretary.
Jean-Pierre, 51, claims in her book that Dunn, 67, had been secretly plotting her removal following a disagreement about traveling with Biden to Israel in October 2023, after the Hamas attack on October 7.
Jean-Pierre recounts a conversation where Dunn suggested she abstain from the trip for safety reasons, stating, “You’re a mother. You are a woman,” and implied that a male colleague with experience in conflict zones might be a better fit for the role.
After the conversation with Dunn, Jean-Pierre promptly emailed her chief of staff, informing them that she had been advised against making the important trip to Israel. Shortly afterward, Jean-Pierre describes Dunn storming into her office, visibly upset, and yelling, “Do you want to go on this trip? Yes! It’s yours. Go!” before leaving abruptly.
Jean-Pierre speculates that Dunn’s reaction stemmed from a desire to control her actions. She expresses sadness over the tendency of some women to undermine one another, noting, “Sadly, women sometimes degrade other women.”
The book also highlights that Jean-Pierre was not the only woman to have negative experiences with Dunn, mentioning derogatory comments made towards female staff, particularly women of color.
While Jean-Pierre suggests that Dunn had a role in planting an article contradicting her claims, the specifics around this were murky. Dunn’s actions were said to stem from viewing Jean-Pierre as an impediment to Biden’s re-election efforts, yet Dunn did not provide comments on this matter.
Some former colleagues pushed back against Jean-Pierre’s claims, describing Dunn’s character in more favorable terms and denying any allegations of unfair treatment toward women or minorities.
One source defended Dunn, mentioning the diverse women and minorities he had supported during his tenure, asserting that Jean-Pierre was initially appointed due to her representation of diversity.
A different insider suggested that Dunn’s perceived attitude change was more about challenges in adapting to Jean-Pierre’s style rather than any malice. Meanwhile, a young black woman who worked with Dunn spoke highly of him, appreciating the encouragement and support she received during her experience.
