Jean-Pierre quits Democratic party, announces tell-all on Biden's WH
Karine Jean-Pierre has quit the Democratic party and will publish a tell-all memoir, citing party betrayal and defending her shift to political independence.
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Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, June 7, 2023. (AP)
Karine Jean-Pierre, former Press Secretary for former US President Joe Biden, has announced her departure from the Democratic Party and her plans to publish a revealing memoir about her time in the White House, according to the Financial Times.
The move comes after a significant rupture within the party’s post-election ranks as it struggles to regroup following its loss to US President Donald Trump in November.
The book, titled "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines," is set for release in October, according to publisher Hachette.
In its announcement, Hachette noted that Jean-Pierre “didn’t come to her decision lightly” and chose to become politically independent after what she describes as a period of deep internal reckoning.
According to FT, the publisher says the memoir will chronicle the three-week period that led to Biden’s decision to abandon his re-election bid and highlight what Jean-Pierre characterizes as a betrayal by the Democratic Party.
Her account is expected to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the internal divisions and leadership challenges during Biden’s final months in office, according to the Financial Times.
Jean-Pierre’s announcement adds to a growing body of post-administration exposés. A recent book by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson included serious allegations that senior officials attempted to conceal the extent of Biden’s cognitive decline while in office.
Biden's health disclosure intensifies scrutiny
Just days before the book's release, the former president’s office disclosed that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer at age 82.
According to the Financial Times, the revelation has further complicated the Democratic party’s effort to present a unified front against Trump’s second-term agenda.
The internal fractures have also been reflected in public polling. A recent RealClearPolitics average shows that only around one-third of Americans currently hold a favorable view of the Democratic Party.
Jean-Pierre defends decision amid criticism
Some party insiders have labeled Jean-Pierre’s announcement as disloyal, particularly given her close role with Biden over two and a half years. However, she defended her move in a video posted to Instagram on Wednesday.
“In an era of misinformation, disinformation, and the regressiveness of social policy that we are seeing currently, I’ve decided to follow my own compass,” Jean-Pierre said. “And that is what I have done.”
Political career shaped by party shifts
A longtime Democratic operative, Jean-Pierre worked in the Obama White House and served as a senior advisor to Biden’s 2020 campaign. She was elevated to the role of White House Press Secretary in 2022, succeeding Jen Psaki, who now hosts a political show on MSNBC.
The Financial Times reported that her transition to an independent status and the forthcoming publication of her memoir are likely to deepen existing rifts within the Democratic Party as it reassesses its direction heading into 2026.