Karine Jean-Pierre, former Biden press secretary, leaves Democratic party
Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary under President Joe Biden, announced on Wednesday June 4 that she has written a book detailing her time in the White House.
The memoir, titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, is set for release on October 21, 2025.
The book promises to offer an inside look at the turbulent final weeks of Biden's presidency, focusing on what Jean-Pierre describes as a 'broken White House.' It will explore the events leading up to Biden's decision to abandon his bid for a second term and the Democratic Party's role in what she considers his 'betrayal.'
According to the publisher, Legacy Lit, Jean-Pierre will delve into her personal journey of leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, a move she attributed to the country's pressing need for creative, strategic thinking.
In a statement, Jean-Pierre explained that once Biden's presidency ended and Donald Trump returned to office, she realised that the nation needed to break free from old political boxes.
She urged Americans to 'think creatively and plan strategically' and to be 'clear-eyed and questioning' rather than 'blindly loyal and obedient' to political norms.
Jean-Pierre's decision to step away from the Democratic Party comes amid mounting scrutiny over Biden's 2024 re-election bid.
Books like CNN's Original Sin and reports from various media outlets have cast a spotlight on concerns regarding Biden's cognitive and physical health.
Jean-Pierre, who made history as the first Black and openly gay woman to serve as White House press secretary, previously worked as a senior political adviser and served in the Obama administration.
She took over the press secretary role in 2022, succeeding Jen Psaki.
Her tenure in the White House was marked by both praise and criticism. Some commended her handling of difficult press briefings, while others took issue with her responses concerning Biden's health.
In February 2025, Jean-Pierre spoke at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, where she reflected on the difficulties she faced in the final weeks of Biden's campaign.
'I had never seen a party do that in the way that they did,' she said of the backlash Biden faced from fellow Democrats. 'It was hurtful and sad to see that happening.'
Although Jean-Pierre has stated that she does not miss her time as press secretary, she emphasised her commitment to the administration's work, noting, 'I would not have come back into the administration, I don't think, for anybody else [but Biden].'
News of her book has stirred mixed reactions from her former colleagues.
Jeremy Edwards, a former Biden White House spokesperson, took to X (formerly Twitter), writing only 'lol,' a response that some interpreted as a dismissive reaction to Jean-Pierre's departure and revelations.
As the Democratic Party grapples with its direction in the wake of the 2024 election, Jean-Pierre's book is set to offer a candid perspective on a pivotal time in American politics.
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