Former Biden press secretary says she's no longer a Democrat
WASHINGTON – Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary for President Joe Biden, has left the Democratic Party to become an independent, she writes in a new book that will be released this fall.
In her upcoming book "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines," Jean-Pierre shares "why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents," publisher Hachette Book Group says in a summary of the book released June 4.
"Jean-Pierre didn't come to her decision to be an Independent lightly," the teaser for the book adds. "She takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden's abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision."
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Jean-Pierre's "Independent" is set to be released Oct. 21. It will add to the growing list of books on the Biden presidency written by White House reporters, including the recently released "Original Sin" by Jake Tapper of CNN and Alex Thompson of Axios that explores Biden's decline and initial decision to run for president in 2024.
Jean-Pierre, who replaced Jen Psaki as Biden's press secretary, held the position from May 2022 to the end of Biden's term in January 2025. She was the first Black woman and first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold the high-profile position.
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As Biden's top spokesperson, Jean-Pierre played a leading role in defending the former president's fitness after Biden struggled to complete coherent thoughts during a disastrous debate against Donald Trump on June 27, 2024. Biden dropped out of the 2024 election one month later amid pressure from top Democrats.
"He is as sharp as ever, as I have known him to be," Jean-Pierre said during a July 3, 2024 briefing with reporters.
A veteran of Democratic politics, Jean-Pierre worked as chief public affairs officer for MoveOn.org and as an NBC and MSNBC political analyst before joining the White House. She was regional political director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and deputy battleground states director for President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.
In her book, Jean-Pierre "urges all Americans to vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines," according to the publisher's description, and "defines what it means to be part of the growing percentage of our fractured electorate that is Independent.
"As a history maker, veteran public servant, political analyst and independent thinker, she urges Americans to think outside of the blue-and-red box as we consider what's next to save our democracy, the book summary says.
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Karine Jean-Pierre leaves Democratic Party to become an independent
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