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Karine Jean-Pierre, Biden’s former press secretary, leaves Democratic party

Jean-Pierre, now an independent, expected to detail weeks that preceded Biden’s dropout from 2024 race in new book

Karine Jean-Pierre in the press briefing room at the White House on 30 October 2024. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Karine Jean-Pierre in the press briefing room at the White House on 30 October 2024. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as White House press secretary for Joe Biden, has left the Democratic party to become an independent, according to the publisher of her forthcoming book.

Jean-Pierre, who served two Democratic White Houses, is expected to detail the weeks that preceded Biden’s monumental decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, per a preview of the book, which is set to be published this fall.

The book, titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, promises a detailed recounting of “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”.

The book will be published by Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint.

Jean-Pierre’s announcement comes as the party has been forced to reckon with its decision to staunchly support Biden’s decision to seek a second term as the oldest serving president in American history and despite voter concerns about his age and mental acuity. Tensions between Jean-Pierre and the White House press corps grew tense last year, as reporters pressed for more access and transparency around the president’s health.

New reporting on Biden’s presidency presents a scathing account of efforts by his close staff and allies to hide the extent of his deterioration. In the midst of the debate, Biden’s office announced that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

In comments since leaving the White House, Jean-Pierre described Democrats’ response to Biden’s disastrous June debate against Trump, in which he appeared disoriented and listless, as a “firing squad”.

“I had never seen anything like that before,” she said during a discussion hosted by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School in late February, describing the rising tide of calls demanding he abandon his re-election campaign. “It was truly, truly unfortunate. And I think it hurt us more than folks realized.”

Jean-Pierre did not arrive “lightly” at her decision to leave the Democratic party, according to the publisher. The book, billed as a “hard-hitting yet hopeful critique”, will make the case for “why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents”.

In a series of Instagram posts promoting her book, Jean-Pierre said it was “time to free ourselves from boxes”, joining a growing trend of Americans who do not identify as Democrats or Republicans. According to the latest Gallup poll, far more Americans – 43% – consider themselves to be independents than Democrats – 28% – or Republicans, also 28%.

“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 publisher said.

Jean-Pierre was the first Black woman and openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as White House press secretary, assuming the role after Jen Psaki departed the position.

Author: Lauren Gambino

Source: The Guardian

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