PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced harsh criticism from anonymous Biden government insiders following her announcement of leaving the Democratic Party to register as an independent.
👥 Who’s Involved: Karine Jean-Pierre and anonymous Biden staffers.
📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; the backlash followed Jean-Pierre’s announcement on Wednesday and new book release in June 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “She was one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I’ve ever worked with,” said an anonymous former Biden official.
⚠️ Impact: The public fallout highlights internal tensions within the Biden government and raises questions about loyalty and competence among senior officials.
IN FULL:
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre became the target of sharp criticism from anonymous Biden government insiders just one day after announcing her departure from the Democratic Party. Jean-Pierre, who served as the public face of the Biden White House for over two years, revealed in her new book, Independent, that she had registered as an independent, citing a need for Americans to “free ourselves of boxes” and think more strategically about the nation’s challenges.
However, the former Biden White House Press Secretary’s decision to ditch the Democratic Party is already drawing ire from her former colleagues, with some viewing the move as a betrayal. A number of former Biden government staffers are anonymously slamming Jean-Pierre in the media, with one former official describing her as “one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I’ve ever worked with,” adding that she struggled to manage her team and deliver coherent policy messages.
Another former communications official criticized Jean-Pierre’s decision to position herself as an outsider despite enjoying the perks of close proximity to power during her time in the administration. “The hubris of thinking you can position yourself as an outsider… is as breathtaking as it is desperate,” the unnamed official said, suggesting the move was primarily a “cash grab” tied to her book release.
Additional anonymous sources revealed frustrations within the White House about the amount of effort spent “coddling” Jean-Pierre compared to focusing on substantive issues. Critics claimed she frequently experienced “meltdowns” when confronted with unexpected questions during interviews. The swift and public nature of the criticism underscores ongoing tensions among the former Biden government staff, as no significant voices have come forward to defend Jean-Pierre amid the backlash.
Notably, Jean-Pierre played a key role in defending President Biden’s cognitive fitness, despite internal concerns about his performance during public appearances, including a debate with President Donald J. Trump. Jean-Pierre had publicly vouched for Biden’s mental acuity, calling him “as sharp as ever” at the time.