Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and media voices after announcing her upcoming memoir Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, scheduled for an October 21 release. In the book, she portrays the Biden White House as dysfunctional and reveals her departure from the Democratic Party, citing ideological betrayal and urging Americans to think beyond partisan confines.
Sources within Biden’s inner circle—more than two dozen former aides—label her tenure ineffective and accuse her of exploiting her White House platform for personal gain. One former official described her as “one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I’ve ever worked with,” noting her reliance on pre-scripted material and inability to manage during high-pressure moments. Another described the memoir as a “bizarre cash grab,” questioning her motives and timing.
The backlash extended to media outlets. MSNBC, where Jean-Pierre once contributed, has remained silent on her announcement, drawing criticism for ignoring a former on-air talent revealing insider accounts. In contrast, Fox News mentioned her by name 72 times in two days, and CNN 44 times, signaling heightened interest from conservative and mainstream channels.
Still, some Democrats downplayed her departure, calling it trivial. A House Democrat reportedly stated, “Who cares… paid operatives leave the party until they need something,” dismissing her switch as opportunism.
Jean-Pierre herself attributed her shift to what she called a “broken” system, criticizing both party lines and partisan loyalty. She emphasizes the need for independent thinking and creativity in today’s political climate .
