Karine Jean-Pierre, the former White House press secretary, has announced that she is leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent. Her decision comes just months before the release of her new tell-all book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House: Outside the Party Lines, which is set to be published in October 2025.
Jean-Pierre, who worked for both the Obama and Biden administrations, said she made the move because she could no longer support what she calls the party’s “betrayal” of former President Joe Biden. She explained that she wants to move beyond party loyalty and think independently. “The danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes,” she said in a statement. “We need to be clear-eyed and questioning rather than blindly loyal.”
Her decision is closely tied to the events that followed Biden’s difficult debate performance in June 2024. After the debate, many Democratic leaders, strategists, and media figures publicly pressured Biden to step down from his re-election campaign. Jean-Pierre described this as a “firing squad,” saying the party turned on the sitting president. “I have never seen anything like that,” she said. “It was truly unfortunate and it hurt us more than people realize.”
According to her publisher, Jean-Pierre’s book gives an insider’s view of what happened during the three weeks leading up to Biden’s decision to end his campaign. It claims to reveal how the Democratic Party’s actions led to his withdrawal and what Jean-Pierre sees as a larger problem in American politics.
The book is not just a memoir but a call for Americans to look beyond the two-party system. It encourages citizens to think for themselves instead of following political tribes. Jean-Pierre argues that the current political system has become too rigid and that people should be open to new ideas and independence from party labels.
Her departure from the Democratic Party has stirred strong reactions. Some have praised her for speaking out and promoting political independence, while others—especially within Democratic circles—say her timing is unhelpful and could hurt the party as it continues to rebuild after the 2024 election.
Jean-Pierre’s move also reflects a growing trend in U.S. politics. More Americans, especially younger voters, are choosing not to identify with either major party. With her high-profile background and inside knowledge of the White House, Jean-Pierre’s decision to go independent adds new momentum to this movement.
Former Biden White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sharply criticized the Democratic Party in an excerpt from her upcoming memoir, revealing why she chose to leave the party and register as an independent after years of loyal service.
In the excerpt, published by Newsweek, Jean-Pierre recalled the moment President Joe Biden informed his White House staff that he was ending his re-election campaign.
“Biden seemed completely at peace with his decision, but I was in shock,” she wrote. “My emotions were all over the place — I was angry and heartbroken. It felt wrong that a man who had dedicated more than 50 years of his life to serving the American people was treated so poorly by his own party. It was painful to watch.”
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has revealed that she is leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, a decision she discusses in her upcoming book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.
Jean-Pierre said her choice was driven by deep frustration with the Democratic Party, which she accused of betraying former President Joe Biden during his final months in office. She described the party’s treatment of Biden after his 2024 debate performance as a “firing squad,” saying it was one of the most disheartening moments she had witnessed in politics.
Explaining her decision, Jean-Pierre said it is time for Americans to move beyond “blind loyalty” and the limitations of the two-party system. “We need to free ourselves of boxes,” she said, urging voters to think independently and focus on what truly benefits the country rather than partisan interests.