Karine Jean-Pierre reveals trauma of watching Democratic 'firing squad' take out Joe Biden
Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed what it was like during her last year in the job, as she scrambled to cover for former President Joe Biden in his last weeks of his reelection campaign.
Jean-Pierre participated in an event at the Institute of Politics Harvard Kennedy School to talk about the historic 2024 campaign, where her boss former President Joe Biden was forced out of the race after his disastrous debate performance in June 2024.
‘Personally what I think was the toughest thing in the three weeks, there was a disconnect for me what was happening in the leadership of the Democratic party,’ Jean-Pierre said.
After his disastrous first debate performance against former President Donald Trump, Democratic party donors and leaders worked behind the scenes to force Biden out of the race, as they were terrified by the thought of losing.
Jean-Pierre expressed her disappointment in the Democratic Party, marveling how swiftly they moved within three weeks to force Biden out.
‘It was a firing squad and I had never seen anything like it before,’ she said. ‘I’d never seen a party do that in the way that they did and it was hurtful and sad to see that happening, a firing squad around a person who I believe was a true patriot.’
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer repeatedly spoke with the media and their members, voicing their concerns to the president and his advisors, demanding that he exit the race.
Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s accomplishments in office, adding she was surprised at how quickly the party turned against him.
‘That was shocking, shocking!’ she said. ‘Instead of coming together to really be unified and trying to figure out how do we save our democracy, how do we fight back, that was what I was seeing.’
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre arrives to speak during the daily press briefing
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacts at the end of her last press briefing
The internal dissent behind Biden, she suggested, cost Democrats the election.
‘Truly unfortunate, and I think it hurt us more than I think folks realized,’ she said.
Jean-Pierre reflected that her job as press secretary was the ‘hardest job in the White House.’
She said she definitely struggled in the job, wondering how she would get through the day, but continued pushing forward in the job.
'I'm human at the end of the day,' she admitted.
Jean-Pierre said she typically spent four hours preparing for the briefing and frequently relied on former senior advisor Mike Donilon to guide her on messaging.
'Almost every word, everything I say has been approved,' she said.
US President Joe Biden, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
President Joe Biden (with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the far right) waving to the press
Jean-Pierre said she it was an ‘honor and a privilege’ to serve as White House press secretary but conceded, ‘I have not missed it at all.’
She pointed out that she was the ‘longest serving female press secretary,’ in history which she was proud of.
Jean-Pierre said she was enjoying the change in pace and was learning to be an ordinary citizen again.
‘The last time I watched the news was January 20th,’ she said. ‘I have really tired to focus on self-care.’
When asked what she was planning to do in her future, she smiled and said, ‘That’s a good question, I would love to know myself.’
