Karine Jean-Pierre, who served as White House press secretary under President Joe Biden from 2022 until the end of his term in early 2025, has officially left the Democratic Party and now identifies as an independent, according to the publisher of her forthcoming memoir.
Jean-Pierre’s new book, titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, is scheduled for release in October 2025. The memoir promises an insider’s perspective on the Biden administration’s final years and explores her decision to break away from traditional party affiliations.
In statements accompanying the book announcement, Jean-Pierre emphasized the need for Americans to move beyond rigid partisan boxes. She said the current political climate demands “freeing ourselves of boxes” and adopting a mindset that encourages creativity, strategic thinking, and critical questioning rather than blind loyalty.
Jean-Pierre became the first Black person and the first openly LGBTQ individual to serve as White House press secretary when she took over from Jen Psaki in May 2022. Throughout her tenure, she was a prominent defender of the administration’s policies, including responses to the Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas war.
Her departure from the Democratic Party follows the party’s significant setbacks in the 2024 elections, including President Biden’s unexpected decision to withdraw from the presidential race weeks before the Democratic National Convention. Jean-Pierre’s book reportedly discusses the sense of betrayal she felt from the party during that period, which influenced both Biden’s withdrawal and her own political realignment.
Before joining the Biden White House, Jean-Pierre held roles in Barack Obama’s administration, served as chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 campaign, and was a senior adviser and spokeswoman for progressive advocacy groups.
The Democratic National Committee has declined to comment on Jean-Pierre’s transition to independent status. Meanwhile, her announcement has sparked a mix of reactions, with some former colleagues criticizing her timing and motives, while others view the move as reflective of broader political shifts among voters.
Jean-Pierre’s memoir aims to shed light on the internal workings of what she describes as a “broken White House” and to encourage readers to rethink political identity beyond party lines.