(Reuters) -Karine Jean-Pierre, who was former President Joe Biden’s press secretary at the White House from 2022 until 2025, has left the Democratic Party and is now an independent, according to the publisher of her forthcoming book.
“We need to be clear-eyed and questioning, rather than blindly loyal and obedient as we may have been in the past,” she was quoted as saying by Legacy Lit, part of the Hachette Book Group, that will release her book ‘Independent’ in October.
Jean-Pierre succeeded Jen Psaki as the public face of the Biden administration in May 2022, becoming the first Black and openly gay person to serve in the role.
In her capacity answering press questions, she stood up for U.S. policy on major issues such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with her responses seen around the world.
Since losing to President Donald Trump in November’s presidential election, Democrats have embarked on much soul-searching as to their defeat, which also saw them lose control of the Senate.
“I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes. We need to be willing to exercise the ability to think creatively and plan strategically,” she said.
Jean-Pierre had previously worked on Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, in President Barack Obama’s White House, and was chief public affairs officer for MoveOn.org, a progressive advocacy group.
The Democratic National Committee declined to comment on the news that Jean-Pierre had become an independent.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Andrea Ricci)
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