Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre appeared on stage with 6ABC’s Tamala Edwards at the Free Library of Philadelphia on Wednesday to discuss her new book, *Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House Outside the Party Lines*.
During the event, Jean-Pierre spoke candidly about her experiences in the White House, including the hours leading up to former President Joe Biden’s debate performance against President Donald Trump. She revealed that Biden’s performance that night led to his decision to drop out of the presidential race a few weeks later.
Reflecting on that challenging period, Jean-Pierre said, “I was shocked [with Biden’s debate performance]. What I want people to understand is I have this unique perspective as White House press secretary. From the debate to the day he decided to pass the torch to then-Vice President Kamala Harris, I was the one defending him.”
Jean-Pierre was critical of how many Democratic leaders treated Biden during that time. She expressed disappointment that, after more than 50 years of public service and his efforts on behalf of communities she cares about, Biden was “thrown under the bus” by members of his own party.
“I do think it hurt us when supporters see that from a party that Biden obviously belongs to,” she said. “I think it leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths, but I think there’s a larger issue at play which is where we are today in this moment and what needs to be happening.”
The former press secretary also addressed the ongoing infighting within the Democratic Party and how it influenced her decision to leave the party and become an independent.
Throughout the discussion, Jean-Pierre shared her frank assessments of the country’s current state, the challenges facing the Democratic Party, and the urgent need for everyone to work toward protecting democracy during what she described as a perilous time in American history.
Attendees responded positively to Jean-Pierre’s insights. Bridget Hector, from King of Prussia, said, “Karine Jean-Pierre came up on the Free Library of Philadelphia’s website and we signed up automatically. Just getting her perspective as a queer young Black woman coming out of the White House was valuable.”
Jean-Pierre also encouraged the audience to conduct their own research, verify information they encounter on television, and participate actively in every election.
Discussing why Democrats sometimes struggle to communicate their message effectively, she remarked that many voters want to see the party stand firm and “show some backbone.”
Oscar Houseman, another attendee, shared, “I saw that she had a book that she was promoting. I kind of wanted to hear what she had to say in the book, and that was my whole reason for coming out.”
Addressing the consequences of widespread voter apathy, Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of voter engagement. “Don’t give up your power,” she urged. “That’s kind of what I’m seeing right now with the party. People weren’t paying attention in 2024 for whatever reason and look where we are in 2025. It’s not just about every two years or every four years — we have to be paying attention every year. You got to get involved.”
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*In other news, Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, continues to break barriers. Through her nonprofit organization, she is working to make dance more accessible for children of color.*
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