Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed the Democratic Party for swiftly turning on former US President Joe Biden after his questionable performance in the presidential debate in June last year, describing it as a “firing squad.”
Speaking at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, Jean-Pierre reflected on her final months in the White House, where she worked to defend Biden as his re-election campaign collapsed. She admitted being shocked by how quickly party leaders moved to force him out.
Jean-Pierre said she had never seen anything like the way Democrats abandoned Biden in the weeks following his debate against Donald Trump in June 2024.
“It was a firing squad, and I had never seen anything like that 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.”
She specifically pointed to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who publicly voiced concerns and privately urged Biden and his advisers to step aside.
Jean-Pierre, who spent two years at the podium defending Biden, said the way party leaders reacted hurt the Democratic Party’s chances in the election.
“Truly unfortunate, and I think it hurt us more than I think folks realised,” she said.
Jean-Pierre also spoke candidly about her struggles as press secretary, calling it “the hardest job in the White House.”
She admitted that every day was a challenge. “I’m human at the end of the day,” she said.
Jean-Pierre revealed she spent four hours preparing for each briefing and relied on former senior adviser Mike Donilon to shape the messaging.
“Almost every word, everything I say has been approved,” she acknowledged.
Despite the challenges, she said serving as White House press secretary was “an honour and a privilege” but admitted, “I have not missed it at all.” She noted she was proud of being “the longest-serving female press secretary” in history.
Since leaving the White House, Jean-Pierre said she has been enjoying a slower pace and focusing on self-care.
“The last time I watched the news was January 20th,” she said, adding that she was learning how to be an “ordinary citizen again.”
As for her future plans, she said she was uncertain. “That’s a good question, I would love to know myself.”
Jean-Pierre was replaced by Karoline Leavitt, a Republican loyalist, who became the White House press secretary under the second Trump administration in January 2025. Leavitt is the 36th and youngest person to hold the position in history.
