Biden Book Exposes White House Frustrations with Karine Jean-Pierre’s Tenure

CHICAGO — A revealing glimpse into the inner workings of the Biden White House emerged Thursday as one of the authors of the explosive new book "Original Sin" shared candid insights about former Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Speaking during a book tour event at The Vic Theatre in Chicago, Alex Thompson, alongside co-author Jake Tapper, didn’t hold back on the widespread frustration among Biden staffers regarding Jean-Pierre’s tenure.

Thompson highlighted a particularly sharp reaction from former Biden insiders to Jean-Pierre’s recent announcement of leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent, a move she ties to her upcoming book claiming to expose a "broken White House." One former staffer texted Thompson, calling it a ‘ballet move’ to claim disloyalty to Biden as her reason for the switch. The resentment, it seems, has been simmering for a while.

Despite what Thompson described as "mass bad reviews" of her performance as press secretary within the administration, Jean-Pierre was often seen as untouchable, thanks to her close ties with a key aide to Jill Biden. Many felt she lacked self-awareness about her shortcomings and focused more on building her personal brand than improving her skills. Now, her pivot to criticize the very party that elevated her to one of the nation’s top spokesperson roles has ignited fresh anger among her former colleagues.

Tapper, for his part, questioned the logic behind her party switch, suggesting it’s fueled more scorn than if she’d remained silent. Both authors also pointed to a culture of fear within the Biden administration, where speaking out could invite retaliation, even post-tenure. This, they noted, explains why many critics of Jean-Pierre remain anonymous.

Adding to the critique, Tapper recalled moments that dented Jean-Pierre’s credibility, like her defense of Biden’s repeated anecdotes at a 2023 fundraiser as a sign of his passion rather than a lapse. Her limited direct interactions with the president, Tapper quipped, might explain some of her responses.

What’s clear from this Chicago discussion is that Jean-Pierre’s time in the spotlight left a deeply divided legacy among those who worked alongside her—a legacy now being dissected in print and on stage.