In an undisclosed strategy last year, high-ranking officials within President Biden’s administration were orchestrating an exit strategy for White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre. These insiders have spoken to us on condition of anonymity, revealing that Jean-Pierre, a trailblazer as the first African American and first openly LGTBQ+ individual to hold the role, had irked her superiors by repeatedly serving rehearsed responses from a script during her press briefings.
This style of communication was perceived as lacking the spontaneity and credibility needed to bolster the image of 81-year-old Biden as he gears up for his upcoming re-election push. Consequently, a reshuffle in the ranks seemed to be in order, according to our insiders. Anita Dunn, reputed White House communication supremo and spouse to Biden’s personal attorney, Bob Bauer, allegedly intended to introduce key figures from the Democratic fold to suggest to Jean-Pierre that her tenure at the podium was nearing its end.
According to our sources, Dunn believed the time was ripe to convey this sentiment to the 49-year-old. ‘Anita initiated the engagement of several individuals in the broader party community to liaise with Karine on the matter’, one source disclosed, attributing this information directly to Dunn. Our source also revealed that Dunn insisted that White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients had given the green light to this covert plot to facilitate Jean-Pierre’s departure from the executive office.
The source offered this account, ‘An effort was deployed to have trusted acquaintances of Karine discuss why leaving in the fall might align perfectly with her career trajectory.’ They also reported that this strategy was meant to nudge Jean-Pierre towards her own departure and that these talks were geared towards ‘advising her as to why she might benefit from taking the hint.’
According to this insider, Jean-Pierre’s stay in the position was one-and-a-half years long – a standard duration compared to most press secretaries given the high stress level and heavy workload of the role. ‘Jeff and Anita endeavored to involve individuals that Karine could perceive as reliable and influential to have a discussion about why it could be in her best interest to consider moving on.’
Biden’s initial press secretary, Jen Psaki, had occupied the position for only a little more than 13 months before she transitioned into a role as a television host and commentator on MSNBC. A separate source reported, ‘Jeff and Anita were aiming to offer Karine a respectful and unforced exit strategy’ due to worries about the optics of a compulsory eviction.
A major issue of diversity lays embedded in these concerns and the second source highlighted an uneasiness about the public response to Jean-Pierre’s removal. ‘The fear of public outcry is considerable,’ they added. This informant verified that at least one individual beyond the executive branch was drawn into the discussions with Jean-Pierre.
The unveiling of Dunn’s plan, predicted the first source, could stir up a tense atmosphere within the workplace, however, it may not necessarily catalyze Jean-Pierre’s exit. According to them, ‘Jean-Pierre has been consistent in indicating to her colleagues from the onset that she intended to remain in the position through the election season.’
They said, ‘There is a formidable determination in Karine to persist in her role irrespective of the challenges she might face.’ Jean-Pierre’s decision to stay put despite the swirling currents against her is clear, according to the insider. However, the underlying problems that instigated Dunn’s unsuccessful exit plan continue to persist.
The press secretary’s excessive dependence on her briefing notes and inability to offer swift counter-arguments or impromptu replies crucial in championing Biden’s agenda is concerning to insiders. According to the second source, ‘Karine lacks a firm grasp of the issues and tends to rely heavily on her notes.’ This is of greater concern as ‘she remains convinced that she is performing exceptionally well.’
They confided, ‘She doesn’t fully comprehend the issues at hand, nor does she take the necessary time to educate herself. These subjects don’t come easily to most individuals. A case in point is the Israel-Gaza conflict. This is a significantly intricate matter. Jen would often confer with experts to ensure she was sufficiently informed before heading into a press briefing.’
The work behind the scenes to adequately prepare for press briefings is enormous. This was confirmed by the first source, ‘A considerable amount of work goes into getting ready for a press briefing—a level of preparation Jean-Pierre consistently fails to meet.’
As the Biden administration continues its operations, the handling of the press secretary position remains a contentious issue. The balance between diversity, effectiveness, and preserving a calm, stable public façade will be an ongoing challenge that this administrative body will have to negotiate, all while keeping sight of the broader political landscape.
