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Karine Jean-Pierre
| Karine Jean-Pierre | |||
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| Basic facts | |||
| Organization: | Biden administration | ||
| Role: | White House press secretary, senior advisor | ||
| Affiliation: | Independent | ||
| Education: | Columbia University | ||
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Karine Jean-Pierre was the White House press secretary for the Biden administration from 2022 to 2025. On May 5, 2022, President Joe Biden (D) announced Jen Psaki would be resigning from her role as White House Press Secretary on May 13 and that Jean-Pierre would take over the position.[1] Biden appointed Jean-Pierre as a senior advisor in October 2024.[2]
Jean-Pierre formerly worked as a senior advisor and national spokesperson for MoveOn.org.[3]
On June 4, 2025, Jean-Pierre announced she was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent.[4] Click here to read more.
Career
Early career
Jean-Pierre is the daughter of Haitian immigrants to the United States. In an interview with SheKnows, Jean-Pierre said:[5]
| “ | I give credit to my parents. They are Haitian and immigrated to America. My dad is 70 but still drives a cab, my mom is a home health care worker. They came from a country that is impoverished but left to get a better life for their kids. For them, they are so proud of me, and they feel they have reached their dream because of my successes, but without them I wouldn't be where I am. They told me I could be whatever I wanted to be, do whatever I wanted to do.[6] | ” |
Jean-Pierre began her political work in New York City working for city council members James Sanders and James F. Gennano.[7] She then became the Southeast regional political director for John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.[7]
Barack Obama advisor
In 2008, Jean-Pierre worked as the Southern political director in Barack Obama's presidential campaign. In Obama's 2012 re-election campaign, Jean-Pierre was director of political strategy for battleground states.[8] In between campaigns for Obama, Jean-Pierre worked in the White House, first as a liaison to the Labor Department.[8] Jean-Pierre then moved to the role of regional political director in the White House Office of Political Affairs.
Political consulting
After Obama's re-election campaign, Jean-Pierre started K Plus K Enterprises with Katie Ingebretson, another former Obama staffer. The consulting firm focused on "clients and projects that have an eye and vision towards social and cultural change."[9]
In 2013, Jean-Pierre directed two campaigns in New York City: Bill Thompson's (D) primary campaign for mayor and Letitia James' (D) run-off campaign for public advocate.[7]
In April 2016, MoveOn.org named Jean-Pierre a senior advisor and national spokesperson for the 2016 presidential election. In a press release announcing the hire, MoveOn said Jean-Pierre would "advise on and serve as a spokesperson around MoveOn’s electoral work, including a major effort to stand up to Donald Trump."[3]
Martin O'Malley presidential campaign, 2016
On May 7, 2015, the New York Times reported that Martin O'Malley hired Jean-Pierre as national political director.[10] O'Malley announced his presidential run on May 30, 2015.[11] During the campaign, Jean-Pierre served as the deputy campaign manager, focusing on policy proposals and working with O'Malley on criminal justice reforms.
Biden administration
During the 2020 presidential election, Jean-Pierre served as Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris' (D) chief of staff.[12] On November 29, 2020, Biden announced Jean-Pierre would serve as Principal Deputy Press Secretary in the Biden Administration.[13] On May 5, 2022, Biden announced Jean-Pierre would take over the position of White House Press Secretary on May 13 after the resignation of Jen Psaki.[1]
Noteworthy events
Party change (June 2025)
On June 4, 2025, Jean-Pierre announced she was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent. Jean-Pierre made the announcement in a video on Instagram promoting her book, Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines. "I think we need to stop thinking in boxes, and think outside of our boxes, and not be so partisan," she said.[4]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Karine Jean-Pierre'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Joe Biden presidential administration
- Joe Biden's Cabinet
- Confirmation process for Joe Biden's Cabinet nominees
- Martin O'Malley presidential campaign, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The White House, "President Biden Announces Karine Jean-Pierre as White House Press Secretary," May 5, 2022
- ↑ ABC News, "White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre promoted to senior adviser: Exclusive," October 7, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Politico, "MoveOn.org Names Karine Jean-Pierre As Senior Advisor & National Spokesperson for 2016 Elections," April 27, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The New York Times, "Karine Jean-Pierre, Former Biden Press Secretary, Leaves Democratic Party," June 4, 2025
- ↑ SheKnows, "A conversation with former Obama aide, Karine Jean-Pierre," October 30, 2012
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedofficialbio - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Washington Blade, "Behind the scenes of the Obama campaign," September 8, 2011
- ↑ LinkedIn, "K Plus K Enterprises," accessed June 19, 2015
- ↑ New York Times, "Martin O’Malley Hires Political Director Before Likely Run," May 7, 2015
- ↑ The New York Times, "Martin O’Malley Announces Presidential Campaign, Pushing Image of Vitality," May 30, 2015
- ↑ CNBC, "Biden campaign prepares for VP pick announcement," August 11, 2020
- ↑ NPR, "Biden Names All-Female White House Communications Team; Will Tap Tanden For OMB," November 29, 2020
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