The recent book tour for "Original Sin," co-authored by Axios correspondent Alex Thompson, has unveiled a series of revelations about the inner workings of the Biden White House, particularly regarding former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. During a stop in Chicago, Thompson shared insights from the administration's staffers who reportedly expressed significant frustration with Jean-Pierre's job performance.
According to sources from within the Biden administration, there was a consensus that Jean-Pierre was "untouchable," primarily due to her close relationship with Anthony Bernal, a senior aide to former first lady Jill Biden. Staffers criticized her for being ineffective, showing a lack of self-awareness regarding her shortcomings, and for not making efforts to improve. Fox News reported that Jean-Pierre was more focused on boosting her profile rather than fulfilling her responsibilities.
Adding to the controversy, Jean-Pierre's recent declaration of independence from the Democratic Party, which had previously supported her ascent to a prominent spokesperson role, stirred further discontent. Axios reporter Thompson described this move as causing simmering resentment to "explode instantly" among former Biden aides.
CNN anchor and book co-author Jake Tapper weighed in, suggesting that Jean-Pierre's switch in party affiliation amplified the criticism she faced. During an event moderated by NPR’s David Folkenflik, the authors were asked about the anonymity of the critiques. Tapper questioned the fear of going public, while Thompson explained that many former staffers were concerned about associating their current employers with negative commentary and feared potential backlash from the culture of the Biden White House, which was known to silence dissent.
The authors also highlighted the delicate position Jean-Pierre held as the first Black woman and LGBT press secretary, which they believe made her former colleagues more hesitant to criticize her openly. They called into question her credibility, citing instances where she defended President Biden during controversial moments, like his debate performances and a repeated story about the Charlottesville events.
Jean-Pierre is preparing for the release of her own book, which reportedly will contain criticisms of her experiences in the Biden White House. These revelations from Thompson and Tapper's book have stirred interest in the dynamics of the previous administration and are likely to fuel further discussion about the roles and expectations of White House officials.
