The Biden administration refutes claims of a covert operation to oust White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, dismissing reports as “wildly false,” Deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates stated, addressing allegations of an internal plot first revealed by the New York Post.
The alleged scheme, reportedly orchestrated by longtime Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn and backed by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, aimed to persuade Jean-Pierre to resign voluntarily, with outside prominent Democrats enlisted to advocate for her departure.
“Karine was never approached by anyone with such a message,” Bates emphasized, countering the assertions made by sources cited by the Post. “Both have been unflinchingly supportive of her,” he added.
Critics highlighted Jean-Pierre’s tendency to read prepared answers directly from her binder, which some viewed as inadequate in representing President Biden as he gears up for his re-election campaign. Bates defended Jean-Pierre, stating, “Every press secretary uses the binder. Why is she being singled out?”
Good morning, everyone! As the White House begins to pressure 49-year-old @PressSec Karine Jean-Pierre to step down rather than fire her, what one word summarizes what you've learned from her one and a half years as Biden's Press Secretary? pic.twitter.com/AL1UcKr6hP
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) April 28, 2024
The purported effort to encourage Jean-Pierre’s departure, allegedly framed as a career advancement move, sought to maintain a facade of respect, with efforts aimed at avoiding a forced removal.
However, sources suggest Jean-Pierre remains steadfast in her commitment to staying in her role, despite concerns raised about her reliance on notes and her ability to provide quick-thinking responses.
Karine Jean-Pierre — the least competent press secretary in modern American history — jokes about how she "sidestep[s] a few probing questions here and there" pic.twitter.com/RCPxtRvEMz
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 28, 2024
The White House’s rebuttal comes amid a challenging political landscape for Biden’s re-election bid. A recent CNN poll revealed Trump’s continued advantage over Biden in a head-to-head matchup, with a majority perceiving Biden’s presidency as a failure.
