The first Black LGBTQ+ woman to hold the role of White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has reportedly left the Democratic Party, the publisher of her new book has revealed.

Queer trailblazer Jean-Pierre, 50, she made the decision to leave the political party in January, shortly after she resigned as press secretary under the Biden administration, changing her affiliation to independent.

Speaking in a statement on Wednesday (4 June), Jean-Pierre said that, after stepping down, she became a “private citizen” who, like millions of others, had to “contend with what was to come next for our country.”

“I determined that the danger we face as a country requires freeing ourselves of boxes,” she continued. “We need to be willing to exercise the ability to think creatively and plan strategically.”

It comes following the announcement that she is working with publishers Legacy Lit, a Hachette Book Group imprint, on a book titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.

The book, which describes itself as a “revelatory assessment of America’s broken two-party system,” will reportedly use Jean-Pierre’s experience of working in two Democratic governments to urge Americans to “vote their values and maintain individuality within party lines.”

A description of the book continues: “In a country obsessed with blind loyalty to a two-party democratic system, Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary to the Biden-Harris administration, shares why Americans must step beyond party lines to embrace life as Independents.”

It aims to be a “hard-hitting yet hopeful critique” of the American two-party system, with Jean-Pierre arguing that the growing number of politically independent US voters is a sign to “carve a political space more loyal to personal beliefs than a party affiliation.”

Jean-Pierre succeeded Jen Psaki in 2022 to become the first Black and out-LGBTQ+ to speak on behalf of the White House and eventually resigned on 20 January following Donald Trump’s inauguration.

She first worked under the Obama adminsitration and, in 2020, joined Joe Biden’s campaign for president, eventually climbing the ranks to senior advisor and White House press secretary.

During her time as press secretary, Jean-Pierre was commended for her no-nonsense approach to dealing with right-wing misinformation, especially surrounding LGBTQ+ rights such as shutting down an “irresponsible” question on trans athletes in sporting events in 2023.

She received criticism near the tail-end of her time as press secretary by those arguing she had been evasive about Biden’s physical condition.

Legacy Lit explained that the upcoming book would take readers “through the three weeks that led to Biden’s abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision.

“She presents clear arguments and provocative evidence as an insider about the importance of dismantling the torrent of disinformation and misinformation that has been rampant in recent elections and provides passionate insight for moving forward.”

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