For nearly three years, former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was one of the Biden administration's most visible figures.

However, some Democrats are now accusing Jean-Pierre of betrayal after the ex-official announced that she has left their party. 

Former White House staff member: "Everyone thinks this is a grift"

According to Politico, some of Jean-Pierre's fellow former White House staffers see the departure as nothing more than a stunt to promote her new book.

Titled, "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines," the book purports to be "a groundbreaking, revelatory assessment of America’s broken two-party system."

"Everyone thinks this is a grift," one unnamed figure said of Jean-Pierre renunciation of the Democratic Party just as her book has been released.

"She made a joke about being an independent last year and now it’s a book," another former staffer told Politico. "All ideas are monetary — even the dumb ones."

"She was the public face telling us all that this White House was on track"

Meanwhile, Democratic operative sent Politico a text message which recalled how Jean-Pierre "was the public face telling us all that this White House was on track and that Biden was amazing," before adding, "And now she doesn’t even want to be a Democrat????"

"She’s making herself the middle ground here when Republicans hate her. She’s not in any position to be a connector of our two party system and assuming she could be is just ego," the operative complained.

Politico noted that while many of her critics have spoken on the condition of anonymity, former White House press shop staffer Jeremy Edwards went after Jean-Pierre publicly.

lol https://t.co/KNuM5am39V

— Jeremy Edwards (@jeremymarrell) June 4, 2025

Edwards mockingly referenced the former White Press secretary's book in a social media post on Wednesday, writing, "lol."

Reporter scoffs a Jean-Pierre's move: "You can't change who you are"

The negative responses were not limited to Democrats, as Fox News reported that some journalists were taken aback by Jean-Pierre's move as well.

"Just take a look at her entire career and identity," one reporter was quoted as telling the cable news network. "You can’t change who you are just because you check a different box on a registration form."

"It’s also disappointing to see that she would turn her back on her party just because it’s hit a really rough patch... it speaks to character," the reporter went on to add.