The Biden administration has vehemently denied allegations of a secret internal plot to remove White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, refuting claims made in a report by the New York Post.
Deputy White House press secretary Andrew Bates rebuffed the allegations, asserting that the claims were “wildly false” and that the reality was quite the opposite.
“Not only are these claims wildly false, but the reality is the polar opposite. Karine was never approached by anyone with such a message,” Bates stated. “She spends four hours preparing every day. And neither Jeff nor Anita did any such thing; both have been unflinchingly supportive of her.”
The purported scheme, reportedly spearheaded by longtime Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn and backed by White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, allegedly aimed to encourage Jean-Pierre to voluntarily step down.
Sources cited in the Post’s report claimed dissatisfaction with Jean-Pierre’s reliance on prepared answers from her binder during press briefings, which some perceived as inadequate advocacy for President Biden ahead of his re-election campaign.
However, Bates countered:
“Every press secretary uses the binder. Why is she being singled out?”
According to the sources, efforts to facilitate Jean-Pierre’s departure included enlisting outside individuals familiar to her to persuade her to leave voluntarily.
Despite these efforts, the plan had not materialized, with Jean-Pierre reportedly committed to staying in her role.
The allegations against Jean-Pierre come amidst broader challenges facing the Biden administration, including concerns about the president’s re-election prospects.
A recent CNN poll indicated former President Trump maintaining an advantage in a hypothetical matchup, with a majority of respondents viewing Biden’s presidency unfavorably.
