Voting rights under attack, diversity equity and inclusion being dismantled, and people “disappearing” off American streets. Former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the Biden administration “knew” what might happen if President Trump returned to the White House.
Urban Hollywood 411 spoke with Jean-Pierre on the red carpet at the 12th Annual Truth Awards presented by Better Brothers Los Angeles on March 21, in Beverly Hills, as the group celebrated LGBTQ excellence.
Jean-Pierre discussed her book tour, and said she enjoys meeting voters and discussing her memoir titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside Party Lines.
“The best part of it is talking to young people,” she said. “Many of them want to be involved. Some of them are disenchanted, and they just need a little direction, a little inspiration.”
Jean-Pierre began identifying as an independent in 2025 following her departure from the Biden-Harris administration. She left the Democratic Party and released a memoir citing frustration with party dynamics.
On the red carpet, she pointed to the current political climate in the country and said the Biden administration cautioned the public about Project 2025, which its authors described as a “mandate” for conservative leadership.
“We knew. I mean, the first thing that came out in early 2025 was the attack on DEI, that was in Project 2025 so we knew it was coming,” she said. “People are disappearing, people are afraid, people are scared.”
She warned voting rights are now under attack with the Trump administration’s Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act.
“I’ve been telling [voters] to pay attention to the SAVE Act, which is really a detrimental piece of legislation, it’s like Jim Crow on steroids,” she said. “Register to vote. Understand what it’s going to be like for you to vote, because they are making it very difficult for us to vote now.”
The former press secretary also addressed concerns about the treatment of journalists, referencing the arrest of former CNN anchor Don Lemon earlier this year in connection with his independent coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Jean-Pierre said she made a point to show up at the awards gala to present Lemon with a lifetime achievement award.
“I literally flew out today so that I can do that, because I wanted to stand next to him, stand by him, celebrate him, and let him know that the community is with him,” she said.
She framed the moment as part of a larger concern about press freedom under the Trump administration.
“Freedom of the press is under attack,” she stated, while reflecting on her time behind the White House podium. “My job in the press briefing room was to have a healthy back and forth and show what it looks like to respect the press and to do freedom of the press, because it’s part of our democracy.”
Before wrapping up, Jean-Pierre addressed criticism of her time in the White House, including questions about former President Joe Biden’s health while in office.
“I got to see him 95 percent of the time,” she said. “We saw that he physically aged, but he was someone that cared about the American people. He was someone that was determined and challenged us in the rooms, when it came to policy, when it came to important ways to move his platform, his agenda, forward. That’s what I saw.”
She called working in the White House “an honor” and credited Biden with recognizing her talent.
“Here’s the thing, I would not have been White House press secretary if it wasn’t for Joe Biden looking at me and saying, ‘Hey, I want you to have this position,'” she shared.
Watch the interview below:
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