All that was left to do was to sort out how to deliver the news.
It was a great day, and it was my last briefing.
Jean-Pierre left the White House as the longest-serving female press secretary in U.S. history.
Former Biden White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.Photograph by Jen Rosenstein
(The White House has countered that Biden did frequent, informal gaggles with the press.)
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
First of all, how are you doing?
Youre finally out of the pressure cooker.
Im going to be very honest: Im doing really well.
I havent had that.
If anything, my body and my brain are very happy that Im taking it easy.
For the last couple of years, I couldnt go anywhere without being recognized.
The grocery store, restaurants, my kids school nowhere.
I was recognized everywhere I went.
In these roles, I dont have security, Secret Service, so I had to be really mindful.
How are you processing it?
Are you concerned about your safety at all?
I am concerned about notmysafety.
I am concerned about the communities that I represent.
I am concerned abouttheirsafety.
Weve done this before.
I think what you were alluding to is: Everything I am is everything he hates.
And that is a very scary thought.
Now theyre being attacked and their protections are being taken away.
Can you paint a picture for me of what the last year has been like for you?
A year ago this week, Biden would have just wrapped up the New Hampshire primary.
But these jobs are unpredictable.
We are living in an unpredictable climate…
But it was really hard.
It was an up-and-down situation.
You mention ups and downs.
Lets start with the ups: What was your best day on the job?
There is nothing like it.
Sometimes Id walk through the West Wing lobby, Im like,Wow.
I cant believe youre doing this.
Sometimes I had to pinch myself.
My daughter is 10.
When I was 10 years old, I would have never dreamed of that.
Karine Jean-Pierres Final Days as White House Press Secretary
What was the worst?
When the president decided to step down from running for office.
That was a hard day.
On a Sunday, early afternoon, we got asked to jump on a call.
(We meaning senior staff from the White House, senior staff from the campaign.)
It was a really quick call, an impromptu call.
He had Covid, and so he had been quarantined in Delaware.
If it was really, really bad, obviously, thats not how I would have found out.
What is about to tell us?
Once he started, I was like,Wow.
My heart just sank.
But theres a two-sides-of-the-coin situation here.
So it was one of those things where it was like, What is happening?!
That was a difficult day.
But then you saw his patriotism.
But that was a tough day.
I can still feel my heart just sinking not even sinking, dropping.
Obviously, there were weeks of chatter after the debate about whether or not he would remain the nominee.
You didnt expect he would drop out?
I dont know how closely you watched my briefings, but, no.
He said it himself.
He wasnt going to.
Look, I think the only person who can tell that story about what happened is him.
Im sure he will do that when he feels that the time is right.
But, for me?
Every conversation that I was having with him was,Were moving full-steam ahead.
Thats what I saw.
Thats what I experienced.
It is the cornerstone of our democracy.
And that is what makes this country so beautiful.
That is what makes democracy work.
