Joe Biden's press secretary has broken her silence on her mother's private battle with colon cancer, revealing that she was in fact working “two full-time jobs” while caring for her mother during her time in the White House.
Karine Jean-Pierre told very few people about her mother's health struggles, but has since revealed to Vanity Fair that the then-president was among the inner circle she had trusted.
The 50-year-old would drive to New York every weekend to see my mother “and then return late at night to catch “a few hours of sleep” before returning to the White House.
“I have been silently working a second full-time job, which is navigating my mother's care,” she said.
Although her mother, a very private person, had asked her not to tell “anyone,” especially the president, that she was ill, Jean-Pierre admitted that was not the only reason she withheld the devastating information.
“I'm the first black press secretary. The first person of Color Press Secretary. The first openly queer press secretary. The first Haitian American immigrant press secretary. The first press secretary to be all of the above,” she said.
'Being a first meant that my responsibilities went beyond what was in the job description, the load was heavier. I bear a certain responsibility to the communities I represent. '
Jean-Pierre said she was aware that she never wanted her mother's illness to be misrepresented as “an excuse” while she was at work.
Karine Jean-Pierre told very few people about her mother's health struggles, but has since revealed that the then-president was among the inner circle she confided
The 50-year-old would drive to New York every weekend to see my mother' and then return late at night to 'catch a few hours of sleep' before returning to the White House
“Society does not allow women of color to be vulnerable at work. If you are a first, you don't get the benefit of the doubt,” she said.
Her mother is now in remission after a long and unpleasant battle with cancer.
Jean-Pierre remembered one of the last times she “recognized [her] Mother as the woman I grew up with” – When she joined the press secretary at a state dinner with the Bidens in December 2022.
She said it was the first time after the bottom that it felt safe to host a large-scale dinner, and her mother was happy to be on the guest list.
Her mother told Jean-Pierre that it was “the happiest day of my life.”
Jean-Pierre has no regrets about dealing with her grief privately, and feels now is a good time to explain 'what I've been through, and what it's like to come where I come from and be in the public eye to sit. '
During her final news conference of the Biden administration, Jean-Pierre spent several minutes thanking her colleagues, her family and the president, noting that this was the administration's 537th news conference and its 306th briefing.
She said she hoped her visible, public role was an “inspiration to a lot of young girls out there.”
![Jean-Pierre (center with her mother and sister) recalled one of the last times she “recognized [her] Mother as the woman I grew up with' – When she joined the press secretary at a state dinner with the Bidens in December 2022](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/00/94459429-14319631-image-a-121_1737677701273.jpg)
Jean-Pierre (center with her mother and sister) recalled one of the last times she “recognized [her] Mother as the woman I grew up with' – When she joined the press secretary at a state dinner with the Bidens in December 2022
Jean-Pierre drew significant flak last month after Biden killed his son, Hunter, despite her repeated assurances that he had no such plans
Jean-Pierre caught significant flak last month after Biden killed his son, Hunter, despite her repeated assurances that he had no such plans.
But she insisted the president was a truthful man who made his decision alone the same weekend he made the announcement.
“First of all, one of the things the president always believes in is to be truthful to the American people,” she said.
Jean-Pierre desperately tried to hold on to an argument that Biden still had faith in the justice system even if it had failed his son.
“Two things can be true,” she said. “The president does believe in the legal system and the Department of Justice, and he also believes that his son was politically singled out.”
Hunter Biden pleaded guilty to federal tax charges in September and was scheduled to be sentenced on December 16.
