Karine Jean-Pierre reveals her mother’s cancer diagnosis — and why she kept it a secret

The former press secretary of the White House, Karine Jean-Pierre, gave Americans a look from behind the lectern in a telling manner Vanity Fair article published on Tuesday.

Jean-Pierre, who chose to keep her personal life private while serving in the Biden-Harris administration, revealed a private health battle that has taken a heavy toll on her and her family.

Jean-Pierre recalled attending the Bidens’ first state dinner in December 2022, saying it was “the first time the administration has considered it safe to host a dinner since the start of the pandemic.” That evening, Jean-Pierre was accompanied by his mother, who told her it was “the happiest day of my life.”

The state dinner was the last time Jean-Pierre “recognized my mother as the woman I grew up with.” Unfortunately, things took a turn and just a few months later her mother was diagnosed with stage two colon cancer. Jean-Pierre learned that her mother was ill while visiting Poland with then-President Joe Biden.

“My mother has always been a private person. When she finally came to terms with reality, she told me, ‘Don’t tell anyone. Don’t tell the president I have cancer,'” the former press secretary wrote.

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Biden was reportedly “one of only a few people in the White House” who knew what Jean-Pierre’s mother was going through. Jean-Pierre said Biden “showed up for me” at a difficult time.

While managing her mother’s care with her siblings, Jean-Pierre drove to New York “every weekend when I could see my mom,” only to return late at night to catch “a few hours of sleep” before heading to The White House.

Despite being in a public role in the Biden-Harris administration with her “second full-time job” coordinating her mother’s care, Jean-Pierre explained that being a “private person” was just one of the reasons she didn’t publicize her battle. mothers with cancer. The former press secretary said she also labored under the “weight” of being “first”.

“I am 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 who was all of the above. Being the first meant that my responsibilities were were greater than those in the job description, and I bear a certain responsibility towards the communities I represent,” Jean-Pierre wrote.

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Jean-Pierre also claimed that she believes coming forward with her mother’s diagnosis would be seen “as an apology” because “society doesn’t allow women of color to be vulnerable at work. When you’re first, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt.”

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During her time in the White House briefing room, Jean-Pierre faced criticism for a series of embarrassing and controversial moments.

In one of her more infamous moments, Jean-Pierre accused the media and others of making “cheap fakes” that made Biden “seem especially fragile or mentally confused.” As the American people questioned whether the commander in chief was fit to carry out the duties of his office, Jean-Pierre misled them by attributing it to “disinformation” and “disinformation”.

After Biden spoke out against Georgia’s voting laws, calling them “Jim Crow 2.0,” Jean-Pierre raised eyebrows with his assertion that “high turnout and voter suppression can happen at the same time.”

Jean-Pierre was also tasked with overturning denials of the possibility of the president pardoning his son, Hunter Biden. After the president issued his son’s pardon, despite repeatedly promising not to do so, Jean-Pierre explained the reversal by saying “circumstances have changed.” She also blamed then-President-elect Trump, saying the president was trying to protect his son from Republican “retribution.”

In May 2022, Jean-Pierre took over from his predecessor, Jen Psaki, who served as Biden’s press secretary for almost a year and a half. In handing over the leadership to Jean-Pierre, Psaki called her successor an “extraordinary person” before outlining her qualifications for the position.