Karine Jean-Pierre: Navigating Single Motherhood While Leading at the White House

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has confirmed her separation from longtime partner Suzanne Malveaux after more than a decade together. In a recent interview with Vogue, Jean-Pierre opened up about her personal life, sharing that the two now co-parent their nine-year-old daughter, Soleil.

“I’m a single mom who is co-parenting this amazing kid,” Jean-Pierre said. “Our number-one priority is her privacy and making sure we create a nurturing environment.”

Jean-Pierre and Malveaux first met at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. At the time, Malveaux was covering the event as a CNN correspondent, while Jean-Pierre was working on President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. Although they initially kept in touch via email, they officially began dating two months later and eventually moved in together in Washington, D.C., in early 2014.

Their daughter, Soleil, was born in May 2014 through an adoption process initiated by Malveaux not long after the couple began dating. While Jean-Pierre admitted that having children was “a thousand percent” not part of her life plan, her relationship with Malveaux changed her perspective. She eventually adopted Soleil as well, forming the family she never expected.

Naming their daughter was a meaningful decision. Both women shared a love for French names and settled on “Soleil,” the French word for “sun,” after meeting her. Jean-Pierre, who was born in Martinique to Haitian parents and raised in Paris and later New York, wrote: “My darling Soleil is the light of my life.”

Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Jean-Pierre and Malveaux remain devoted to co-parenting. Jean-Pierre expressed concern not for her own safety, but for her daughter’s well-being, particularly given the visibility that comes with her high-profile role. “People who love me are concerned,” she said. “But I do not walk around fearful for my life or my security… I worry more for my daughter.”

She added that maintaining open communication is key to their bond. “We talk about her feelings all the time. I ask her, ‘Are you happy? How’s it going?’ And she tells me.”

In January 2023, Malveaux announced her departure from CNN, citing her desire to prioritize family. “I love being a mom, and the time I have with my eight-year-old daughter is priceless,” the veteran journalist said at the time.

Malveaux, who joined CNN in 2002, covered major national and global events, earning multiple awards throughout her career. Meanwhile, Jean-Pierre made history in May 2022 when she became the first Black woman, the first immigrant, and the first openly gay woman to serve as White House Press Secretary.

Amidst the pressures of political life and public service, Jean-Pierre continues to embrace her most personal and profound role: being a mother.