Former Biden Administration Official Criticized for Suggesting Cory Booker's Recent Marriage is Questionable

A former senior communications staffer in the Biden White House, now contributing to Fox News, has drawn criticism after posting a TikTok video casting doubt on New Jersey Senator Cory Bookers recent marriage. The brief 16-second video quickly went viral, reigniting baseless speculation about the senators sexuality.

The clip, filmed in a car and uploaded on Sunday, features Yemisi Egbewole, former White House press office chief of staff, smiling at the camera as she delivers what she calls an interesting update about Bookers marriage to Alexis Lewis.

Okay, so Cory Booker got married to a woman, and this is just very interesting, just an interesting update about Cory Booker. Cory Booker married a woman. He is now happily married, Egbewole says. The video caption asks, Will a married Booker run for 2028?

Booker, 56, and Lewis, a managing director at a global investment firm, were married in two private ceremonies over Thanksgiving week: a civil ceremony at Newarks federal courthouse and an intimate interfaith celebration in Washington, D.C. attended by close family. Lewis, originally from New Jersey, maintains a low public profile and has experience in finance, philanthropy, and economic equity work.

This marriage follows Bookers prior high-profile relationship with actor Rosario Dawson, which occurred during his 2020 presidential campaign and ended in 2022.

The TikTok video drew significant attention, particularly due to Egbewoles phrasing to a woman, which many viewers interpreted as a subtle jab. Some suggested the timing of the marriage might be politically motivated, while others criticized the video for unnecessary speculation about Bookers personal life.

Supporters of Booker defended him online. Comments highlighted that his personal relationships are private and questioned the motives behind Egbewoles remarks. LGBTQ+ viewers noted that the insinuations were offensive and unfounded.

Booker has previously addressed questions about his sexuality, stating in a 2018 interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is straight and believes public figures should run as their authentic selves.

Since leaving the Biden administration, Egbewole has appeared as a political commentator on Fox News. Former colleagues described her TikTok video as consistent with past behavior, including anti-LGBTQ+ remarks during her White House tenure. They noted that the video both mocked queer identity and overlooked bisexual experiences, reflecting biases some staffers had witnessed privately.

Former Biden aides expressed surprise at her public stance since joining Fox News, commenting that her willingness to make such statements openly marks a significant shift from her time in the White House. Multiple former staffers reportedly discussed the video in private, expressing shock and disappointment.

Egbewole has not responded to requests for comment, and neither Booker nor Lewis have publicly addressed the video.

Author: Sophia Brooks