President-elect Donald Trump selected his transition spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, as White House press secretary on Friday. This appointment places a staunch defender in a crucial communications role.
Trump advisers noted that Leavitt gained Trump’s favour through her unwavering support in media appearances and direct communication style.
The White House press secretary’s role involves communicating presidential activities to the public whilst maintaining discretion with sensitive information.
“I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we, Make America Great Again,” Trump said in a statement.
Leavitt faces the task of providing accurate information and building media relationships whilst maintaining Trump’s trust.
As the youngest-ever White House press secretary, Leavitt breaks the previous record held by Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when President Richard Nixon appointed him in 1969.
Originally from New Hampshire, Leavitt served as assistant press secretary during Trump’s first administration from 2017 to 2021.
Following Trump’s loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, she worked as communications director for Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for UN ambassador.
In 2022, Leavitt secured the Republican primary for a New Hampshire House seat. Despite losing to Democrat Chris Pappas, the campaign enhanced her public speaking abilities.
She subsequently joined Trump’s 2024 campaign, leading communications for the president-elect’s transition team. The Biden administration has employed two press secretaries: Jen Psaki and Karine Jean-Pierre.
Trump’s previous administration featured four press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.
Spicer’s tenure began controversially in January 2017 with an incorrect statement about Trump’s inauguration crowd being “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.”
Photographic evidence disproved this claim, leading to prolonged controversy. After Spicer lost Trump’s confidence, Sanders took over, earning praise for her media interactions before becoming Arkansas’ Republican governor.
Grisham succeeded Sanders but never conducted press briefings, citing Trump’s instructions. She later worked for then-first lady Melania Trump, resigned after 6 January 2021, and became a Trump critic.
McEnany, Trump’s final White House press secretary, engaged in frequent exchanges with journalists during 2020’s pandemic and now works at Fox News.
