In a major announcement, President-elect Donald Trump appointed Karoline Leavitt as his White House press secretary. At 27 years old, Leavitt is set to become the youngest person to hold the role, surpassing Ronald Ziegler, who took on the position at 29 during Richard Nixon's presidency in 1969.
Trump expressed his confidence in Leavitt's abilities, saying, "Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary. Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. 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."
Leavitt responded on social media, writing, "Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honored. Let's MAGA," referencing the well-known slogan, "Make America Great Again."
The role of the White House press secretary traditionally involves being the primary public representative of the administration, often leading daily press briefings. However, Trump altered this custom during his first term, often choosing to address the public himself through rallies, social media, and direct briefings. Between 2017 and 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to be his own chief spokesperson.
In a recent press conference, Trump hinted that his upcoming administration would see a return to regular press briefings. He told reporters, "I will give you total access and you'll have a lot of press briefings and you'll have, uh, from me." He added, "Probably they'll do something. If it's not daily, it's going to be a lot. You'll have more than you want."
Leavitt, originally from New Hampshire, is seen as a strong supporter of Trump, known for her quick responses and firm defense of him during televised interviews. Before joining Trump's 2024 campaign, she worked as a spokesperson for a super PAC backing Trump. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, successfully winning a crowded Republican primary before losing to the incumbent, Democrat Chris Pappas.
Her political career also includes time in the White House press office during Trump's first term, followed by a stint as communications director for a Republican Representative from New York. Trump has since chosen this Representative to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump's earlier press secretaries had varied relationships with the media. Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders often clashed with journalists, while Stephanie Grisham did not hold any press briefings during her tenure. Kayleigh McEnany, who succeeded Grisham, became known for her firm stance towards the press in the White House briefing room.
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