President-elect of the US Donald Trump has appointed Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary.
At 27, Leavitt will become the youngest person to hold the position in U.S. history, surpassing Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he became press secretary under President Richard Nixon in 1969.
“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,” Trump said in a statement.
“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 expressed her gratitude in a post on X, “Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honoured. Let’s MAGA,” she wrote.
Traditionally, the White House press secretary serves as the administration’s primary spokesperson, often holding daily press briefings with the media. However, Trump disrupted this norm during his first term, frequently acting as his own spokesperson.
While in office from 2017 to 2021, he appointed four press secretaries but often relied on direct communication through rallies, social media, and his own briefings.
When asked in August whether he would reinstate regular press briefings in his new administration, Trump replied, “I will give you total access and you’ll have a lot of press briefings and you’ll have, uh, from me.” On the role of a press secretary, 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, a New Hampshire native, is known for her staunch advocacy and sharp communication skills, often delivering forceful defences of Trump in television interviews. Before joining Trump’s 2024 campaign, she worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC backing the former president. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a crowded Republican primary but losing to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas in the general election.
During Trump’s first term, Leavitt served in the White House press office before becoming communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. Trump has also chosen Stefanik to be the US ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump’s past press secretaries have varied in approach. Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders often clashed with reporters, Stephanie Grisham held no briefings during her tenure, and Kayleigh McEnany frequently used her time at the podium to challenge the media directly.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
Follow us on:
