WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named his campaign press secretary, Caroline Leavitt, as White House press secretary.
Leavitt, 27, who is currently Trump’s transition press secretary, will become the youngest White House press secretary in history. The honor previously went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 years old when he took office in 1969 under Richard Nixon.
“Caroline Levitt did a phenomenal job as national press secretary during my historic campaign,” President Trump said in a statement. “I am pleased to announce that she will serve as White House press secretary.” “Karoline is smart, tough and has proven to be a very effective communicator. I am confident she will stand out on the podium and help deliver our message to the American people as we Make America Great Again.”
The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and has historically conducted daily briefings for the press corps.
Trump broke with these norms during his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. Trump had four press secretaries during his presidency from 2017 to 2021, but often preferred to communicate directly with the public through rallies, social media posts and his own briefings.
At a news conference last August, Trump was asked whether he would hold regular press briefings under the new administration. He told reporters: “I will give you full access and you will receive a lot of press briefings, uh, from me as well.”
About the press secretary he said: “Maybe they will do something. That would be a lot if not every day. You will have more than you ever wanted.”
Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch, camera-ready defender of Trump, quick to aggressively defend the Republican Party in television interviews.
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She worked as a spokeswoman for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, before joining the 2024 presidential campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
During Trump’s first term, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom President Trump appointed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump’s first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, reportedly got into arguments with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never gave a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, frequently lectured the news media during appearances in the White House press briefing room.
