WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary.
Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for , would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon鈥檚 administration.
鈥淜aroline 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,鈥� 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.鈥�
The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps.
Trump disrupted those norms in his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. While he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to engage directly with the public, from his rallies, social media posts and his own briefings.
At a news conference this past August, Trump was asked if he鈥檇 have regular press briefings in his new administration. He told reporters, 鈥淚 will give you total access and you鈥檒l have a lot of press briefings and you鈥檒l have, uh, from me.鈥�
When it came to a press secretary, he said: 鈥淧robably they鈥檒l do something. If it鈥檚 not daily, it鈥檚 going to be a lot. You鈥檒l have more than you want.鈥�
Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the Republican in television interviews.
She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.
During Trump鈥檚 first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump鈥檚 first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the White House press briefing room.
Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press
