Agencies
Washington
President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named 27-year-old Karoline Leavitt to serve as his White House press secretary.
Leavitt, who previously served as spokeswoman for Trump’s campaign, brings experience from her time in the press office during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021.
Trump, 78, praised her in a statement as “smart,” “tough,” and a “highly effective communicator.” According to US media reports, Leavitt will be the youngest person to ever hold the prestigious position of White House press secretary.
The role of press secretary is traditionally a high-profile one, responsible for conducting daily press briefings at the White House.
However, during Trump’s first term, press briefings were infrequent, with several stretches where none were held.
Former press secretary Stephanie Grisham left the role after months without holding a single briefing. Instead, Trump frequently conducted lengthy press conferences or answered questions directly from reporters, often referring to media reporters as “enemies of the people.” Trump’s first term in the White House saw four different press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham, and Kayleigh McEnany.
A native of New Hampshire, Leavitt studied communications and political science at Saint Anselm College, a Catholic college in her home state.
While still in school, she interned at Fox News and in Trump’s White House press office. Leavitt began working for the first Trump White House shortly after graduating in 2019, first as presidential speechwriter and later as assistant press secretary, according to the website for her 2022 run for Congress.
