New York: President-elect Donald Trump has named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, as the White House press secretary when the next US administration takes charge in January.
The 27-year-old Leavitt, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, will be the youngest ever White House press secretary, reported AP.
The previous youngest White House press secretary was Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration.
“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 (MAGA),” Trump said in a statement.
Leavitt was ‘humbled and honoured’ at the appointment.
“Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honoured. Let’s MAGA,” Leavitt wrote on X.
Traditionally, the White House press secretary is the public face of the US administration and has historically held daily briefings for the press corps.
During his first term, though, Trump broke tradition and acted as his own chief spokesperson. He had four press secretaries during his Presidency from 2017 to 2021, but more often than not preferred to engage directly with the public — from his rallies, through social media posts and his own briefings.