Who is Karoline Leavitt, set to be youngest White House press secretary at 27?

Karoline Leavitt, who gained recognition for her strong defence of Donal Trump in the media, will become the youngest White House press secretary.

In Short

• Karoline Leavitt praised for her strong defence of Donald Trump in media
• Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest to hold White House Press Secretary post
• Was Trump's campaign press secretary, currently spokesperson for transition team

US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, will serve as his White House press secretary. At 27, Leavitt will become the youngest person to hold this position, surpassing Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he served under President Richard Nixon in 1969.

Currently, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, Leavitt has gained recognition for her strong defence of Trump in the media.

Trump praised Leavitt’s work on his campaign, stating, “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," he added.

Leavitt’s journey to this role has been marked by consistent loyalty and exceptional communication skills. A New Hampshire native, Leavitt began her career in politics as a summer intern in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence before her senior year in college. After graduating, she joined the White House Press Office as an assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany during Trump’s first term.

She was a communications director for New York Representative Elise Stefanik. Stefanik, who has now been nominated by Trump as the US ambassador to the United Nations, has credited Leavitt for her impactful contributions.

In 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire’s First District. She won the Republican primary but was defeated by Democrat Chris Pappas. This campaign experience honed her public speaking and media skills, preparing her for her latest role.

Her connection to Trump’s team continued as she became a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC, and later rejoined as a prominent voice in his 2024 campaign.

Traditionally, the role of White House press secretary involves holding daily briefings and serving as the administration’s public face. During Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021, however, he often bypassed these norms, acting as his own spokesperson through rallies, social media, and self-conducted press interactions.

Trump had four different press secretaries during his first administration, whose approaches ranged from regular confrontations with the press to avoiding briefings altogether.

During Trump’s previous term, press secretaries like Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders often sparred with journalists, while Stephanie Grisham never held a briefing, and Kayleigh McEnany confronted the media directly, especially during the pandemic.

Experts believe Leavitt will face the challenge of balancing direct communication with the public while maintaining journalistic credibility as she represents Trump’s administration.